FOOD PRODUCTION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24945, 18 June 1942, Page 2

FOOD PRODUCTION

ASSISTANCE FOR BRITAIN SIX NEW ZEALAND EXPERTS (P.A.) WELLINGTON, June J 7. To assist in the campaign in the United Kingdom for the expansion of cropping and food production, a party of six experts from New Zealand is proceeding to England at the request of the British Ministry of Agriculture to which they have been seconded for the duration of the war. The members of the party are: Messrs G. A. Holmes. (Wellington) who is the leader. A. A. Copland (Timaru), G. S. Robinson (Levin), S. L. Green (Palmerston North), A. A. Johnson (Stratford) and A. Longwill (Pukekohe). LEADER OF PARTY WELL-KNOWN IN OTAGO The leader of the party, Mr G. A. Holmes. M.Sc. B.Ag.Sc. A.1.C.. of the Department of Agriculture, Wellington, who has been appointed to the British Ministry of Agriculture as adviser on New Zealand methods of land development and farming practice, is well known throughout Otago and Southland as an agricultural scientist. He was educated at the Wakari School

and at the Otago Boys' High School, being dux of the latter in 1917. He graduated with honours at Otago University in 1921 and then proceeded to Canterbury Agricultural College, being the gold medallist there in 1923. After some years' service in the Fields Division of the Department of Agriculture and on the staff of Lincoln College, Mr Holmes was appointed technical adviser to the National Mortgage and Agency Company of New Zealand, Ltd.. with headauarters in Dunedin, a position which he occupied for eight years. In 1937 he was appointed to the head office of the Department c\f Agriculture, where since the outbreak of war his duties have been those of organiser of farm supplies. When, in 1939. a commission was set up to report on the lime industry, Mr Holmes was chosen as chairman. He has served also as chairman of the Commercial Advisory Committee and of the Wire Committee, and as a member of the Standards Council.