BOARD OF AGRICULTURE.

Taihape Daily Times, 19 February 1918, Page 6

BOARD OF AGRICULTURE.

The Board of Agriculture held lengthy meetings on Wednesday and Thursday, when many matters of natioal importance were discussed. There was a full attendance of members at the meeting, and the President, Sir James G. Wilson, was in the chair. The Board had a lengthy conference with the National Efficiency Board and discussed with them the provision of accommodation for married men. on farms and stations; the training and settlement of returned soldiers on the land; and seed growing. At the close of the meeting a jointdeputation of the Board of Agriculture, the Council of the Forestry League and others waited upon the Et. Hon. the Prime Minister to urge that something should be done on the lines

suggested. Accommodation for married men on farms—The question of providing better accommodation on farms for married men with the view of reducing the drift of farm labour from the country to the town was very exhaustively dealt with and it was pointed out that owing to the large increase of indebtedness and other burdens that have been taken by the Dominion the only chance of maintaining the standard of living would be by a rapid and sound expansion in the productivity of the country, and that a married man provided with a suitable house with moderate conveniences, having a plot of ground sufficient for a vegetable garden, and land sufficient to keep a cow, pigs, and fowls, is comparatively well off in rural districts even if only earning a-small actual cash wage.

A scheme to facilitate the erection of cottages for married men on farms which had been drafted by Mr. Hunt on similar lines to the provisions as to workers dwellings in the town was adopted, and a further proposal to initiate some small village settlements in the backbloeks was formulated with the view of securing advantages of friendly intercourse and mutual assistance between the families living in the village and so that the individuals occupying these cottages would not feel tied to a single employer and would, within moderate limits, be able to carry their labour to the best market. or at arty rate, would have the feeling that they could. Tillage communities of this class might have the advantages of having a co-operative store, school and hall accommodation, and other facilities which would not be obtainable by those resident in detached! 'cottage's situated on their cm■Dloyers , properties.

Training and Settlement of Soldiers on the Land: The joint Boards also discussed the opening up of crown and native lands, the cutting up of private estates, the best tenure for leasehold ’ t: lands, and the purchase and subdivision of suitable land for the settlement of returned soldiers. The question of how to meet the case of returned soldiers who prefer to live in the country and who were willing to take up some light farm work but were unable for health reasons to undertake very heavy work was also carefully considered; various suggestions as to .the best methods of helping men of this type were put forward and it was finally decided to make a strong appeal to the farmers through the National Efficiency Boards of Trustees and the various Committees of Advice throughout the Dominion to take returned soldiers without farming experience, and enable them to gain a knowledge of general farming work.

Seed-growing. T|ne question Of growing seeds in the Dominion was also discussed at great length. Mr. Brown, Director of the Fields Division and Mr. Cockayne, Biologist, of the Department of Agriculture joined in the discussion as to what might bo done' in this direction. Mr. Cockayne, pointed out that the practicability of obtaining seeds depended largely on the duration of the war, and the unsettled period that might follow; but it was evident that the difficulty of securing adequate supplies at the present time was very acute; and it was quite likely that prices for such seed would remain high for sometime after hostilities had ceased. Various members of the Board of Agriculture detailed their experiences in the growing of seeds and expressed the opinion that in spite of the competition of Europe this branch of farming may be made a very remunerative one. It was decided to request the Department of Agriculture to publish some more information in the Journal or Agriculture as the best methods of growing and collecting the particular kinds of seeds for which there was a demand in the Dominion. It was also agreed that th i Government should be recommended. for the purpose of encouraging the growth of red clover seed, to. import a number of the very best of humble bee, particularly the r-4 tailed boo and one known as the bronze bee. Shipments of wool packs end corn sacks from Calcutta; It was reported to the JB'oard that as the result of enouiries which had* been made in regard to the shipnfent of wool parks and

corn sacks to the Domnion, the Union Steamship Company, had written stating that a vessel had already left Ca cutta this year with corn sacks and wool packs, another was leaving at an early date, and that altogether there would be six sailings during the year so ! that altogether there would be six sailings during the year; so that there was every reason to believe that there would be an ample supply of both wool packs and corn sacks for New Zealand requirements. It was hoped that nothing would interfere with the arrival of wool packs earlier than last year. Ear-markng and branding of Stock. This question was also discussed and a sub-committee was set up to report on the scheme submitted by the Livestock Division of the Department of Agrculture for the ear-marking and branding of stock.