FARMERS' DINNER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14688, 24 May 1911, Page 8

FARMERS' DINNER.

SPEECH BY THE HON. T. MAC-

KENZIE

The annual dinner of the members of the Auckland Provincial Farmers' Union Conference was held last evening. A hundred and iil'ty farmers, representative of the whole province and of parts beyond, were present, and there were in the hall besides a number of prominent guests. The gathering was presided over by Major Lusk, president of the Auckland Farmers' Union; and among those present were: The Hon. T. Mackenzie (Minister for Agriculture), Messrs. A. M. Myers, L. R. Phillipps, F. W. Lang, F. Lawrv, and F. Minder, memlters of Parliament; Mr. J. M. Phillipps, president of the Auckland A. and P. Association, and Mr. 0. J. Parr, Mayor of Auckland. A liberal dinner was enjoyed, and toasts alternated with songs and story passed the evening pleasantly. The toasts included: "The King," "His Excellency Lord Islington," " Houses of Parliament," proposed by Major Lusk, and responded to by Mr. F. W. Lang, M.P., and Mr. F. La wry, M.P. ; "The Army and Navy," by Mr. J. S. Montpom erie, and responded to by Mr. A. M. Myers, Ml'. ; "The New Zealand Farmers' Union," by the Mayor of Auckland (M O. .1. Parr), and responded to by Major Lusk ; "Local Bodies," by Captain Colbeck, and responded to by Mr. L. M. Myers, president of the Chamber of Commerce ; and "'lite Farming Industry," by Mr. R. Monk, and responded to by the Hon. T. Mackenzie, and Mr. .T. M. Phillipps, president of the A. and P. Association. Defending His Department. Tlio Hon. T. Mackenzie, Minister for Agriculture, in the course of his speech ea?d it had been stated that the farming community did not get fair play from the Government. Ho wished to know'ill what xespcct happened, jsotfott the defi<Vv

ciency could bo attended to. 1 Regarding the establishment of an agricultural college for (lie North. Island, ho pointed out that a. fully-equipped college would cost a large amount of money, first to establish it and then to pay for the tuition of the students* There were people who had advocated that the Agricultural Department should bo wiped out, while some members of Parliament had lately stated that the Department was detested. These suggestions had come from country members, and they were surely wide of the mark. Others, on the other hand, advocated greater expenditure on the Department. As the net cost of its work was now £115,000 a, year, little could be done in furthering agricultural education if its allowance were cut down to £25,000 a year. There were weaknesses in the Department, but they were reasons for investigation and building up, not for its annihilation. The Ideal of Education. The country must secure the ablest instructors available to impart the latest scientific methods to its agriculturists if it j was to hold its own. Cabinet had lately approved of giving him £800 a year to secure the services of the bast men who could bo got with scientific and practical knowledge, to take entire control of the agricultural experiments and other works of the kind. Referring to the State experimental farms, lie said they provided a place where young men could be trained in farming at little expense. To those who wore prepared to go upon those farms lie was prepared ,to extend very liberal terms, demanding from them an equivalent in labour to the food they consumed. The Department wanted to attract the ablest men to tho farming industry. Farmers and Politics. Several speakers had referred to the evil of party politics. There was too much talk of party. The farming community needed to study the great economical questions that affected the success of the community matters too often lost sight of. He had always interested himself in .such things, rather than in political. tirades against personal opinions. They had to deal with the present and the future, and to leave the past alone. Every effort should be made to build up the Parliamentary body; but he reminded the farmers that the personal criticisms which were often flung about would keep many an admirable but sensitive man from the ranks of the workers for the State, and bring into existence just such a class as they did not want. Farmers and Commerce. Mr. Leo. .Myers, in the course of his reply to the toast of the local bodies, suggested that it was time that the Farmers' Union was represented upon the council of tho Chamber of Commerce. He asked that, in furtherance of this idea, which lie had for some time had in mind, he might have the privilege of proposing Captain Colbeck as a member of the council, to represent the union. The suggestion was received with marks of approval. Mr. Myers also urged the establishment of one fully-equipped agricultural college for the whole of the North Island, in preference to the provision of several scattered institutions, which it would be practically impossible to have in such a high state of efficiency as a central college.