OUR PRIMARY INDUSTRIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3881, 31 July 1928, Page 14

OUR PRIMARY INDUSTRIES.

GOVERNOR-GENERAL’S INTEREST - ADDRESS TO FARMERS. WELLINGTON, July 24. The delegates, both men and women, to the annual conference of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, were addressed this morning at the opening of the conference by his Excellency • the Governor-General (Sir Charles Fergusson).- Since he had last had the pleasure of addressing members of the Farmers’ Union, said his Excellency, he had travelled over many parts of New Zealand, and had become acquainted with the conditions of farm--ing. ; He therefore felt more at home now in addressing them, but he was not* there to teach;-them anything, but to showy by his presence, the interest he took in the ; improved'prosperity of the country, .The backbone of tlic .’.country, as it was, inK deed, of the world,' as Mr Stanley Baldwin had said in Canada, was the man who reaps and sows. The same .held good for this country. Our secondary industries as the country grew would become more and more important, but . our primary industries" would always be of more importance. He was glad to hear, that the primary object of the Farmers’ Union ..was for improving methods'in production and not for dabbling; in politics. The main hope of the man bli the land —and his lot was hard —lay not in the politician, hut in his own exertions. The .conference,. he thought, would probably be meeting in good spirits, reflecting optimism and courage. They could 'certainly look back with thankfulness on the past season and with confidence to the future:'’ ’He had never known a farmer; however, who had not a grumble, but the farmer always came out on top in the end. ’ ■ His Excellency said that he imagined the’Conference would carry on its discU's-/' fiipns along -three-’ main lines. The 'first would inchide improvements in farming methods, and the second concerning, the reduction of costs. Under this latterheading would come the question ' of labour, the question of co-operative methods and the question of amalgamation of buying and selling agencies. Thirdly, there -was the. development of markets, not only at Horney but elsewhere. The question of advertising was of the utmost importance, and there seemed to be room for expansion in this direction. Bad times would come, unfortunately; at intervals, so it-behoved the farmer not to have all his eggs in one basket. There were’fresh avenues , waiting to be opened up-in the farming industry. " I am going to.- give our friend, the, pig,. a well-deserved advertisement at the Palmerston show,, : I was given a side of bacon from an historic pig. He had been in cold storage for six months before being cured, and .to. that: pig and. to. his breeder and curer I take off my hat. It was the first really • good bacon "I have tasted since being in this country.” His Excellency added that he did not know why bacon could not be cured in this; country as well as it'could be cured at-Home, but the fact remained that New . Zealand-cured bacon was not up to standard. However, it looked as if the problem was nearing solution., J His Excellency then touched upon other Side lines in farming. He referred ,to fruit farming, saying that he hoped the Prince of Wales was now- sampling and finding'as good an apple from New Zealand’s millionth .case. It had been shown that New Zealand could, grow tobacco' equal’ to the best, grown elsewhere, and Neiv Zealand honey needed no advertisement from him. .

“In some quarters—in some only,” said his Excellency, “ there is; a tendency- to undervalue, scientific research. ■ An ounce of practical 'knowledge, one is .told,” lie said, “is. worth, a ton of scientific learning, but science has taught the. farmers many things. It has given him a better, wheat yield and increased his other crops, and it has shown him how.'to combat various scourges, to. mention but a few, of its. achievements. We have our own Cawthro'n Institute, to which the farmer owes a deep debt of gratitude. Every country which is our competitor depends on scientific research, and it is always desirable to see what other people arc doing.; There was one a rooster which made a hole under the hedge which separated its paddock from the next one. It found itselfin an ostrich farm. Carefully rolling an ostrich egg back through the hole into its own- paddock, it stood on dt and crowedloudly. When all the hens were gathered round,: he said: ‘ I ,do not wish to make any complaints,-, but -1 want to show youwhat other.s are-doing. l He was a wise ' bird, ...and ■ doubtless good results even-, tuhted.” '*• '

Owing to engagements with visiting warships his Excellency sard that he regretted he would not , this year be able to entertain the delegates. It Would be ft pleasure to do so, but a pleasure which would have to be postponed.