AGRICULTURAL SCHOOL.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2002, 24 July 1880, Page 4

AGRICULTURAL SCHOOL.

TO THE KDITOB OP THE PBBSS. Sib,—l see from the Pbbss of the 17th inst., that in reply to a question from Mr Barron, the Hon. W. Bolleston said " That there was a school established for giving instruction in agriculture in Canterbury. It had a landed endowment of 100,000 acres. It was for the whole of the colony, and the education afforded was, practically speaking, free." I regret the Minister for Education did not make himself acquainted with the faots before answering this question. Mr Montgomery, Mr Bowen, and Mr Stevens, all members of the Board of Governors, could have given the necessary information. I think it is also much to be regretted that Mr Montgomery, who, I suppose, was in his place is the House, and who holds the important position of chairman of the Board of Governors, did not sat Mr Bolleston right as to the answer he gave. Of course we cannot expect Ministers to have everything at their fingers' end. The fact is that the education afforded is anything but, practically speaking, free. The Board of Governors first fixed the charge at £65 per annum, finding only one candidate came forward for admission, they reduced the charge to £59 9s, which brought only three candidates forward. They have now reduced the charge to £4O a-year. I hardly think that can be called, " praotioally speaking, free." When, in 1872,1 moved in the Provincial Council that a school of agriculture should be established and that 100,000 acres should be reserved as an endowment for its maintenance, I expressed a hope that the school might be, practically speaking, free so far as the endowment would admit, and when the selection proved such a good one that 35,000 acres have been purchased at £2 per acre, realising £70,000, whioh has been invested by the Governors on mortgage at 10 and 8 per cent., I flattered myself that the school would be, practically speaking, free —its income being about £6OOO a year. But we find the Governors averse to any suoh thing, one of the members, at the meeting of the 12th instant, expressing the opinion that the school should be made to pay. I scaroely know what was meant by that, for with the handsome income it possesses it should pay without any oharge being made ; but even if £lO were required from each pupil it could not help pa) ing, unless grossly mismanaged. I believe the feeling of the Provincial Counoil was, that this being a purely agricultural country, it was desirable that all classes should be encouraged and aseisted in the pursuit of agrioulture. But, can the Board of Governors say how, any farmer, even on an unencumbered freehold, can afford to send his sons to the school as at present conducted ? Farmers having educated their sons naturally look for a return in the way of work on the farm, sufficient to pay for clothing and board, between the time of leaving school and the age of twenty-one years, and even if they should commence life as clerks in offices the salaries would be sufficient for that. But can anyone say that a boy attending the Agricultural School could be clothed, his travelling expenses paid, and a very small allowance for pocket money made him, for a farthing less thaa £3O a year. Add to that the charge of £4O at the school, making a total of £7O; a sum which I submit places it beyond the reach of ell but the monied class ; and the result will bo either a white elephant with no students or a second Cirencester. The Governors are no doubt conscientiously endeavoring to administer this handsome public property to the very best advantage, so that it may be a blessing to the community of Canterbury and the wholo colony, though, so far, they appear to have made many errors of judgment. I know there is a feeling abroad that there are some who would gladly see this school a failure, in order that the endowment might be appropriated to the purpose of increasing the army of professors of all the blogies, but the public must look for better things than that. It is a hopeful sign that the publio mind is at last being exercised as regards the administration of this institution, and I am sure it would materially assist the Governors if those who were in the Provincial Counoil of 1872 would state their recollections on the subject. It is, at all events, gratifying to find that the Minister for Education thinks the sohool is, practically speaking, free, from which we may infer that he approves of its so being. Yours, &c, A. C. Knight. Tekau, July 19th.