OUR FUTURE FARMERS

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2210, 24 July 1914, Page 8

OUR FUTURE FARMERS

THEIR TRAINING

DEBATE AT FARMERS' UNION

"Education has to fit boy for his future, and. we are sending a lot of money unwisely," said l Mr. W. IS. Matheson, ofEketahuna, at the Farmers' Union Conference yesterday. "In our high schools we are aggravating the differences between capital ana labour. Very many of our boys must be brought up to an agricultural life if this country is to prosper. The Government," lie added, "should erect a high school iu every district, and I move; — "That this conference urges the Minister of Lands, the Minister of Education, and the Board of Agriculture to consider the immediate establishment ■of an Agricultural High School in each province, as one of the most urgent needs of Ihe Dominion." Mr. Hugh Morrison (Masterton) approved of the motion. He said that from the high schools a boy should have a chance of going on to an up-to-date training farm, run on economic lines, to take up any branch of agriculture under good teachers. Mr. P. Meehan (Marlborough) opposed the motion,. because he ■ thought the cry for education had been ridden to death, and that what was really necessary was to teach children the battle of life under practical farmers. He knew men who had had no education, but, had retired worth largo sums of money.

Mr. R-. J. Richards (Levin) remarked that what was. now suggested was what the president of the union (Mr. J. G. Wilson) had advocated for years. To better ,the means of agricultural education was one of the things nearest to Mr. Wilson's heart. Major Lusk (Auckland) moved as an amendment"That in ©very high school there should be established aa agricultural branch, where all the elements of agricultural education should be taught by competent teachers." The mover considered that this would be eaeie<r to get. _ . After some further discussion, Mr. Matheson again spoke in advooaoy of his motion. "We must train our boys,", he said, "to the life whioh to of necessity theirs—the country life. Teaoh boys the charm of country life, and make them into better men than they otherwise would be." ■ A vote was then taken, and the result was that the amendment was carried by 13 to. 9. V "Good Lord," ejaculated Mr. Matheson, .''that is exactly what we have already. I hope the Press will rub it into .you."