A. AND P. SOCIETIES.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13487, 30 July 1907, Page 7

A. AND P. SOCIETIES.

ANNUAL CONFERENCE.

(Per Press Association.)

WELLINGTON, July 30.

The Agricultural Societies' Conference opened to-day. Mr. -J. G. Wilson presided. In the course of a lengthy address the Chairman said dwellers in the Dominion could fairly congratulate themselves on prosperity, based upon increased output from the agriculturists and pastoralists and enhanced values. " More interest," he said, "is being taken in the . scientific side of dairying, and the Minister of Agriculture is of opinion that the people are sufficiently educated to accept Government inspection of herds and milkingsheds. It is certain that any inspection which the dairy companies have-insti-tuted has entirely failed to have the milk of all suppliers brought in a proper condition^ to the factory, and although it is a faot that by the careful ripening of cream and the use of a freezer the butter-maker is able to turn out a firstclass article, yet it is obvious that milk in a doubtful condition must have a deleterious effect pn the manufactured article. Dairy people all hope that they are nearer to a dairy experimental station, but as yet there are no signs to justify the hope." The President referred to the necessity of educating farmers by recording experiments taken by agricultural and pastoral societies. He mentioned that exports had reached nineteen millions, and revenue nearly eight and a half millions. ' There was reason to expect more remunerative prices for produce than ruled some few years ago, even if they did not keep up to the present level. It was possible with good land laws to break in many millions of acres of virgin land. There was also room for expansion in the export of wool. Half-bred wool was still in wonderful demand, and any country which grew the wool well must be highly remunerative, as this class of New Zealand wool seemed to have an elasticity which was not procurable in any other country in the world.

The conference decided that efforts should be made to secure simultaneous poisoning for rabbits and small birds throughout various districts, and that the Government should be urged to take more active measures in dealing with rabbits in unoccupied and Native lands : and that the Government should be urged to cope with the spread of noxious weeds in all unoccupied Native and railway lands. For printing and auvertising call at the Herald Office.