WANTS OF OTAGO

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17726, 10 September 1919, Page 6

WANTS OF OTAGO

BROUGHT BEFORE MINISTER OF LANDS. , TENURES IN CENTRAL' OTAGO. COMMISSION TO BE APPOINTED. PURCHASE OF LAND FOR SOLDIERS. (Fbom Odb Own Cobbespondknt.) WELLINGTON, Septembar 9. A deputation representing- the southern members of Parliament, and consisting of Messrs Scott, Sidey, Malcolm, Walker /u t? - "*' and J - M. Dickson, approached the Hon. D. 11. Guthrie, Minister of Lands, to urgo (1) the setting up of a commissioni to go jnto tho question of the tenure of the +k B ?T U * ltral lan<ls; P) 3 Purchase of the Mount Pisa Run, near Cromwell, for returned .soldiers; (3) the purchase of a. J'resbyterian Church property at Mosgiel for the same purpose. After hearing tho representations of the ™!rT + I S cmhei *> Mr Guthrie stated, in regard to tho setting up of a commission to SLf to + w £ uestloll of Otaso Central tenures, that he quito in accord with the request. The matter had been placed before him whan he was in Dunodin eome months ago, but aa a promise was alleged to have been made by the Prime Minister !™ en . Minister of Lands) regarding the eubjeefc he had dscided to hold over Iny action until after Mr Massoy's reUim. Hβ had! seen Mr Massey, and had ascertained that tne. promise had been given, and at the pressnfc moment the question of tho personnel ql the commission waa under consideration. It was Mr Guthrie's idea that the order of reference should include, beside 3 tno question of tenure, such important matters as re-srassing, destruction of rabbite, and improvement of tho Otago Central ™,f«"y-,A very important point would be the selection of «he memtera of tho commission, and he would leave no stone unturned to ensure that the very best men ware procured for the work. Mr Sidey suggested that the order o£ reference should also include the question of irrigation, -with, which view the Minister •' was in accord. xv ln -f? sard to . tk" acqtusition of tha Mount Pisa Rnn, Mr Guthrie stated that on account of certain circumstances, and jn tho interests of tho soldiers themselves, it had been definitely decided not to take over the run until the expiry of the lease in 1921. when it would be subdivided and made available for returned soldiers. It was his intention to carry out tie survey work, eo that the run would be practically ready for selection at the expiry of the lease. With regard to th 3 suggested acquisition • of tho Presbyterian Church land, Mr Guthrie stated that the matter was at present under consideration. At tho request of the trustees, ifc was Droposed to take tho land under the Public Works Act. and ho was at present awaitmsr a report from tho department as to tho desirability of taking such action. AGRICULTURAL MATTERS. LUCERNE GROWING AND COMPETITIONS. DEPUTATION TO MR NOSWORTHY. (Fbom Our Own Corbespondext.) WELLINGTON, September 9. A deputation representing the Otago members of Parliament waited on the Hon. Mr Nosworthy (Minister of Agriculture) in regard to lucerne growing and agricultural competitions. Mr Scott said it was unnecessary for him to say anything about the value of lucerne. It had teen suggested by the Otago Expansion League, the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce, and other kindred bodies in* Dunedin that in view of the value of lucern.3 as a fodder and the immense strides made the last few years in its cultivation in America and other places, some one should be sent to the United States or Australia, to karn as much as possible in connection with the growing of it. Ie the past the farmers had had to trust to their individual experiments, and it was possible that in consequence they were losing a lot of valuable time. Mr Sidey urged tno establishment of a syetem of agricultural competitions. There lias been a tremendous increase in productiveness in the United States, he said, as tho result of an educational scheme in operation there. That was a scheme for educating farmers. One feature consisted of a scheme of competitions which was taken nart in by young people, chiefly boys, who engaged in the growing of grain, rearing of stock, etc., on tho home farm. It was not to be confused with the competitions which took plao3 among the school children on school plots. It was a competition among young people on the farms. This was not: only to give effect to tho well known cry of" "Go on the land," bub

was to encourage tho cry of "Stay on the homo farm." Mr Dickson said both the matters dealt with were of very great' importance to the future of this country. With regard to lucerne ho thought that in Australia they had had a fairly long experience of it, and probably all tho information necessary could be obtained by the department from there. Mr Sidey had dealt -with the other matter, and he was fully in accord with him. Anything that would induce the young people to go on the land and study production on right methods was in tho right direction. He thought the Minister wouid find it perhaps better if, instead of being subsidised, the instructor should be attached 'to the department. Mr Walker said it would be generally admitted that whenever anything appeared in print concerning the growing oi lucerne attention was directed to tho'great loss tho country was suffering through not undertaking that work to a greater extent. Tho members had been especially asked by the Otago Expansion League to get the Government to provide some assistance in tho way of a highly paid instructor. Ho had been impressed when before the Otago Expansion. League with the representations that had been made in support of these agricultural competitions, and the arguments that had been adduced appeared to him to bo quito convincing. As an agriculturist the Minister would recognise that these competitions should receive assistance. Ho thought it was undoubted that immense advantage must result to those engaged in agricultural pursuits by encouragement being given to the younger members of the families to take '—- . a live interest in these matters, and consequently he would like the Minister favourably to consider tho matter. Mr Statham supported the suggestions and representations made bv the other speakers. " I am very pleased to receive the deputation," said Mr Nosworthy, "and also that you have brought these matter's under my notice, as I realise that anything which can be done to increase the productivity of the country should be given the most full consideration. I am not able to supply you with any information to-day as to what the Department of Agriculture has done in the way of lucerne experiments, but yon can rest assured that the request mado by the deputation will Teceive every consideration. With reprard to tho schemft of ajrricnltural competitions as ontlined by the Otago Expansion League this has my sympathy, and will have the attention of myself and the officers of my department. The question •will bo thoroughly gone into to see what can be done in tho direction indicated. I can assure yon that anything-I can dr> in the direction of the productivity of the country will bo done."