STATE EXPERIMENTAL FARM.

Colonist, Volume XLIX, Issue 11966, 20 June 1907, Page 1 (Supplement)

STATE EXPERIMENTAL FARM.

CONFERENCE OF LOCAL — BODIES AND M.sll.K. The Wakefield Branch of tha Farmers' Union, which has taken action in ventilating the desireablenoas of establishing a State Experimental Farm in tliis district, wera very successful in bringing about the conference of delegates of the various local bodies they desired in order to meet the Members for the district* and request their assistance. The conference took place on the ground at the Farmers 1 Field Day tit Wakefield en June 3, and there were present the following deleaates : — Mr ivo Tunnicliffe, President of tho Nelson Executive of the Farmers* Union; Mr P. Higgins, Vice-Presi-dent; the Mayor and Councilor Franklyn (City Council); Mr P. best, Chairman County Council; Messrs Maginnity (Chairman), Franklyn and Smith, Education Board ;" Messrs Cook and Baigent, Chamber of Commerce; the Mayor of Richomnd (Mr A. Sheat) ; Messrs Hagen (President). W. D Harknesg and G. E. Chisnall, A. and P. Association; Air Wm. Coleman, Chairnian Stoke Road Board; Mr Len Palmer, Waimea West Road Board; Mr Wm. Gill, Suburban. North Road Board. Messrs Graham and McKenzie wero present, and an apology was received from Mr A. H. Bisley (Chairman of tho Chamber of Commerce), and a. considerable number of the public took an interest in the proceedings, Mr J. S. Wratt, an ex-Mayor oi Motueka, taking part therein. Mr Tunnicliffe detailed the steps the Wakefield Branch of the Farmers' Union had taken up to making a formal application to tho Minister for Agriculture, who replied that the Government did not intend to establish further experimental stations or State farms until it wa3 in the position to sec that they could be established to good purpose in suitable localities. The speaker said that the Nelson Executive of tho Farmers' Union was very strongly of opinion that such a farm should bo established in Nelson somewhere Dear the railway line, but it required to be thoroughly equipped and up to date. Hence the Farmers' Union required the assistance of other local bodies, and th 3 co-operation of th« Members of the District. They knetf that the Minister for Agriculture had expressed views that were not wholly favorable concerning thei farms established, sayinj that they had outgrown their usefulness, but tbc fact remained that there woio seven farms in the North Island, and the people were asking for more, which was the best proof that, those established had ,tn' 0V6 c! of soma value, though he (Mr Tunnblvffe) contended that their usefulness had been handicapped by the out-of-the-way localities chosen. Nelson climatically, geographically, and by tho mixed nature of the farming carried on was idoally situated for such a farm, and he noted that the Minister said at Ashburton that he was not averse to thoroughly up-to-date, well-equipped experimental stations, therefore it was a good time to make a combined effort. Ho emphasised the point that thn f armor of the future to be fully successful must be in a large measure a scientist. He then ca'ldd upon speakers by name as follows:— Mr Maginnity said that the Education Board was heartily in sympathy with the movement. The Education Board hrrl appointed an Instructor of Agricultural Science, and welcomnd tbis officer's services being called upon for the benefit ol tho community. The Board had also written to the Minister for Educai tion on the subject of that conference, and had received a reply that the matter was being passed on to the Minister for Agriculture, but no reply had been received from that Department. Mr Piper < Mayor of Nelson) ex« pressed the hearty sympathy of the Nelson City Council with the Fanners* Union in their endeavor. Lie emphasised the point that all industry was dependent upon the farmer, and hoped to see a station established, with a good practical man in charge. Mr Cock said that the idea was welcomed by the business people of Nelson, for the business community fully realised the necessity for a prosperous farming community. He pointed out how such a station a 9 asked for could carry out experiments that an indvidual could not, but the indvidual farmers, who were alive to what was of value could carry out the results of these experiments in their practical work to the benefit of themselves and ourselves. He assured the Farmers Union that the mercantile community was thoroughly impressed with the idea, and willing to render all practical assistance possible. Mr Baigent briefly endorsed the remarks cf Mr Cock, and pointed out that if the bogey of expense was raised, land could be loased for say 15 years, and tho expense would thereby be greatly lessened. 3 Mr Sheat s«» id that a very fltrong argument in favor of the idea was that the people askod for it. Nelson was closely sattled.ancl there was the material for the instruction and. information to be used upon. And a very strong argument was the very large amount of second-class land in Nelson district, and it would be highly beneficial to have experiments carried out, and advice given so that this land would be so much more profitable than could otherwiae be the caae. Mr Coleman briefly supported the movement, and said that on he settled lands there were more people on the land to the square mile in Nelson than in any other portion of New Zealand. ' . Mr J. Stuart Wratt, on behalf of the Motueka side of tho District, expressed sympathy with the movement, and said that if a, farm or station could not be established, they might get an analyst to go round the District analysing soils and advising the people as to the constituents and the best fertPisers to use to obtain best results. He believed that with snch information it would be found that large portions of the poorer gronuds would be found most profitable for orchards. Mr Graham, M.H.R., said that he was entirely in accord with the idea, and would do his utmost, in conjunction with bis colleague, Mr McKenzie, to assist those who were moving in the matter. The Minister for Agriculture had given some reason to believe that he would be favorable to a central station. It could be well understood how such a station could carry out experiments, etc., in a manner that isolated. stations could not. Then it would be a good thing to impress on the Minister that Nelson possessed peculiar advantages for such. Mr McKenzie said that he had for years been trying to get something of the kind carried into effect in the Nelson or Motueka Electorate, and he welcomed the strong support that was coming forward from the people. He favored the idea of three such farms in each Island, Tand Nelson would certainly be in favor of one. He looked npon such farms in the same way as he looked upon primary schools in education, and did not regard them as being unsuccessful unless they actually paid their way. He was not in aocord with the Minister in his opinion of the North Island farms. That at Levin he considered had done splendid work. \ this district orchard worn should certainly form a strong feature^ and be suggested that a strong petition should be prepared in favor of the request oi the Farmers' Union. He would do all he possibly could, in conjunction with Mr Graham, to assist. Mr Tunnicliffe rf^n. o- 't^pll of the Farmers' L.. v.., <• ... »■ ;:d thanks to the Members for the District and the delegates for their attendance and sympathy, and on the motion of Mr P. W. Smith, a hearty vote of thanks was accorded Mr Tunnicliffe, who, he said, had been the moving spirit in the matter* and had worked very hard to fttfftf , about something practical, _