33

H.—l4

Even if the Rabbits and Noxious Weeds Inspectors were placed under the Live-stock Division, there is ample work for the most highly trained horticulturist the Dominion can procure in controlling important experiments and generally advising farmers on the thousand-and-one points which arise in connection with field farming ; and to make such a change would entail no loss of dignity on the Director. Unfortunately, at the present time there is too much friction apparent, owing to a divergence of opinion between the Director of the Fields, &c, Division and the Secretary of the Department on a purely professional subject. The Dairy-produce Division appears to be worked in a manner which leaves little opening for criticism. There is no need for any change. As regards the Orchards Division, I am not prepared at present to express an opinion whether it should remain as an independent division or be merged into that of the Experimental Farms (Horticultural) Division. This, among other matters, will, no doubt, come under the criticism of the Board of Agriculture which is about to be created. What does strike one as a poor arrangement is that a Biologist of such repute as the present head of the Orchards Division should have been taken away from the biological work which he was performing with such marked success. Notwithstanding that minor officers are under the direct control of the heads of their divisions only, the Department has a number of district offices in charge of fairly-well paid officers, the function of which offices would be apparent if the district agent had any power. It is freely stated by officers high up in the Service and others that the district offices are practically useless. Their main function appears to be to write letters for such Inspectors as require this to be done, and to collect fees for the registration of brands, &c. In their present form they may be regarded as an unnecessary waste of money and force. Under the old organization there were District Inspectors in charge, and this is said to have worked well, the main difficulty being, so far as can be understood, that the advent of Veterinarians aroused a feeling that professional officers should not be under the local control of non-professional officers. It is difficult to ascertain the real reason. Whatever happened, the reorganization took place, and local control ceased. In the course of the investigation made by the Commissioners, various suggestions have been made as to the proper system of local control. The Fields Division evidently fears that it would be controlled locally by a Veterinarian, and so on. The Commissioners see no difficulty at all in devising a perfect reorganization. The Dominion should be divided into workable districts, and a Veterinary officer who has some gift for administration placed in charge of the Live-stock Division, to which should be added the Rabbits and Noxious Weeds Inspectors. He should be given a thoroughly competent Chief Clerk and such staff as may be found necessary. This would immediately do away with the overlapping which at present exists, and enable the Inspectors in the district to be properly controlled. It is said that there is a good deal of fear, on the part of many Inspectors, that if this happened they would be found unnecessary. It seems to me that if there are any incompetent or superfluous Inspectors the sooner this happens the better. As this arrangement would leave the Fields Division in a workable condition, the present Fields Supervisors could be placed in charge of districts similarly, with a competent Chief Clerk. There is no reason why all should not work in the same building. Coming to the Head Office, it appears to be absurd that the ordinary clerical work should not be gathered together there. Professional men holding the important position of Directors of Divisions should not be troubled with details of office-work, which must happen at present. Instead of what is equivalent to four separate Departments corresponding with the Head Office, there should be one central system of records and accounts, to avoid the work being duplicated as is done now. When the organization is settled on a business basis it should be determined once and for all whether the head of the Department is to be a professional or a clerical officer ; and, if the latter, how far he is to override the professional officer on professional matters. I have now before me papers which indicate the difficulties in this respect.

5—H. 14.