UNDERCURRENTS.

Waikato Times, Volume 110, Issue 18521, 29 December 1931, Page 6

UNDERCURRENTS.

HERE, THERE & ‘EVERYWHERE* (By “ Gleaner.”) A DISOBLIGING DRESS. Extract from a woman’s magazine—“l have in my wardrobe a little blue cloth frock which has grown too tight for me.” Observe that the frock has grown. Its owner, of course, has' remained precisely her old and sylph-like self. # * * * THE BENTGRASS REPORT. We have just received an advance copy of the anxiously awaited Bentgrass Report. Those of our readers who are not yet dead will remember that, away back in 1911 or 1921 (\xe forget which) a Committee, headed by Sir Creeping Bentgrass, 0.8. E., was appointed to enquire into the causes of malnutrition amongst sheep, horses and cattle in certain parts of the world. , . ~ The Table of Contents is by far the most interesting part of the Report, and we here reproduce it entirely uaexpurgated. TABLE OF CONTENTS. Part I. Historical and Descriptive. Chapter I. —Introductory. Chapter ll.—General Characteristics oi Feeding Systems. Chapter 111. —The International Herbage Standard. “ Chapter IV. —The Grass and Feeding System of the World. Chapter V. —The Disequilibrium between Demand and Supply. Chapter Vl.—The influence of Fodder Distribution upon Ihe Physical Condition of Domestic Cattle. Chapter VII. —The Influence of the Wire Fence upon Distribution. Part 11. Conclusions and Recommendations. Chapter I. —The Main Objections to tho Feeding System. Chapter ll.—Proposals Relating to International Feeding Systems. Chapter 111. —Proposals Relating to Domestio Feeding Systems. Chapter IV. —Concluding Note. Chapter V.—Schedules, Addenda, Reservations, Comic Strips, eto. • • • • ALPHABETICAL LIST OF WITNESSES. Mr N. O. Couoh-Grass, Mr Entire Browne, Sir George Gelding, Miss Harriet Heifer, Lieut-Col. S. Phosphate.

(Many other witnesses appeared, but since their views did not meet with the approval of the Committee, their names and evidence have been conveniently forgotten). Part One of the Report states that the cause of malnutrition appears to bo the fact that there has been an excess of short-term feeding, and an insufficiency of long-term feeding. Many domestic animals have lost confidence in their ability to maintain physical fitness without feed. The position lias been aggravated by a certain seclion, the ruminants, who have completely lost confidence and are perversely endeavouring to use the same grass twice for consumption. There is no aclual lack of feed, for although paddocks in which malnutrition of the occupants is most noticeable, are lacking in both short-term and long-term feeding facilities, there Is n plethora of feed available in adjoining closed-system paddocks. The only restraining influence to prevent an inrush of consumers to those paddocks are the enclosing wire fences. These fences are controlled by an Independent authority of unimpeachable Integrity, and are maintained in a highly efficient manner. It is rightly feared that if the fences are relaxed or removed, thus permitting an ingress of malnourished animals, there would immediately ensue a period of greatly Increased consumption, resulting In a high degree of inflation and general physical instability. ' Such an Increase in consumption would lower the nutritive value of the grass In other fenced paddocks, which is undesirable, particularly from the point of view of the animals who are not allowed to consume it.

Many diverse opinions were vou'ohsafed by the witnesses, Jn particular by Sir George Gelding, who in an Impassioned harangue lasting at least seven seconds, said, "Why not pull the fences down?" This suggestion was Ignored by the Committee; as also were all other suggestions with regard to alteration of the fences, or control thereof, In the Interests of the animals concerned. One proposal —that the available fodder should be distributed regularly amongst the animals according to their needs, In relation to the capacity of the paddocks to meet those needs —was scornfully dismissed as being far too simple and sensible to be worthy of consideration.

Part Two of the report is devoted to conclusions and recommendations. Tho first and most important is that what is needed is not only the retention of all existing fences, but the erection of bigger and better fences. Control of such fences must remain in the hands of the existing independent authority. The notion that the interests of the animals should be considered is patently a false one. A simple or obvious solution to the problem of malnutrition is neither necessary nor desirable. The animals might consider the feasibility of growing longer necks. This had been done in tiie past by the giraffes, and would bring temporary relief without any serious danger of inflation. The fences are delicate instruments admirably adapted to the purpose of restricting consumption. The controllers of Ihe fences can be safpiy trusted lo open the gates or relax the wires from lime to time in order to ensure that the animals do not become too weak or die of starvation.

The concluding note sums up the opinions of the Committee as follows: There Is plenty of fodder available to meet the needs of all Ihe animals, but if this were to be distributed amongst them ihe necessity of maintaining Ihe wire fences would be gone. This would work hardship upon the very estimable people who control the fences. Such an •infamous thing could not he permitted lo happen, for if the fences were abolished there could not bo any more Benlgrass Committees. The members of the Committee viewed with the utmost apprehension such a terrible prospect, and unanimously declared that any criticism nr projected Interference with Ihe fences or ihe persons controlling them would lie abhorrent, degrading, unpatriotic, criminal. and entirely damnable.— D.W.B., in the Now Economies.