H.—29a,

1922. NEW ZEALAND.

BOARD OF AGRICULTURE (REPORT OF THE) FOR THE YEAR 1921-22.

Laid on the Table of the House of Representatives by Leave.

REPORT. The Hon. Minister of Agriculture, Wellington. Sir— 15th June, 1922. I beg to submit the following report of the work of the Board of Agriculture for the year ended 30th April last. Mr. J. Massey, representative on the Board of the Auckland District, I regret to state, had to resign his seat on account of pressure of business preventing his attending meetings as frequently as he wished. Mr. E. O. McLennan, of Papakura, was elected to fill the vacancy caused by Mr. Massey's resignation. The Board met on several occasions during the year, and the principal part of our work was in connection with policy matters of the Department, chiefly concerning the experimental farms and horticultural stations. As on previous occasions, we also attended, either as a full Board or as representatives, all conferences held during the year affecting the agricultural interests. One which stands out in this connection is that of the 10th January, 1922, regarding (he meat pooling and marketing scheme ; but, as this is specially mentioned below, no further comment is required just here. KXP IS (OMENTAL T Al4 MS. You will remember that you requested us, by letter dated 27th July, 1921, to go carefully into the whole question of the State farms, especially as regards the expenditure involved by them and the actual measure of benefit to the Dominion resulting from their operations ; also as to what would be the best course to adopt, in the interests of the Dominion as a whole, with the two farms established by the Repatriation Department in Otago (Moa Heed-farm) and in Canterbury (Avonhead) for the purpose of training returned soldiers in farming operations. With regard to the Moa Seed-farm, near Roxburgh, Dr. Ueakes stated that the time had arrived when the Repatriation Department found it necessary to give up the responsibility of soldiers' training-farms. He informed us that, the obvious line of action was for the responsibility to pass to the Department of Agriculture ; and this raised the question of the policy to be adopted by the Department in connection with experimental farms generally. The reports and accounts of all the Government farms, and the general policy to be adopted in their management with regard to education, experimental work, research, and demonstration, were discussed at length at our meetings in conjunction with Dr. Iteakes. The following resolutions were passed : — (I.) That the Board be supplied annually with balance-sheets of the various State farms, set out in simple commercial form on similar lines to the statement hereunder : — Rltakura Karm. £ £ Stock nn hand .. .. .. .. 12,000 Sales of stock .. .. .. .. 1,500 Purchases .. .. .. .. 1,000 Stock on hand .. .. .. .. 12,0011 Expenses .. .. .. 5,000 Other receipts .. .. .. .. 7,000 Balance, Or. Profit and Loan Account.. .. 2,500 £20,500 £20,500

I—H. 29a.