AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13767, 4 June 1908, Page 6

AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION.

FEDERAL SCHEME OUTLINED.

IMPORTANT PROPOSALS

A MKWOU.v.Nor/H on the establishment of an Australian Bureau of Agriculture lias been presented to both Houses of the Federal Parliament. it was eta-tod that the object- of the bureau was to supply such information to those, engaged in agricultural, horticultural, viticuHural, dairying, and pastoral pursuits that, they might obtain the best possible results. It is considered that, the work pf education should be carried out entirely by the States. A Federal Department might bo able to improve, the general standard of agricultural education by disseminating impartial information as, to the progress made in the several States and by furnishing knowledge as to the educational methods of other countrios. Tho series of lectures undertaken by the States might be supplemented by addresses by experts of the Commonwealth. The direct control of experimental stations already existing must be retained by the States, but Federal officers could co-operate with the officers in charge of experimental stations in order to carry out any further or special experiments that from a national, standpoint may be considered necessary. Should the special stations be required for national purposes, especially in connection with the growth of tropical product.-}, the matter should easily be arrange/! with the States. In the. territories of the Commonwealth there must necessarily be national experimental stations. The Commonwealth Department., by reason of its possession of proper agencies, could readily distribute information of a national character by meawi of the Australian Agricultural Journal.

The control of exports which lies; in the sphere of Federal action is one that ultimately must be more fully undertaken by the Commonwealth. Valuable - results are already being accomplished under the Commerce Act. The necessity for uniformity or standards, a matter which is essentially Federal, if-becoming >iailv more apparent. Expert officers o? a Federal Department will be able to render invaluable assistance to the Department of Trade and Customs in connection with the administration oi the Commerce Act. Uniform control of imports is of 'no hss importance to the producer, and effective national legislation and administration is necessary in particular to preserve the standard of imported seeds and artificial manures. Already some effort* have been made in one or two of the States to endeavour to find market's for Australian products abroad. As the control of exports and external affairs has: now passed to the Commonwealth, it. is of the greatest importance that the national powers In this respect should , bo exercised. The work of finding market? for Australian products? is national. Equal opportunities should be given -to all for find/tig an outlet for the products of their industry. This equality eatf only be secured by the Common wealth. _ In the-United ".States and Canada special attention is given to Chip branch of the work, and their example can profitably be followed. Under the Quarantine Act the importation from abroad of live stock and plants will be controlled by the Commonwealth. Under the State laws machinery ie provided for the prevention of the spread of diseases and pests affecting live stock and plant*. These, national and State powers should be exercised for common purposes, the one power supplementing the other. Now that the Commonwealth has control of meteorology the Bureau of Agriculture' might co-operate with the Bureau of Meteorology to the advantage of the Commonwealth. It is very desirable that information respecting the condition of crops and stock should lie collected concurrently with meteorological, observations, for it is only by this means that the full appreciation of seasonal peculiarities can be properly arrived at, and information derived to put them to practical use. Conferences can advantageously be arranged with State officers for the preparation of reports upon subjects of national importance, and for the purpose of securing co-oidinaibn of work. These conferences might well consider irrigation, forestry improvement, dry-farming methods, conservation of fodder, and other similar subjects. It is recommended that a Bill be introduced enabling the appointment of the necessary officers, and making provision for the future carrying on of the various important branches referred to as the occasion may arise. Such future developments should depend upon Parliamentary' appropriations. On the passing of this Act, the necessary steps can be taken to perfect organisation, and. for the purpose of administration, to define more clearly the proper spheres of national and Stale action.