DAIRY INSTRUCTION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23542, 4 July 1938, Page 10

DAIRY INSTRUCTION

GOVERNMENT’S NATIONAL SCHEME FURTHER DETAILS ANNOUNCED COST ESTIMATED AT £47,000 (Per United Press Association) AUCKLAND, July 3. Particulars of the Government’s national scheme of farm-dairy instruction, involving the appointment of 35 additional instructor, were given by the Prime Minister (Mr M. J. Savage) after his arrival in Auckland at the week-end, the statement being made to amplify the brief reference to the matter in the Governor-General’s speech at the opening of Parliament. “ There is substantia] reason for anticipating great success with the scheme,” Mr Savage said. “ The appointment of an additional 35 farm-dairy instructors will, be announced shortly. There is no dearth of competent men available for the job; indeed, no fewer than 400 application were leceived for the new positions, and I have been advised that the applicants represent exceptionally fine types of New Zealanders, with a practical knowledge of dairy farming. The appointments will be made by the Public Service Commissioners.

“Altogether 77 officers will act as farm-dairy instructors,” the Prime Minister said. “ That total, including the 35 new appointments under the full scheme of national farmdairy instruction, has been estimated to cost £47,000. Of this amount the industry will contribute 60 per cent.,’while the Government will bear 40 per cent. The total expenditure is just about double the present cost of farm-dairy instruction.

Increased Cost Justified

“ It is not necessary,” Mr Savage added, “to defend the increased expenditure. With the keen development of overseas competition it is essential to give the New Zealand farmer further assistance in the efficient production of commodities of the highest quality. Our farmers have done exceptionally good work during recent years, both as regards production and the quality of the products, but there can no slackening of effort. The best standard must be the highest possible standard, and in achieving and maintaining this objective the present Government will not be slow in playing its part. “ When I was in England last year for the Coronation and Imperial Conference I had the opportunity, not only to look at our marketing system in Great Britain, but also to meet representatives of the vast importing trade in foodstuffs. The slogan of the markets was ‘ Quality, quality, and still better quality.’ and nur reply must be practical. We must deliver the goods. Highest Production Level “ My own impressions of overseas needs and standards were recently confirmed by the Minister of Agriculture (Mr W. Lee Martin), who, at the invitation of the Commonwealth Government, attended the Australian Agricultural Council at Canberra, and also visited farms in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia, as well as various agricultural colleges and research stations. Since returning from Australia, Mr Lee Martin, who is himself a practical farmer, has impressed upon the Government the fact that Australian fanners and administrative authorities are alert to the necessity for keeping abreast with scientific research and farm progress, and need I say that our Minister of Agriculture has backed up his experiences with requests for more Government assistance to the farmers? He has succeeded in obtaining substantial grants for carrying out a progressive policy. Indeed. when the sum total has been shown in the public accounts there will doubtless toe the usual cry from some of the Government’s opponents: * Where is all the money coming from.’’ “The farmers know and will appreciate where the money Is going to. It is going only in the direction of promoting the highest level of production with first-class quality. “ Let me say in conclusion,” Mr Savage added, “that, although the Government Party comprises men with a first-hand knowledge and experience of fanning, we do not claim to be a self-contained organisation, believing that we can run New Zealand farming as if it were a small world of our own. Our aim is to co-operate with the farmers and lend them every possible assistance in the national task of maintaining prosperity for the whole community.”