The Daily News SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 1930. SOUND ADVICE.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 November 1930, Page 6

The Daily News SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 1930. SOUND ADVICE.

The address delivered by the Gov-ernor-General, Lord Bledisloe, at the opening of the Carterton Show contains so much sound and practical advice to the primary producers that it should be read, marked, learned and inwardlydigested by all Engaged in the industry. His Excellency has proved on many occasions since he arrived in the Dominion, not only that he possesses outstanding practical and technical knowledge on all branches o.f farming, but that he is animated by a sincere desire to be of real service to the farming community in order that it may be able to keep abreast of the times and further its own welfare and the prosperity of the country. As a primary producing unit of the Empire New Zealand is faced with several problems of the first magnitude. Recognising this fact, Lord Bledisloe went straight to the heart of his subject by stressing the fundamental principle that governs all industries, namely, keeping in view the ultimate destination of, the produce. In urging farmers to be on the alert in supplying the British market with what it wanted in the way of produce, and stressing the need for ascertaining what science could teach them of rural economy, His Excellency not only appealed to the common-sense of the farmers, but struck exactlythe right chord to attract tlieir attention and stimulate their reasoning powers. The time has long since passed when farming in progressive countries was ear-.,, ried out in a groove from generation to generation. The advent of ever-increasing competition by foreign nations necessitated recourse to scientific research and experimental work, as well as a closer adherence to the basic principles of the economic laws,the result being that husbandry has now .been raised to -the rank of a scientific profession, and has become embodied in a scheme of specialised education, carried out at colleges created for -fhe purpose. Inasmuch as the law of supply and demand applies with possibly greater force to primary products than to secondary, the wisdom of Lord Bledisloe’s advice to make the primary products suit the markets of the world is self-evident. On the subject of the introduction of new blood for the improvement of live stock His Excellency was able to oifer some pertinent reasons why this highly important matter should receive due attention. Here, again, his practical knowledge and experience were placed at the service of the farmers of the Dominion. Possibly it may come as a surprise to learn from Lord Bledisloe that at the recent Royal Show he had seen animals that gave evidence of in-breeding and the necessity for fresh blood, and he stated the reason, why such animals were seen in the ring was that in many classes at that show there were only two or three entries, but they all • got prizes. Even the ordinary layman must be aware that such a state of affairs must be injurious to the industry, and must therefore applaud the view expressed by Lord Bledisloe that ,if the farmers of the Dominion desire to maintain the quality 'of their stock they must instruct the judges to withhold prizes unless they are deserved. The committees of the various A. and P. Societies will do well to act upon this sound advice. Ifappily there is no longer 1 , any need to impress upon farmers the importance of top-dressing pastures as a- means for securing increased production. There appears to be, however, some danger of using nitrogenous and other manures where phosphates and lime are needed. The expert officials of the Agricultural Department have for some time past been doing good work in analysing soils and prescribing the right fertilisers to use. Apparently there is room for more of that kind of assistance to be rendered, though it will necessarily take both . time and money to cover the whole Dominion with the required information and fertilisers. Lord Bledisloe rightly insists that it would be false economy to grudge the expenditure needed to convey up-to-date knowledge to farmers, for the potent reason that the countries with, which the Dominion is competing arc listening to the teachings of scientists, so that unless New Zealand also listens and acts it will fall behind in the race. The supreme importance of studying the requirements of the consumers may be gleaned from the fact that it not only formed the opening portion of His Excellency’s-address, but was further pressed home in his concluding remarks relating to butter and cheese. Even the consumers in the Old Country vary in their tastes and preferences, hence the need for suiting their different requirements. It is a question of organisation on business lines. Thanks to Lord Bledisloe, the farmers of New Zealand sliQftld profit by the timely and instructive advice tendered to them in tlie hope that their progress and prosperity may be advanced.

HYDRO-ELECTRIC WORKS. The trouble at the Arapuni hydro works was almost certain to arouse doubts in regard to the other two important undertakings of a similar character now under way. These are situated at Lake. Waikai'emoana in the North Island ami in the Waitaki River in the South Is--land. Of the former there have been rumours that the water power anticipated will not lie on account of unexplored rifts in iffe bed of the lake, through which escape large quantities of the water it was hoped to harness for the. new power house. Apparently investigation is being carried out by departmental officers, and from the nature of things the inquiry is not one that can be hurried. In regard to Waitaki even inorp-sensational statements were made on the alleged authority of an engineer of some standing. It was stated that the site chosen for the works was. tinsuitable, that the formation of the country where the main dam is being erected is of a nature that would make The foundations unsafe, that the dam is, in fact, being built on a foundation of “volcanic mud” rather than upon solid rock. Statements were made in Parliament to this effect, and there was a demand for an inquiry. The Minister of Public Works, the Hon. W. B. Taverner, declined to take any action until he knew upon whoso authority the charges were made, a condition which the members concerned were not at the moment willing to comply with. However, the reasonableness of Mr. Taverner’s attitude appears to have been recognised and the critic’s name has been divulged. The reply given by the departmental engineer ridicules the criticism of the scheme. It claims ’that the foundations are in solid rock and that there is no reason to anticipate any trouble in the development of the works owing to the nature of the site chosen. The Government has gone further. It has asked Professor Hornell, the expert invited to give advice in regard to Arapuni, to inspect and report upon the Waitaki undertaking, an action that will meet with general approval. When his report is available Ministers will have before them all the expert advice it is practicable to obtain, and there seems no reason to doubt that this will be in favour of the works proceeding as planned.