SUPPORT FOR KATERE AREA

Taranaki Daily News, 6 August 1932, Page 11

SUPPORT FOR KATERE AREA

GRANT REFUSED BY DEPARTMENT. AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY MEETS. The monthly meeting of the committee of the v Taranaki Metropolitan Agricultural' Society was held at ’New Plymouth yesterday. There were present Messrs. H. C, Sampson (president), J. H. Allen, J. M. Smith, J. T. Goodrick, W. K. Morris, H. Trimble, G. W. Browire, T. Wilson, John Brown, A. Turnbull, L. G. Andrews, H. H. Olson, W. Hall, F. Dodunski, A., P. Listey, A. R. Gudopp, P. J. Petersen, A. T. Moore, IV. B. Grant and E, Griffiths..

In reply to th© society’s inquiries regarding the possibility of obtaining support for th© Kateie experimental area from th© Moumahaki endowment fund, the Director-General of Agriculture wrote regretting that • the department could not agree to the payment of any amount whatever to the society. It was stated that the revenue last'year credited to the fund was only £460 9s sd, .Whereas th© department’s _ expenditure, including the grants paid in respect of th© Stratford demonstration farm, the Ivatere farm and the Waimate West farm amounted to £734 10s 2d, leaving, a large amount still duo to the department. The department did not contemplate’ that the revenue for the current year would be any greater, and that would be insufficient to meet the cost to the department °f two instructional officers, wjiose appointments were approved by the Public Service Commissioner on the understanding that’ the wh'old of the salary of one and a portion of tlw salaiy of the other, were to be made a first charge on the fund. Th© member for New Plymouth, Mr. ,S. G. Smith, said he had taken up the mater with the Minister of Agriculture as he was of opinion that the work so far had proved of such value and the continuance of experiments so important that th© grant should be increased rather than reduced. The society decided to combine with the' competitions committee, of the North Taranaki Farmers’ Union in the holding of a function at New Plymouth for the' presentation of prizes won in North Taranaki farmers’ competitions and for th® purpose of entertaining the conunUee of ladies who assisted the society during the year. Messrs. Morris, Joll Andrews and Moore'and tjic secretary (Mr. W. P. Okey) were appointed a jSuh’Compiitteo to work in conjunction ■with a sub-committee of the competitions committee. Criticism was expressed of the action of the executive of th© New Zealand Arn'icultural and Pastoral Associations in° allocating to the Auckland provincial council one fourth of the levies received from associations in the Auckland district. A motion of protest was passed and will be forwarded to the New Zealand association. The Canterbury A. and P. Associa-

tionh proposal for the elimination • of Unfit-sires was discussed, members expressing the opinion that as - far’, as cattle were concerned the position would right itself gradually with herdtesting methods. obtaining at present Tha society dfecided to .take no action but to watch any developments. . , '