BIG SCHEME THREATENED.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9789, 4 March 1910, Page 2

BIG SCHEME THREATENED.

AGRICULTURE INSTITUTE IN TROUBLE. United Pieig Ai!oci»tion—By Electrlo Telegraph—Copyright. (Received March 4, 8.25 a.m.) LONDON, March 3. The Milan correspondent of the "Daily Chronicle" says that King Emmanuel's International Institute of Agriculture is in danger of collapse, owing to internal feuds. Moreover, the high salaries compel the acquisition of information of ruling prices to be by post, to avoid telegraphic expense.

( The Institute, which owes its inception to the King of Italy, and which has been housed in a beautiful building, constructed at his personal expense, has received the support of nearly all the countries in the world. Its current expenses are provided by the Governments of the countries sending their representatives to the Institute, the British subscription at present being £960 per annum. The official language of .the Institute is French, but the staff is international. The work of the Institute is divided into four technical branches: Produce, Rural Labour, Diseases of Plants and Economical and Social Institutions. There is also an administrative branch and a library. The technical branches are designed to supply the world with information (a) on agricultural produce, so as to minimise the influence of perturbing influences on the markets; (b) on rural labour, in order that the migratory movements, whether periodical or not, correspond as much as possible to the interests of production and labour; (c) on the diseases of plants, in order to, render their diffusion more difficult and facilitate the protection of such districts as arc free from them; (d) on agricultural credit; insurance and cooperative institutions, so that the knowledge of the means used and repults obtained may help the diffusion and increase the efficiency of each system as well as encourage mutual agreements.