The Hawera Star. SATURDAY, JULY 26, 1924. AGRICULTURAL COLLEGES.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 26 July 1924, Page 4

The Hawera Star.

SATURDAY, JULY 26, 1924. AGRICULTURAL COLLEGES.

Delivered every evening t>y 6 o'clock in Hawera Manaia, N^rmanby. Okaiawa, Eltham, Mangatcki, Kaponga, Awatuns, Opunake, Otakeuc. Manutahi, Alton, Hurleyville, Pateto, Waverley, Mokoia, Whakamara, Obangsi. Merocaere. Fraaer Road, and

In view of the recent resolution of the Council of Agriculture “that the present education facilities for persons desiring to engage in rural occupations are hopelessly inadequate and that it is desirable that investigation of the matter be undertaken by a special commission,” it is encouraging to find that the Minister of Finance states in the Budget that “it is intended to give Government support and assistance to the establishment of at least one and later on possibly two agricultural colleges under trained competent instructors.” New Zealand sends to the London markets a great volume of primary produce each year, and one has only to note the figures of our exports to realise how very important the primary industries are. That so much has been done without the assistance which full educational facilities for training farmers would undoubtedly give is indeed a tribute to the initiative and determination of the primary producers. According to Professor Peren, professor of agriculture at Victoria College, “other countries are streets ahead of New Zealand in agricultural education,” a position which demands ur-

gent uttent.ion. In various parts- of New Zealand the luck of agricultural educational facilities has been partly made up by the excellent work of the Department’s officers, by' the more experienced farmers giving addresses at Farmers’ Union gatherings, and by the newspapers devoting space to articles which contain information and suggestions of use to the farmers, while efforts have also been made to interest the children in farming, through organising competitions. But deserving of praise as these activities are, there is a great need for the facilities for agricultural education of a comprehensive character, and to secure the best results we believe that it is necessary that the training should begin early. The efforts made to encourage boys and girls to take an interest in farm animals and cultivation of the soil is excellent, and merits generous support, but what is wanted is the means to carry on the work and enable young men to gain a thoroughly sound education in agriculture. As the Minister says in his Financial Statement, “it is a matter for satisfaction that the number of children taking post primary courses in our high schools is increasing; it is a question whether the present system does not tend rather to induce young people to follow a line of education and training that has a bias towards the professional and clerical, to the disadvantage of practical agricultural and industrial pursuits.” There is a danger that the professional callings will be crowded while the agricultural and industrial are starved; in fact, difficulty' in some industries is already being experienced, while practical farmers view with anxiety the shortage of properly trained young farmers who are needed in increasing numbers as settlement expands. The Dominion’s producers are fully aware of the fact that the competition of overseas countries on the London markets is increasing and that the future of our primary industries depends upon a still greater increase in production and upon maintaining the produce at the highest standard of quality. If ‘ ‘ other countries are streets - ahead of New Zealand in agricultural education,” and the position is not rapidly improved, the producers in New Zealand will labour under a handicap which it is in the country’s interests to remove, and farmers- will no doubt be very glad to learn that the Government has decided “that the necessary 'equipment will be provided to enable our farmers to compete successfully with other countries which are endeavouring even now to capture the markets of the world so far as agricultural and pastoral products are concerned.” New Zealand has a very . good market, but every care should be taken to guard against losing it. Provision of adequate agricultural educational facilities is very necessary, and every encouragement should be given to young people to take up farming along scientific lines, so that the volume of produce may be further increased, the standard of quality maintained, and the land made to yield its maximum of wealth.