EXPERIMENTAL FARMS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19200, 17 June 1924, Page 8

EXPERIMENTAL FARMS.

GOVERNMENTS FUTURE POLICY, A. MINISTERIAL STATEMENT. (Fbom Ops Own Uobrkspondfnt.j INVERCARGILL, June 16. An indication of the future policy of the Government in regard to State experimental farms is contained in a letter received by the Southland League from the Minister of Agriculture, in which Iho Hon. Mr Nosworthy renlies to representations made to him while* in Invercargill rccentlv regarding the establishment of a rod polled dairy herd at the . Winton experimental area. “This,” says the Minister, “really embodies a very much larger question than the mere provision of a dairy herd, seeing that to establish a herd means the. provision of the necessary farm buildings and at least one residence, thus converting the place into a State farm as distinct from an experimental and demonstration area. Fho Government has been for some time past dealing with the question of State farms, it being considered that with the advance made in farming practice generally and with the establishment of a departmental instructional service staffed by well-qualified officers, the value of State farms to the community will become greatly lessened. With this* in view the farms at Arataki. in Hawke’s Ray, and at Tauranga, which have been devoted principally to fruit growing and horticulture, have been closed, and a great bulk of the agricultural area of To Kauwhnta farm has been handed over to the Lands Department for settlement. In addition, the Moumahaki State farm is at tho present time being subdivided for settlement, and it is proposed that the revenue accruing from the rentals ho expended in instructional and experimental work in Wanganui and tho West Onast area. “I shall be glad to carry on as long as the necessary experimental and demonstration work is being done at the Winton area. It : s felt (hat from tho point of view of expenditure of public funds a greater measure of benefit will be conferred upon th farming community in Southland by tho maintenance of the present system of general instruction by means <pf travelling instructors, and the extension of this a-s financial nul stall conditions permit, than would he derived by the establishment of a State farm.” In expressing preference for this system of instruction the Minister adds that members of the Winton A .and P. Association should consider the question of themselves financing and establishing a farm to be subsidised by the Government on, broadly speaking, the. same lines as exist in connection with the present subsidised dairy farms at Stratford and Manaia in Taranaki