AGRICULTURAL CENSUS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 20110, 31 March 1928, Page 24 (Supplement)

AGRICULTURAL CENSUS

PROPOSAL FOR NEAR FUTURE Groundwork for taking a world agricultural census in 1930, under the direction of the International Institute of Agriculture at Rome, is, according to a recent official report, making good progress. As a preliminary step, the director of the project, Air L. M. Estabrook, has devoted most of the. past 14 months to travel in order to discuss with the proper authorities in rhe several nations the idea of the project, its execution, and the results expected.

To date, Air Estabrook has visited every capital in Europe and North Africa, finding everywhere a willingness among Government officials to cooperate in the plan as outlined by Air Estabrook in collaboration with the institute. An equal degree of success has attended his visits to Turkey, to North American countries and the West Indies. Tho Orient is the next region to be covered in the interest of the census. As a result of the census, it is expected that for the first time in history, comparable data will be made available covering the production of the most important agricultural products in practically all of the countries of the. world whom facilities to do the work exist or can bo created. In several instances, the census will be the first effort at comprehensive crop and live stock estimating those countries ever attempted, and involves the creating of practically new government organisation. In other countries, existing machinery must be expanded somewhat, and a certain amount of chance in method appears necessary in order to have results conform to the standard census schedules prepared by the; institute under Air Estabrook’s direction. Where any doubt regarding whole-hearted participation in the plan has been expressed, the doubt has arisen with respect to the possibility of a lack of sufficient public funds rather than that from a hick of interest in the project itself.