HEALTH OF STOCK

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23143, 15 September 1938, Page 16

HEALTH OF STOCK

RESEARCH ACTIVITIES - PLANT AND SOIL PROBLEMS CO-ORDINATION OF EFFORTS ACTION BY THE GOVERNMENT [BY TELKGRAPII —SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON, Wednesday The appointment of an Agricultural Division of the Research Council to supervise in an advisory capacity programmes of research into animal, plant and soil problems, more particularly in connection with the expenditure of public funds, was announced to-day by the Minister of Scientific and Industrial Research, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan.

Tho division is to consist of tho following members: —Professor W. Riddet and Sir Theodore Rigg, of tho Research Council; Messrs. A. H. Cockayne and E. J. Fawcett, of tho Department of Agriculture; Mr. Norton Francis, chairman of the council of tho School of Agriculture; Messrs. A. Linton and C. A. Marchant, of tho Dairy Board; Mr. W. Mulhollnnd, president of the New Zealand Farmers' Union; Mr. J. D. Ormond, jun., of the Meat Board; Mr. Alan Grant, a co-opted member, and the chairman of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Professor H. G. Denham, who will be an ex officio member. Comprehensive Programme

" For some time past," said Mr. Sullivan, "it has been apparent that the health of stock in New Zealand, as in other countries, is becoming more difficult to maintain, and the drain of stock diseases has increased in economic importance. The attack of the investigational officers, mostly of tho Department of Agriculture, has been concentrated on efforts to minimise stock losses, but it has become apparent that the research programme must embrace consideration of animals, plants and soils if the subject is to bo treated in a comprehensive manner."

Mr. Sullivan said that as a result of the report submitted by Dr. J. Hammond, of Cambridge University, the question of research relative to animal diseases in particular nnd primary industries in general was receiving considerable attention. Following 011 careful consideration and discussions with the Minister of Agriculture, the Hon. W. Loe Martin, it had been decided that steps should he taken to further co-ordinate the efforts of the Department of .Agriculture and the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research and of the agricultural colleges and the Cawthron Institute. The first step was the establishment of an Agricultural Division of the Research Council, although the activities of the Plant Research Bureau and the Soils Division would continue. Advice as to Procedure

A special management committee had been set up to report upon the work at present in progress in New Zealand in the various phases of animal diseases'and production and to suggest the lines of work necessary for a more comprehensive attack on the problems involved. Mr. M. M. Cooper, Rhodes scholar nnd formerly of Massey College, had been appointed secretary of the committee on animal research.

The diagnostic and veterinary pathological aspects of the organisation would be dealt with at Wallaceville and other important work would be carried out at Ruakura under the direction of the Department of Agriculture, but certain problems relating to aspects of animal hutrition and production would be centred round the agricultural colleges.