BOARD OF AGRICULTURE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3336, 20 February 1918, Page 11

BOARD OF AGRICULTURE.

IMPORTANT QUESTIONS DISCUSSED. The Board of Agriculture held lengthy meetings on Wednesday-and Thursday last week, when many matters of national importance wero discussed. There was a full attendance of members at the meeting, and the President, Sir James G. Wilson, was in the chair. The board had a lengthy conference with the National Efficiency Board, and discussed with them the provision of accommodation for married men on farms and stations, the training and settlement of returned soldiers on the land, seed growing, and re-afforesta-tion. Ro-afforestation. — The question of forestry was discussed by the two boards, and it was decided to again address the Prime Minister on the necessity for the creation of a separate forestry department under a scientifically-tramed forester It was pointed out that the great work in front of him would he to develop a policy of conservation of the small remaining area of native forests to be left in New Zealand, and the regeneration of such portion of land which had been bush, and was now useless for settlement; to underplant bush where suitable areas are available, and to continue the planting of other areas suitable for the purpose. At the close of the meeting a joints deputation of the Board of Agriculture, the Council of the Forestry League, and others, waited upon the Right Hon. the Prime Minister, to urge that something should be done on the lines suggested. Accommodation for Married Men on Farms.— The question of prcviding better accommodation on farms for" married men with the view of reducing the drift of farm labour IroAi the country to the town was very exhaustively dealt with, and it was pointed out that owing to the large increase of indebtedness and other burdens that have been taken by the Dominion, the only chance of maintaining the standard of living would bo by a rapid and sound expansion in the productivity of the country; and that a married man provided with a suitable house with moderate conveniences, having a plot of ground sufficient for a vegetable garden, and land sufficient to keep a cow, pigs, and fowls, is comparatively well-off in rural districts, even if only earning a small actual cash wage. _ A scheme to facilitate the erection of cottages for married men on farms which had been drafted by Mr Hunt on similar lines to the provisions a 3 to workers' dwellings in the town was adopted, and a further proposal to initiate some small village settlements in the back-blocks was formulated with the view of securing advantages of friendly intercourse and mutual assistance between the families living in the village ; and so that the individuals occupying these cottages would not feel tied to a single employer, and would, within moderate limits, be able to carry their labour to the best market, or, at any rate, would havo the feeling that they could. Village communities of this class might have the advantages of having a co-operative store, school, and hall accommodation, and other facilities which would" not be obtainable by those resident in detached cottages situated on their employers' properties. Training arid Settlements of Soldiers on the Land. — The joint boards also discussed the opening up of Crown and Native lands, the cutting up of private estates, the best tenure for leasehold lands, and the purchase and subdivision of suitable land for the settlement of returned soldiers. The question of how to meet the case of returned soldiers who prefer to live in the country, and who were willing to take up some light farm work, but were unable for health reasons to undertake very heavy work, was also carefully considered. Various suggestions as to the best methods for helping men of this typo were put forward, and it was finally decided to make a strong appeal to the farmers through the National Efficiency Boards of Trustees and the various Committees of Advice throughout the Dominion to take returned soldiers without farming experience, and enablo them to gain a knowledge of general farming work. Seed-growing.— The question of growing seeds in the Dominion was also discussed at great length. Mr Brown, Director of tho Fields Division, and Mr Cockayne, Biologist of the Department of Agriculture, joined in tho discussion as to what might be done in this direction. Mr Cockayne pointed out that tho practicability of obtaining seeds depended largely on the duration of the war and tho unsettled period that might follow; but it was evident that the difficulty of securing adequate supplies at the present timo was very acute; and it was quite likely that prices for such seed would remain high for some timo after hostilities had ceased. Various members of the. Board of Agriculture detailed their experiences in the growing of seeds, and expressed the opinion that in spite of the competition of Europe this ..branch of farming may bo made a very remunerative one. It was decided to request the Department of Agriculture to publish some more information in the Journal of

Agriculture as to the best methods of growing and collecting the particular kinds of seeds for which there was a demand in the Dominion. It was also agreed that the Government should be recommended, for the purpose of encouraging the growth of red clover seed,-to import a number of the very best class of humble bee, particularly the red-tailed bee, and one known as the bronze bee. Shipments of Wool Packs and Corn Sacks from Calcutta. — It was reported to tho board that as the result of inquiries which had been made in regard to the shipment of wool packs and corn sacks to the Dominion, the Union Steam Ship Company had written, stating that a vessel had already left Calcutta this year with corn sacks and wool packs; another was leaving at an early date, and that altogether there would be six sailings during the year; so that there was every reason to believe that there would be an' ample supply of both wool packs and corn sacks for New Zealand requirements. Jt was hoped that nothing would interfere with the arrival of wool packs earlier than last year.-Ear-marking and Branding of Stock.— This question was also discussed, and a sub-committee was set up to report on the schemo submitted by the Live Stock Division of tho Department of Agriculture for the ear-marking and branding of stock. General. — Amongst other subjects dealt with were. —Uniform stud hooks and National Live Stock Record Association; proposed legislation to prohibit the exportation of inferiorsheep from the Dominion; arrangements for the present meat export season; desira bility of having the judging of live stock at shows taught on the various experimental farms; the wheat question; organisation oi woman labour for farm work; proposed board in connection with scientific and industrial research; and the Kitchener memorial scholarship.

FARMERS' UNION.

REQUISITIONING OF WOOL AND SKINS, HASTINGS, February 18. The local branch of the New Zealand Farmers' Union discussed the Prime Minister's circular relating to the requisition of slipe wool, sheepskins, and hides, and resolved : (1) That it would bo in tho best interest of farmers to leave it to the option of the vendor whether the final appraisement of slipe wool should be made in the United States or in the dominion; (2) that the Government should commandeer all freezing companies' pelts; (3) that tho re ; quisition of calfskins and hides under 451 b should not bo abandoned. Mr J. P. M'Leod was elected Hawke's Bay delegate to attend the Wellington confernece.