Agricultural Advisory Board. 27 



provided their prices were no higher than those for similar imported 

 goods ; weights and measures, about which the Minister said that a 

 Bill was prepared ; grain elevators, in connection with which it was 

 explained that these were being proceeded with, and that Mr. 

 Littlejohn Philips had been engaged as consulting engineer ; and a 

 promise was made to consider a suggestion to send officers to America 

 to become familiar with the practical working of grain elevators. 



Co-operative Societies. — The Board having had placed before 

 them by the Secretary for Agriculture the Department's estimates for 

 next year, a discussion arose on the position of agricultural co-opera- 

 tion as affected by non-limited co-operative societies, and a pro- 

 posal to take them out of the control of the Agricultural Department 

 and place them under the Land Bank. It was pointed out that the 

 Agricultural Department acted as advisers and guides to these 

 societies, and not merely as inspectors. The Board took the view 

 that the original bargain under which these societies were started 

 placed an obligation on the Agricultural Department to see them 

 through, and passed a resolution in the following terms: — 



That this Board is of opinion that while the present system 

 obtains, it is essential that the Agricultural Co-operative Divi- 

 sion of the Department should be maintaioed. 



Training Farms. — The Secretary for Agriculture announced that 

 Government proposed to establish three training farms in connection 

 with land settlement, one at Indwe, one at Standerton, and one at 

 Oakdale (south Cape Province). These would rank as agricultural 

 schools for a type of men who wanted practical training for about a 

 year. Hartebeestpoort, which had been used as a farm for returned 

 soldiers, would be transferred to the Phthisis Board. 



Conference of Departmental Officers. — The Secretary for Agri- 

 culture explained that a system had been established of holding 

 monthly meetings of the principal officers of the Department, with a 

 view to informing each other what they were doing. 



Poultry Division. — Considerable discussion arose regarding a 

 suggestion to create a Poultry Division. While recognizing the 

 glowing importance of the poultry industry, it was made apparent 

 that to establish an effective Division would require the appointment 

 of a man with scientific as well as practical attainments in poultry 

 culture, and such a man was not available. However, the Board 

 recommended that with the staff available, and without creating a 

 special Division, organization could be commenced and steps taken 

 to provide for the suitable training of a young man for ultimate 

 control of this particular class of agriculture. 



Geneva Conference. — By resolution of the Board and on the 

 invitation of the Minister to recommend a delegate to the Geneva 

 Conference on Labour, Major R. D. Doyle was nominated to represent 

 employers. Going fully into the agenda of the Conference, it was 

 apparent that 75 per cent, of the items bore directly on agricultural 

 labour, and therefore it was important that some one well acquainted 

 with South African conditions should be appointed. 



{Note. — The question relating to veterinary surgeons will be 

 elaborated in a later issue. — Editor.) 



