AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1803, 16 July 1913, Page 6

AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION.

DEPARTMENT'S GOOD WORK. Mr. J. G. Wilson's speech at yesterday's opening of tho Farmers' Union Conference contained an appreciation of tho work of tho Government Agricultural Department, 011 which fell tho whole burden of agricultural education. "A small number of cadets are at present taken on to tho Iluakura farm," said Mr. Wilson, "and I am glad to say the applications aro so many that wo are promised further accommodation, and that cadets will 1m taken on Moumahaki, and wo may therefore hope for more vocational training for farmers in the future, "Wo often so?, however, the cost of the Agricultural Department complained of. If tho expenditure on it (about .0180,000 per annum) .is not a good investment, I don't know what is. The Dominion exports nearly JG10.000.000 worth of produce. If tho Department teaches us how to care for tho health of tho stock, examine our 'produce, and grade it before it goes on board ship; passes frozen meat as freo from disease; conducts experiments at tho various State farms, as well as co-opera-fcivo experiments in conjunction with farmers; imports valuable dairy stock; educates the farmers through tho officials of the Department by kcture-s, visits and advice; makes excellent educative exhibits at shows; conducts a useful journal; and in many other ways, surely it must be given credit for assisting to a largo extent in tho expansion of our agricultural produce."