EXPERIMENTAL FARMS.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 8830, 5 June 1907, Page 3

EXPERIMENTAL FARMS.

Per Press Association. Dunedin, Jimo 4. Speaking at the opening of the Winter Show to-day, the Hon X A. Millar said the president had mentioned that the Agricultural Department had decided not to establish an experimental farm in tho South Island. In his (Mr Millar’s) opinion there must be some misunderstanding on that point. If ho knew the mind of his colleague, the Minister of Agriculture, on tho matter, it was that there ought'to he greater concentration in the matter of experimental farmf and that they should not ho so widely distributed. He had not, however, understood that Mr McNab was opposed to the establishment of an experimental farm in the South Island and had so decided. As far as ho (Mr Millar) was concerned, he would have something to say on the subject if he ascertained that tho president’s statement of tho position was a correct one. (Applause.) Ho was fully convinced of tho great good that experimental farms wore to tho community. Such farms were established in Auckland and Wellington provinces and lie considered tho system should be continued in the South Island. Tho fanners of Now -Zealand, not of the North Island Island only, had to compete against ihe markets of tho world and it behoved us ‘ to do all that w?.s possible to ensure our products being able to maintain their present high position. Tho Argentine was from year to year pushing itself forward and ittwas only now a matter of time when it would be our doughty competitor. lie had only that day been informed by a friend that so great was the progress being made in Argentine and so great was tho effort that was being made to improve the quality of its output, that within a few years that country would send butter to London market equal to that of New Zealand.