Tuapeka Times AND GOLOFIELDS REPORTER AND ADVERTISER. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 1892. " MEASURES, NOT MEN."

Tuapeka Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1903, 8 June 1892, Page 2

Tuapeka Times AND GOLOFIELDS REPORTER AND ADVERTISER. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 1892. " MEASURES, NOT MEN."

The subject of a properly-equipped agricultural department in this colony is one of the highest importance to farmers, and, indeed, to all who desire to see the agricultural industry, which has been rightly termed the back-bone of the colony, being allowed free play for ifcs expansion and prosperity. We have a Minister of Mines, why not a minister of agriculture? The question was brought very forcibly under the notice of the Waitahuna Farmers' Club at its last meeting by the Wellington Philosophical Society, which is fortunate in having as a member Mr W. M. Maskell, i P.R.M.S., a gentleman of high scientific attainments, aud an enthusiast on: matters pertaining to cultivation of all kinds. In a pamphlet ou the subject, Mr Maskell explains that though there is a gentleman in the Cabinet bearing the title of Minister of Agriculture who has under him a Department of Lands and a Department of Stock, yet the titles except, perhaps, for stock, are pure misnomers. At present there is not in the country any official or responsible machinery for investigating the various enemies to cultivation, for advis* ing and informing cultivators. For instance, on the appearance or a newenemy to the cultivator, of a new pest among crops or trees or gardens, or of a new friend or a new method of procedure, there is no reliable official quarter to whioh the cultivator may turn at'

once for advice and information. If a newscourec apnears the Minister of AgricuH ure has to go outside his department for amateu;" advice. Whereas other connfcries have thoroughly grasped the importance of the subject and have established expert agricultural departments capable of meeting all the demands of a complex, progressive, and gigantic industry. In the United States, in England, and in Australia the three colonies of New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia have expert agricultural departments and first-class professional staffs. Yet among all these there is no country whose present and future prosperity are so closely bound up with the resources and cultivatipn of the soil as New Zealand. The subject, it should be specially noted, is of particular concern to fruitgrowers, and the Teviot Fruitgrowers' Association should not lose the opportunity of aiding the farmers' associations in urgiug this reform oa the Government.

THE people of Waibahuna havea <?envime grievance against the post-office authorities, arising oat of the serious inconvenience caused by the present mail arrangements in force, and the wonder is that they have submitted so long and uncomplainingly to so glaring an anomaly. Why letters posted in Waitahuna for Duuedin should be first sent on to Lawrence, where they are detained over nighf, before being transmitted to their destination, is a question that requires some explanation. If the authorities have decided in thb plenitude of their power to inconvenience the public by detaining their letters twentyfour hours after they have been posted, why not allow them to remain at Waitahuna during the night, particularly as they are brought back there on the following morning ? But why allow them to remain here or there after they have been duly made up and the opportunity offers for their transmission ? The entire arrangement is involved in mystery; though, if the truth were known, it is simply a relic of the old circumlocution days, when all such things were carried out on a crude, wooden-headed system, about as much suited to the rush and whirl of to-day as would the old stage coaches of the last century. All letters posted after the 8.20 p.m. train leaves Waitahuna are not forwarded until the next afternoon, and as they arrive late for the mail delivery in Dunedin , a whole day is lost before a reply can be received. Is there any reason why this should be ? The making up of letters is, one would think, the simplest and, at the same time, the most useful function of a postoffico; and if the post-office at Waitahuna is not considered capable of performing that necessary duty, it forfeits the strongest claim to its existence. But, of course, it is equal to the performance of all the ordinary duties of such an establishment, and is only prevented from meeting the wishes of the public by the crass stupidity or perverseness of those at headquarters. Attention having been called to the anomaly by the Waitahuna Farmers' Club, it is to be expected it will receive prompt attention from the Department.