AGRICULTURAL TRAINING

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 302, 17 September 1919, Page 10

AGRICULTURAL TRAINING

NEW ZEALAND FAB BEHIND.

"There can bo no doubt we aro behind 'in agricultural education," remarked the president of the New Zealand Farmers' Union (Sir James Wilson) in addressing the- delegates to t lie nnnual Dominion Conference yesterday. "The Agricultural Department is struggling to provide classes r.t these Stnto farms and the recent classes at Kuakura, both for farmers and teachers, nre most encouraging. AVe are.still lacking in the higher steps of agricultural education, and it is well to note that the Council of Education has adopted tho following resolution: 'That the supply of students in the opinion of this committee, is insufficient to justify tho establishment of chairs of agriculture and domestic science at the four university centres, as but few students require to pursue thee subjects to the standard of university work. This committee realises tho need for further facilities in training in these subjects, and thinks thnt further development in practical work could bo carriffl out at training colleges and technical schools, with a chair of agriculture for r.t least one of tho university colleges.'" Sir James Wilson added Hwt once a chair of agriculture were established, ho had no fear but that students would increase. Professor AYood, of Cambridge, told him that when he started, his classes he had only twelve students, but before t'hfl war they had increased to a remarkable extent.