FARMERS IN COUNCIL.

Waikato Times, Volume LVII, Issue 8006, 11 September 1906, Page 2

FARMERS IN COUNCIL.

The fifth annual conference of the New Zealand Farmers' Union, which sat at Wellington last week, was characterised by that strict attention to business, which had been the most promising feature of former conferences, By avoiding highly controversial and purely political subjects, the Farmers' Parliament, as it has come to be called, has been enabled to formulate several suggestions of the utmost importance to the farming community. Our readers have had from time to time recently many views on the subject of agricultural education, not the least interesting among them that of Mr W. V. Jackson, instructor of agriculture in the primary schools, and there is consequently no necessity for us to again urge the desirability of such a departure; it will suffice to express our gratification at finding that the energetic President of the Union, Mr J. G. Wilson, once more gave the subject great prominence in his opening address. This year his utterances were more optimistic than ever, as witness the following extract from the speech in question: "In regard to rural education, it was very gratifying to find what a substantial advance had been made, and it was very satisfactory to the union to see that as a result of its arousing public opinion on the subject, rural education in the schools had been at last recognised as a special subject, requiring special men to direct it." Among his suggestions were that the instructors should be sent on a tour to the most advanced countries in order to compare methods and shift what may suit New Zealand's requirements. This is a phase of the question which should not be subordinated to economy in £ s d, for it is no figment to say that every ,£IOOO spent in this direction will ultimately benefit the country at large to the extent of tens of thousands anuually. This is always provided really smart assimilative men are obtained; the duffer in this would not be worth his tobacco. Our commercial rivals are bestirring themselves and making efforts to obtain that place which there is no insuperable obstacle to prevent this colmy occupying. A straw shows where sits the wind, and there is a significance pregnant with deep import tc our farmers in the fact, recently chronicled in a Home agricultural journal, that quite recently a buyer from the Argentine had purchased a Liucoln ram at 1400 guineas. The price may have been much above the value of the sheep, but that is beside the point; he who runs may read that in that particular country there are those who have determined to consider not the cost of improving their industry, and it behoves each of us to take that warning and profit by it. Harking back to Mr Wilson's views, great stress was laid by him on the necessity fo- the multiplication of experimental stations. Coming from such a keen observer and so reputable au authority on matters agricultural, it comes with added force to learn that these farmers are doing such good work as to warrant their increase. Perhaps this will serve to arouse the interest of the rank and file of our producers, who must get rid of the idea that the experiments carried out by the Department, are such as have no connection with the daily routine of the small holding. Of course, as Mr McNab explained to the Union, the highly specialised nature of the equipment for research prevents the multiplication of a complete experimental station and school of instruction, but there is no reason why farms such as Huakura should not be conducted in greater numbers than at present. Another matter touched on by Mr Wilsou, which we are glad to see has the approval of the Minister for Agriculture, is the adequate instruction of stock inspectors. In fact, tl:e Minister stated that Mr Gil ruth has such a scheme in course of framing, to ensure inspectors having some knowledge of veterinary work. Though these are but a tithe of the good works wrought by the Union and its President, enough has been said to show that the delegates had before them matters worthy of the mature consideration brought to bear upon them.