RESEARCH WORK IN N.Z. PRAISED.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18545, 20 August 1928, Page 5

RESEARCH WORK IN N.Z. PRAISED.

SIR JOHN RUSSELL APPRECIATES STAY,

Prior to his departure on Saturday afternoon by the Rotorua, sailing for England, Sir John Russell, director of the Rothamsted Experimental Station, expressed to a “ Post ” representative his keen appreciation of his visit. “ Of course I have heard much and read much about New Zealand,” he said, “ but now that I have actually seen ‘parts of the country I can truthfully echo the words of the Queen of Sheba, who complained that what she had heard of the wonders of Solomon's court had been but half the truth”'. Sir John Russell lamented the fact that his visit had necessarily been so short, but he anticipated returning to the Dominion in 1932, when a• much longer stay would enable him to see more of the country, and to delve more deeply into the agricultural and pastoral problems confronting the Dominion.

Landing in Auckland a fortnight ago, Sir John Russell saw something of the dairying country around Hamilton, and came south via Rotorua and Palmerston North. The possibilities of the growth of grass in. the North Island impressed the distinguished scientist more than anything. “It is astonishing,' he commented, “ what results can be, and are, obtained by proper management. There is no unprofitable waiting as elsewhere, the sown grass taking straight away. Stock can be kept out side all the winter, so that there is no expensive period to tide over, and no costly importation of . concentrated food. It will be interesting to see the results of the new methods being employed in the intensification of the growth on grass lands, aiming at an earlier spring growth and a prolonga tion of growth into the autumn.” Sir John Russell paid a tribute to the work being done in this direction by officers of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research of the Agricultural Department, and of Massey College. “Your workers are wide awake,” he said, “and there is high promise for the future. Th(? work being done on the mineral content of pastures, and on soil deficiency in general, is perhaps the best piece of research that is being undertaken. It will have enormous value to other parts of the Empire, for soil deficiency probably accounts for many obscure diseases in • stock, the cause of which is not always recognised.” IN THE SOUTH ISLAND. When in the South Island Sir John Russell spent a few days at Nelson, subsequently going as far south as Christchurch. A troublesome throat prevented an extension of his itinerary to Otago, much to the disappointment of agriculturists there and of Sir John himself. Two days spent at Arthur’s Pass, however, served to shake off the trouble. Commenting on the work of the Cawthrou Institute, Sir John Russell said that a wonderfully good start had been made. What was being done in the way of soil survey was admirable, and the work in connection with the control of insect pests and noxious weeds was bound to have a far-reach ing effect both in the Dominion arid in other parts of the Empire. “ I was much impressed,” he added, “by the Canterbury Plains, where there are great possibilities of continued development. The work being done at Lincoln College is both sound and practical.” Sir John Russell said that he found in Banks Peninsula an almost perfect adaption of crop and local cond.tions, the cocksfoot crop reaching a wonderfully high degree of excellence. AN EFFICIENT DEPARTMENT. Sir John said that he could not con elude his visit without paying a high tribute to the work of the Departmem of Scientific and Industrial Research. “ Such a Department,” he said, “is a. valuable co-ordinating body, eiisur- I ing the fullest attention possible to the country’s problems and avoiding the neglect of problems not falling within the province of any established organisation. There can be no qjes- ! tion as to the value of the work which the Department is doing, work which will yearly become of more and more importance to New Zealand. It enables colleges, experimental stations, and university workers and others to maintain a proper perspective when dealing with the practical problems ol the country. I have during my visit seen something of the working of the Department and have nothing but for it and for the efficiency of its officers. To a young country like New Zealand such a Department is of untold value if developed on sound lines and in close co-operation with similar organisations elsewhere, and yours is.”