vi PREFACE 
ambitious task, if it does not, indeed, serve as an introduction. 
The practical value of the questions discussed, has strongly 
appealed to me, and it can fairly be claimed that the work is 
not merely of academic interest. Indeed, it is mainly in the 
hope that the treatment may prove helpful to farmers, public 
men, and all interested in the rural industries, that I have 
decided to publish the work. Should this prove to be the case, 
it will bring only added pleasure to the author; for already 
the investigation has afforded more than adequate satisfaction 
for the labours of preparation. 
My thanks are due to all who have helped me in the 
preparation of the work—and they are many. To the farmers 
of Canterbury I am grateful for the readiness with which they 
responded to the many requests I made of them. The various 
Government Departments which I approached were also always 
anxious to assist me with statistical material and other infor- 
mation at their disposal. In particular I must acknowledge 
gratefully the help which Mr. Malcolm Fraser, Government 
Statistician, tendered me in this respect. My thanks are due 
also to Mr. Edwin Hall, of Onehunga, and Dr. Hilgendorf, of 
the Canterbury Agricultural College, both of whom read the M6S., 
and made many valuable suggestions. Finally, I must tender 
my special thanks to my teacher, Dr. James Hight, of 
Canterbury University College, whose guidance and encourage- 
ment while I was preparing the work were invaluable. He 
read the MS., as it appeared, and afterwards undertook to 
watch the book through the press, and correct proofs. It may 
be stated that this work is but one of many on similar topics, 
which have been prepared recently at Canterbury University 
College under Dr. Hight’s guidance. 
D. B. COPLAND, 
University of Tasmania, 
Hobart, 
June 30th, 1918. 
