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Otago Daily Times, Issue 22022, 3 August 1933, Page 3

mmm TOPICS OF , INTEREST OFFICIAL NOTES, Mr Arthur Grant (Wylie's Crossing) has been ejected to the Otago Provincial Council to fill the vacancy caused through Mr John Miller becoming vice-president. Mr Grant is the chairman of the West Taierj branch. The Dominion secretary has forwarded to branches a summary or the precautions necessary in handling sodium chlorate, and full particulars of the history, causq symp-. toms, etc., of swine fover, together with certain precautionary instructions. Any members requiring particulars can have same on demand, * * * Mr D. M. Malloch (Southland manager of the Otago Farmers' Union Mutual Fire Insurance Association) reports that arrangements for the educational course for young farmers are working splendidly, The first two days' programme has been wonderfully successful and the greatest; interest is being shown in all sessions. Over 13t0 lads are attending the course, * * * Dr I, W. Weston (farm economist of Lincoln College), who is director of the Farm Accounting Association of New Zealand, intends to spend a few days in Otago next week, when, in conjunction with Messrs A. C._ Cameron and A. B. Struthers, he will endeavour to arrive at an analysis of the general position of various types of farmers.—'viz., dairy farmers, sheep farmers, cropping, and mixed far- ; mers, etc. * * # At the request of the North Otago Executive of the Farmers' Union, Dr David Miller has' agreed to deliver an address at Oamaru on Tuesday afternoon next. As well as farmers and others interested, the senior pupils of the Waitaki Boys' High School will have an opportunity of hearing something of Dr Miller's work. Arrangements are well in hand for the meetings at Greenfield to-morrow (Friday evening), and Kelso on Saturday. * * # A prominent agriculturalist from overseas recently called upon the provincial secretary (Mr A. C. Cameron) and, In the course of conversation, expressed the opinion that if the North Island farmers farmed their holdings as well as the South Island farmers, and if the South Island farmers used the same quantity of fertilisers as the North Island farmers, then the productivity of this country could be doubled. . , , , He also expressed the opinion that too much attention was given to grass in the North Island, and not sufficient attention to other crops. In his opinion, feeding stock continually on grass, which was renewed by copious top-dressing, was nke " feeding a man on steak" all the time. However good the " steak " might be, the diet was bound to cause trouble in time. *## • • Mr G. F. C. Campbell (controller and auditor-general) has now investigated the reasons For the reported delay m the audit of the accounts of certain local bodies in the Milton district, and has forwarded a full report thereon to the provincial secrotary. The report will be considered at the next meeting of the Otago Provincial Council. Meantime, it is only fair to state that,' on the face of it, the report completely exonerates the Government Audit Department from any suggestion of dilatoriness. A meeting of the combined Taierj branches of the Farmers' Union and Women's Division was held in the Momona Hall on Tuesday evening, Mr A. Craig presiding over an attendance of some 200. Mr Grant introduced the speaker for the evening. Dr David Miner (of the Cawthron Institute), and gave him a warm welcome to the Taieri Plains. Dr Miller said that he always felt at home amongst farmers, and it was particularly pleasing to him to meet such a large gathering from a district which had produced so many good farmers and so much pood stock. He briefly outlined some of the work which was being done by the Cawthron Institute, and tlie n showed a wonderful collection of slides depicting some of the research work in progress, the ravages being done by some of the pests, and showing how the parasites worked, etc. Dr Miller explained every picture thoroughly, and his audience was able to follow every point without difficulty. Some of the slides showed to a remarkable degree each phase in the life-cvele of the particular insect concerned. Great interest wag shown by the audience in the slides depicting the cabbage butterfly, the earwig, the tick, the botfly, the white pine borer, and numerous other insects. At the conclusion of bis address, Dr Miller answered numerous questions in connection with some of the loca'. problems. Mr A. C. Cameron operated the lantern, and at a later period explained the danger there was of the great work which the Cawthron Institute was doing suffering through the lack of the necessary funds to carry on essential work. . . , Mr M. A. Kinney (provincial president for Otago) expressed his pleasure at being present to meet for the first time the members of the Taieri branches of the Farmers' Union and Women s Division. He congratulated them on the large attendance on such a bitterly cold night. He had intended to speak to them about some of the problems which were occupying the time and thought of the Provincial Council, but he thought that the hour was too late for him to do so. Ho paid tribute to the fine work which Dr Miller and his colleagues were doing