EXPERIMENTAL FARM

Southland Times, Issue 23380, 11 December 1937, Page 18

EXPERIMENTAL FARM

EFFORTS TO SECURE REINSTATEMENT

ASSOCIATION’S APPEAL TO MINISTER The Gore A. and P. Association has always taken a keen interest in the affairs of the farmer, and it has never been backward in approaching the authorities on behalf of the man on the land concerning activities in the district. One of its most recent efforts was about the reinstatement of the experimental farm at Gore. A deputation from the association waited on the Minister of Agriculture (the Hon. W. Lee Martin) at Dunedin early this year urging the reinstatement of the farm at Gore, and later letters were sent to the Minister from the association. Although no action has yet been taken by the Minister or the department, the association has the Minister’s assurance that its claim will receive consideration. Up until about five years ago an experimental farm under the control of the department was maintained at Gore, but it was closed down because of the depression. At a meeting of the association in June Mr R. L. Byars reported that with Messrs Henry Smith and W. G. Mackay he had waited on the Minister of Agriculture in Dunedin about the reinstatemeht of the farm at Gore. Mr Byars said that Messrs J. Hargest, M.P., and J. M. Smith, of the Department of Agriculture, had supported the deputation and the Minister had given a favourable reply, but stated that he could do nothing definite in the meantime. Mr Mackay said that a deputation of Otago farmers and Dunedin business men had also approached the Minister asking that an experimental farm be set up in the vicinity of Dunedin. “If we are going to do anything about the matter, and we have a just claim, we should act immediately,” said Mr Mackay. It was decided that a sub-committee consisting of Messrs Byars, Mackay and the secretary (Mr F. Young) communicate with the Minister urging the necessity of the reinstatement of the farm at Gore. The letter which was forwarded to the Minister stated that the depression had fortunately passed and as the need for an institution was more than ever apparent, the association had no hesitation in bringing the matter before him, feeling that the progressive policy of the department would lead to a restoration of such a necessary adjunct to the welfare of the primary producers of the important agricultural and pastoral district of Eastern Southland.

Statistics would show that no province in the Dominion could show such

a marked increase in primary production as Southland did, stated the letter. Climatic conditions made it essential that farmers engaged in pastoral pursuits should grow increasing quantities of winter fodder, and among these chou moellier, rape and turnips had proved most suitable for the needs of the district. Unfortunately, the prevalence of disease in root crops was increasingly abundant. Dry rot and club-root played havoc with these crops, and the need for local scientific investigation into the causes and remedies for these ravaging pests, as well as many other agricultural problems which could not be solved by individual effort, had led the association to take the matter up with the conviction that the Department of Agriculture, which was alive to the position in the various districts under its control, would take steps to have an institution re-established which had in the past given much beneficial service by tendering useful scientific advice to the farmers of the district.

The reply received from the Minister indicated that the matter would receive consideration.