8.—14.

PUBLICITY. 10. The Board has availed itself of every opportunity of making the system more generally known, and in particular bringing its advantages to the notice of the farming community. Branch officers have willingly supplied all requisite information to inquirers, and where desired the services of officers have been made available for the purpose of addressing meetings of farmers convened with the object of receiving information in respect of the system. Six meetings of this nature were addressed during the year. In this connection the Board has received valuable assistance from the New Zealand Farmers' Union, Inc., and its branches throughout the Dominion, the majority of the meetings referred to having been arranged by branches of the union. The Union has also kept its members supplied from time to time with information regarding the progress and development of the system furnished to it by the Board. The Board lias printed and issued a pamphlet containing an outline of the provisions of the legislation governing the scheme and a summary of the procedure to be followed in applying for loans. The pamphlet has proved of great use to intending borrowers, giving as it does all necessary information in a concise form, and its use has conserved the time of branch officers, who previously found it necessary to spend considerable time in interviewing inquirers. The Board is again indebted to the press throughout the Dominion for their action in publishing reports of the Board's monthly meetings and also other information relating to the Board's operations from time to time. Valuable publicity has been given in connection with the conferences of associations held during the past year. The Board has issued to the executives of all dairy companies a circular letter giving full particulars of the various modes under which moneys may be obtained from the Board by farmers, and explaining the procedure necessary to make applications. The co-operation of the dairy companies in the working of the scheme has been most valuable. GENERAL POLICY AND PROCEDURE. 11. Generally speaking, the Board's policy and procedure are now well defined, but extensions and modifications are rendered necessary from time to time by the further development and extension of the system. The following matters which have engaged attention during the past year should be mentioned. 12. Periodical Review of Accounts. —As a result of the discussion held with directors of associations in sheep-farming and grain-growing districts, it became apparent that it would be advantageous if all accounts of sheep-farmers and graingrowers were reviewed annually, and the suggestion has been made by the Board to those responsible for the administration of the accounts that this practice should be observed. The need of special review in the case of dairying accounts is not so essential, as effective knowledge of the position of the account is obtained through the receipt of the periodical deductions from the cream cheques. Where, however, any dairying account appears to be not entirely satisfactory, it will be specially reviewed. The reviews will enable directors of associations, members of district boards, and District Supervisors to keep in touch generally with the accounts in their districts, and should have a useful effect upon the working of the system. 13. Further Advances for Seasonal Expenditure. —Although as a general principle the Board reserves to itself the power to grant further advances (except in the case of loans not exceeding £250 in amount), it has been found desirable to make special arrangements to ensure that applications made by borrowers, particularly those engaged in sheep-farming and grain-growing, for further advances to meet seasonal expenditure such as shearing and harvesting expenses and the cost of planting winter feed, shall receive prompt consideration. The Board has accordingly delegated to district boards and District Supervisors the power to approve of such further advances for such purposes on the recommendation of the directors of associations or with the approval of guaranteeing companies, as the case may be.

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