The Southland Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. Luceo Non Uro. MONDAY, JUNE 13, 1927. DAIRY RESEARCH

Southland Times, Issue 20202, 13 June 1927, Page 6

The Southland Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. Luceo Non Uro. MONDAY, JUNE 13, 1927. DAIRY RESEARCH

In a country in which, the State undertakes a vast amount of work on behalf of the various sections of the community, it is sometimes dangerous to put forward proposals of a purely self-reliant character, because there rises at once a protest that as others receive Government aid the opportunity of getting assistance from the public funds should not be ignored. It has to be remembered, however, that Government aid is invariably accompanied by Government interference and the price paid for the. assistance is often too heavy. This fact should not be overlooked in connection with, the development of a research service in connection with the dairying industry. The Dairy Board will have to make a decision on this point, and it is to be hoped tnat it will recognise the advantages of establishing its own research bureau and maintaining it under its direct control. Research work undertaken by the Department of Agriculture will be slow and subject to retarding interferences which cannot be wholly divorced from departmental activities, but if the board puts through its own machinery for the investigation of problems peculiar to the dairying industry it will avoid these troubles and build an organisation which by its independence will ensure quicker and better results than will be possible under Government control. The Department of Research may lend some help, but it would be better if the board cut itself adrift from all these handicaps and struck out boldly on its own, following the lead of the New Zealand Co-operative Dairy Company which has already accomplished a creditable amount in this way without Government help. In connection with this business alone, the return of Mr W. Goodfellow to the Dairy Board is desirable. His experience, his initiative and his independent outlook make him an extremely valuable member of the board and, though we may have disagreed with his views of the soundness of his marketing proposals, we recognise that he possesses qualities, particularly in connection with the scientific organisation of the industry in this country, that make his presence on the board of paramount importance. His advice in connection with projects having for their aim improvements in quality and quantity and the lowering of the costs of production through these measures must be of great value to the board, and we feel sure that his weight will be thrown on the side of those who believe that the board should keep under its immediate control the organisation through which the problems confronting the industry can be attacked on scientific lines. In various parts of the world the primary producers are realising the enormous benefits accruing from research. Secondary industries have already demonstrated the value of the scientist for the discovery of new methods of dealing with materials and for the elimination of wAste. Big business concerns maintain expensive staffs for the independent investigation of problems having even a slight relationship with their products and some of the most remarkable of recent developments have come from the laboratories maintained by commercial concerns. The looser organisation of the primary industries operated against the application of research to their special needs, but in this country the creation of the control boards in the meat and dairying industries makes it possible to overcome these disabilities. It is therefore desirable to develop a research service and if the best results are to be obtained a service controlled by the board is necessary.