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mises this year compared to what the future promised 

 last year, but we need to be shown what we realised of 

 that promised, and what were the causes of success or 

 fa-ilure. We want to know how far our expectations 

 were defrauded and the reasons therefore, and how we 

 can avoid the mistake in the next attempt. 



Well may we ask what are the use of figures un- 

 less we learn practical results from them? This often 

 appears lost sight of altogether by the parties coicern- 

 ed in their compiling. Often the question of under- 

 standing them is thought of the least importance and a 

 mass of unintelligible details is the results of the year's 

 efforts and expenditure. Books and pamphlets that 

 few read and many ignore can hardly be said to fulfil 

 the object of the existence of a department, and since 

 we cannot abolish statistics, much less a Government 

 department, let us have at least the work made intel- 

 ligible to the great majority. Since it requires compe- 

 tent men to collect and read advantageous lessons from 

 the results of statistics, for which reason they are col- 

 lected, then let the same gentlemen make their voices 

 heard annually in deciphering the experiences of the 

 past, which, together with the prospects of the future, 

 should be brought home to all our farmers- 



In dwelling on the shortcomings of the Statistical 

 department I do so because it is one of the most im- 

 portant guages we have of our actual prosperity, and 

 the most important of all in the Ministry of Agricul- 

 ture- 

 Statistics 'to be of any use must be understandable, 

 not solely by those who dedicate their lives to the stjdr 

 of rural problems but by everybody. 



If this is not the case then more often than not 

 they are more prejudicial than useful. 



OUR MISMANAGED AGRICULTURAL MINISTRY 



The absence of any definite plan is noticeable 

 throughout . 



How evident at times is the absence of any sound 

 plan of working in the Ministry of Agriculture, and 

 how prejudicial at times is the counsel extended? Ex- 

 amples of such are many; one will be recalled by the 

 propaganda undertaken to influence the extension of 

 cereal sowings. 



We were all only too familiar with the placards 

 issued by the Ministry counselling us all to undertake 

 the cultivation of cereals, placards which not only deco- 



