RESEARCH FARM

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26916, 30 October 1948, Page 9

RESEARCH FARM

AREA NEAR GORE

RECOMMENDATION MADE

OUT-STATIONS PROPOSED

A site for a proposed Otago-South-land agricultural research station has been recommended to the Directorgeneral of Agriculture, Mr E. J. Fawcett, by officers of the Department of Agriculture. The area, within seven miles of Gore, is capable of carrying about 750 ewes as well as dairy cows, and the land is typical better-class rolling country and capable of producing the common cereal, fodder and seed crops.

The Fields Superintendent of the Department of Agriculture in Otago, Mr A. G. Elliott, told the Daily Times yesterday that two properties near Edendale, recommended by the special committee set up to seek a site for the station, as well as another farm, were inspected by officers of the department’s head office. In a special report to Mr Fawcett they stated that none of the properties inspected (the inspection was made last June) was suitable.

“It is proposed to establish a fully staffed and equipped central research station and later to investigate district problems by means of smaller outstations,” Mr Elliott explained. “The Director-general has assured members of the special committee that there is no possibility of the offer to establish a research station lapsing if a property is not secured at an early date, and has expressed the opinion that it would be better to defer selection rather than compromise with an area which is not entirely suitable.” Mr Elliott added that the assistance of farmers and of the sub-committee at Gore in obtaining offers of suitable properties would be appreciated. Discussing the search for sites, Mr George Stevenson, who is a member of the special advisory committee, told members of Federated Farmers of Southland at a meeting this week that he had been hopeful that the Edendale or Morton Mains properties would prove suitable. However, they had been turned down on the grounds that educational facilities for the families of the staff employed at the station would not be readily available. And. after all, that was important because men with the qualifications for this type of work had a choice of jobs and would not be attracted to a place that was not convenient to them.

Should a property of similar type nearer Invercargill be offered he was hopeful that that would be approved, Mr Stevenson said. He appealed to those farmers thinking of giving up farming to make their properties available for this important project.