CROP STATISTICS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13767, 4 June 1908, Page 3

CROP STATISTICS.

A WORLD-WIDE SCHEME.

At a meeting of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce Mr. J. Houston, a visitor from America, gave an address in regard to the International Institute of Agriculture, which is now holding its annual conference in Home, with the High Commissioner present as New Zealand's representative.

Zih* Houston said that the originator of the scheme fostered by the institute was a wealth American citizen, David Lubin, who had made a study of the economic evils of the world. He considered that the farmers were the chief wealth producers of the world, and he saw that there was very little combination or organisation in their industry. All prices for agricultural products were now fixed in a world market, but they were fixed in a haphazard, careless manner. Nobody knew how much crop was growing or was likely to bo on the market. Then the price manipulator stepped in with his comers in wheat and other staples, with the result that there was constant uncertainty. Lubin conceived the idea of getting'all the nations of the world to co-operate in obtaining statistics of farm crops, labour, and everything of service to the farmer. At present there was only one nation that had a really live system of collecting such information, and that was the United States. Lubin appealed to the King of Italy to take up his scheme, thinking that if it were taken up by one of the more important Powers jealousy would be aroused amongst the others. The* King of Italy approved the idea; and it was decided to call a congress of all nations to discuss the question. At this congress, which was held in Rome some years ago, and at which over 40 countries were represented, the International Agricultural Institute was founded. It consisted of a General Assembly, elected by the various nations, and a Standing Committee, elected by the General Assembly, and comprising experts from all over tho world. The cost of collecting the international statistics, with other expenses, was set down at £34,000 a year, and it was agreed that this be proportionally divided amongst different nations. The movement was entirely nonpolitical. The aims of the institute included such possible developments as universal crop insurance. This had been tried in the United States, but had always come to grief in a bad season. '**