The Pahiatua Herald. with which is incorporated THE PAHIATUA STAR. Published Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. WEDNESDAY, MAY 16, 1894.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume II, Issue 149, 16 May 1894, Page 2

The Pahiatua Herald. with which is incorporated THE PAHIATUA STAR. Published Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. WEDNESDAY, MAY 16, 1894.

Comparatively speaking the Government expert business is almost a new thing in New Zealand. In the Australian colonies experts on all conceivable lines have been appointed in such numbers that almost every second man one meets is an expert of some kind or another. Consequently, instead of good being done, the only result achieved is an expenditure of

public money for really no profitable return. The system wa3 inaugurated by one or two gentlemen, thoroughly qualified and experienced, being appointed as Government experts in their special lines. The idea war found to work well ; the experts did excellent woi k and their services were taken advantage of with eagerness. Then certain politicians discovered that the most expeditious way of assisting a needy supporter and rewarding political service was to have the friend created an expert—whether he knew anything about the subject or not was apparently of no consequence. The process went on until experts became more numerous than plain, every-day folk, and their opinions

were either received in contemptuous silence or openly laughed at. So far New Zealand has not got beyond the ! first stage. We have had several experts appointed, nearly all of whom, according to opinions of practical men, have their subjects at their fingers’ ends, as it were, and can give much useful information to the farmers. One of these gentlemen, Mr Palmer, a fruit expert, has been on a visit to tho Wairarapa, and may be expected to visit tho Bush district shortly. We quito expect to be told by him that this is one of the best districts for fruit growing in the colony. The splendid collections of fruit shown at the local shows would justify anyone in making an assertion of that kind, though it also involves an expression of surprise that fruit culture is not more generally adopted. Thu district is young, but it is old enough to have made more progress in fruit growing had the settlers been alive to the advantages to be derived from that source. It should be, and doubtless is, Mr Palmer’s province to point out the classes of fruit for the cultivation

of which the dist rict is most peculiarly adapted, to explain the best methods of packing for market, to indicate the best probable markets, and generally to give them the benefit of the experience which, in his intimate connection with fruit growing, he could not fail to have gained. Being a thoroughly practical man his sugges-

I tions would carry weight, and if the j general opinion of the man’s ability is not incorrect, their adoption should prove profitable. Wo expect fruit growing to bo an important industry in this district at no distant date, and would greot with pleasure the arrival of an expert possessing Mr Palmer’s qualifications, who would be able at the; outset to render assistance that might ultimately prove of great value.