REMARKABLE PROPOSAL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18612, 21 July 1922, Page 6

REMARKABLE PROPOSAL

DEPARTMENT ATTACKED. CONTROL OF AGRICULTURE. (From Ouh Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, July 20.’ A proposal to hand over to the Board of Agriculture the full control of tho policy, administration, and staff of the Department was debated by the Council of Agriculture at its annual conference yesterday, and led to some plain speaking by Sttr Walter Buchanan. The discussion arose on a remit from Canterbury moved by Mr H. A. Knight as follows: “That the New Zealand Council of Agriculture, as at present constituted, elect eight representatives on. the. Board of Agriculture four representing the North Island, and four representing tho South Island, and tho Now Zealand Government to appoint two representatives, the Minister of Agriculture to be president of the board, the Board of Agriculture to have full control of the policy, general administration, and officers of tho present Department of Agriculture and of agrioutural education in general; the board to meet at least four times per annum to discuss the policy of the Department of Agriculture.” The proposal was not an ordinary one. said the mover, but was the outcome of a strong feeling in Canterbury of dissatisfaction with the methods of control of the Department of Agriculture. Ho hastened to add that there was nothing personal in liis representations. It was felt that a great deal of political influence was at work in connection with t..e administration of the department. The function of the Board of Agriculture being advisory made it powerless, and almost useless. There did not appear to be any necessity for two bodies—the council and the board. There may be objections by tho Farmers’ Union, which wag not affiliated with the council, but a great many of the council’s members were also members of the Farmers’ Union. Tho board’s reflections on the present system of working and expenditure of tlie Department of Agriculture led' one to believe that the board must have held a similar feeling to that held in Canterbury. It. was difficult to obtain details of expenditure, ' which probably amounted to £250,000 a year. Did that represent the value the people received from it? Canterbury should be congratulated on taking such a bold 1 step. After some discussion for and against the proposal, Sir James Wilson, chairman of the Boarfl of Agriculture, explained tho details of tho net expenditure of tho Department of Agriculture, which last year amounted to £275,000. Inquiry would reveal that the department had been run economically. Sir Walter Buchanan: I made an observation a while ago that you were wasting time. I am still more than satisfied, because we are attempting to take from the Government what no Government would give up—namely, tho control they exercise through tho Agricultural Department. What is the origin of this? In iny opinion the ■ origin is very much of a political nature.—(Laughter and dissent.) It bos miginated in the South Island. The Department, of Agriculture was very influential in having a piece of legislation passed in connection with the Meat Board. Agitation was very strong in the North Island and in the South Island, but the agitation was not of the same kind. —(Laughter). Tho department came out on top, and this remit is personal, because of the Agricultural Department’s action. —(Loud laughter.) I think if I went a little closer into the subject you would rule me out of order, hut I am too old a bird lo bo caught like that.—(Laughter and uproar.) I don’t think anyone hero misunderstands what I have tried in a quiet way to convoy, because the remit will not be carried.— (Laughter.) The remit was lost on the voices.