EDUCATE THE FARMERS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1804, 17 July 1913, Page 10

EDUCATE THE FARMERS.

WHERE AUSTRALIA LEADS. VIEWS OF MR. E, NEWMAN, M.P. Mr. I). Ken-man, M.P., who has recently returned, from New South Wales, where he inspected tho llawkcsbury .Agricultural College, for tlio purpose of making a report thereon to tne Minister lor Agriculture (the Hon. W. I'. Alassey), ailuresscd the Farmers' Union Conference yesterday 011 the work being done at that college. Mr. Newman said the necessity for special education of farmers was pretty well recognised all over the world. Up till now in New Zealand they had hail virgin soil to work upon, but tho tune was approaching when second-class land would nave to bo dealt with. A great change would come into the system of farming in New Zealand. Land which was now useless would have to be utilised. The hill country and pastoral lands would also have to be utilised. Intensive fanning would bo necessary, anil better records would have to be kept, and better machinery used. There was poor clay laud in North Auckland which he hoped to see utilised for fruit-growing, ami tho gum lauds for root crops. It was the duty of the Government' to educate their farmers, and for this purpose he wished to show what was being done in other countries. There was a steady trend of population citywards in New Zealand, as elsewhere, and this would tend to legislation iii favour of the towns. , . The Government proposed to form a Board of Agriculture, lie was not awaro what form it would take, but he hoped that ex officio tho president of tlie Farmers' Union would bo on the board. He thought six or seven men from each island would be necessary, aiitl he hoped the board would be started on a sounfl financial basis. Mr. Newman, referring to the work done at Hawkesbury College, said that tho soil was of very inferior quality at the farm, but an exceedingly valuable system of irrigation was carried on by tho students. The orchard struck hiiu as vory valuable, in that a record was kept of every tree. He was tho more interested in this, because he believed that fruit-growing was going to becomo a very important industry in New Zealand. The different courses taken by students were explained by Mr. Newman, who was of opinion that when the students wero turned out they were very competent as instructors, llural camp schools were an important feature, and were, carried out by the Government to counteract the flowto the towns. Boys from tho city wero brought, out to tho college, and went into camp, and were instructed in farm work. The result was that an amount of interest in the country was implanted in tho minds of the, metropolitan school boys. Public school teachers were also instructed during the summer vacation. The cost was borne by tho Education Department. Mr. Newman hoped that any steps taken in New.Zealand would be productive of good results. It was p&siblo to spend a great deal of money without getting any good. The New South Wale 9 undertaking had proved very satisfactory, as 75 per cent, of the students who went through the college adopted farming in some form, as.a means of livelihood. Everything connected with the college was put to the practical test of: Would it pay? With regard to New Zealand,-Mr. Newman thought that the first steps towards an agricultural life should bo in tho schools, in the teaching of nature study. There was splendid material in New Zealand for making a nation of small farmers. Agricultural education had a magnificent futuro in the Dominion, A hearty vote of thanks was accorded Mr. Newjnan for the address.