Agricultural Courses, Not Sought At College

Chronicle (Levin), 10 December 1949, Page 4

Agricultural Courses, Not Sought At College

-r Although the absence of an agriculturai course from the curriculum of Horowhenua Coilege remained a matter for criticism, he felt that in view of certain facts this criticism was not justified, said the prinpipal, Mr. N. &, Byrne, when presenting his report at thp pollege's breakihg-UP ceremony on Thursday. For three years he had taken the numhers of bpys. enfering fhe school who wero prepared to take suoh a course if it was availahie. The numbers were: 1947', 7; 1948, 8; 1949, "This response is not sufiicient to justify a speoial course being fstarted or special staff being engaged," said Mr. Byrne. "I.have gonq into this 'matter with considerable care and this position is not uhusual throughout ihe country. The. schoois where such courses, flourish are those which are equipped with a farm,' and Where a boarding school' is affached. Schoois which have not these facilities cannqt make agriculture a featurc pf their work. '-'Our- trades course is designed in the fffst two years to give hoys a general training in skills us,eful on a farm, carpentry, engineering and a background of general science. I am of the opinion that until there is a greater demand, for an agriculturai course we ean best aneet . the needs of

o.ur students by continuing the present trades course and mpdifying our science course ih s.uch a way as to give an agriculturai background to it. By arranging for trades boys to visit the dairy factories, farms and experimental institutions of the district interest would. be created. "The problem, however, was a national pne," added the principal. High wages and the false attractions of town-life tended to draw young men to the trades rather than to work on the land, nnd many parents who, were ! themselves farmers were not willI ing " for their boys to. take up | agriculturai labour unless there ■ was a reasonable prospeot of their owning a farm, and financial con- : ditions often militated against this. This state of affairs," said Mr. Byrne, "is regrettable and not in the best interest of the country, but it contains a hard core of fact."