THE FARMER PREMIER.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 3784, 20 March 1913, Page 6

THE FARMER PREMIER.

MR MASSEY IN THE SOUTH. [PRESS ASSOCIATION' TELEGRAM.] TIMARU, March 19. Mr Massey formally opened the new Boy’s High School in the presence of a large assemblage. In the course of his remarks he complimented the school on its determination to specialise in agriculture, and said the Government was determined to push on land settlement to the utmost, and asked the people to support this policy. Afterwards Mr Massey received a number of deputations, the most important being one from the Farmers’ Union, which made reference to the shortage of farm labor, outdoor and indoor, cropping restriction on l.i.p. lands. Regarding farm hands, the Premier said the farmer wanted skilled men able to take charge of horses, implements, and machinery, and Sir H. Rider Haggard bad told him. that •such men were as scarce at Home as here. Then, as such men did not remain servants all their lives, continual streams of young men suited for the work were required. The Government had been assisting ploughmen and domestics, and lie would proposo a larger sum for the purpose. Regarding cropping restrictions, lie said they were, to a large extent, useless, and he would have them removed within certain limits. In reply to a question about experimental farms, Mr Massev spoke of a Board of Agriculture to be set up to advise in such matters.