The Hawera Star. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1924. AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 10 September 1924, Page 4

The Hawera Star.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1924. AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION.

Delivered every evening by S o'clock in Hawen. Manaia. Gkaiawa, Eltham, Patete, Waverley, Hokoia, WLakamara, Oiianga;, Ueremere. Fraaer Road. and Otakeuo Manutahi, Alton, Burleyville, Mangatoki, • Kaponga, Awatuna, Opunake,

Farmers throughout the DominionUnll no doubt be glad to find that the Government is giving sympathetic attention to agricultural education, and that in addition to deciding to extend the activities of Lincoln College in the South Island, a similar institution is to be provided for the North Island. It has been felt for a long time past that not nearly enough is being done in New Zealand to train young people to take their places in the primary industries, for when one realises that all of the country’s wealth, except a very small percentage, comes from those industries, it should be obvious to everyone that facilities for giving , young people the best possible education in farming should be provided, especially now that science, has come to take a very important place in the industries and that competition for the world’s markets is expected to be very keen in the next few years. The older farmers have gained their education through the severe school of experience, and have often paid very dearly for it. Since the days when they took up farming the laboratories have given to the world information of very great importance, and it is

correct to say that farming has passed iro in being a haphazard occupation into the realm of a great science, almost an exact science. The man who desires to be a successful farmer in these days cannot afford to.neglect scientific methods and applying the knowledge which science has enabled him to gain. But though some progress has been made in applying science to our primary industries in New Zealand, it has not yet become the general thing among all farmers, and no doubt the output from the land would be increased considerably if all farmers were employing scientific methods;. The great majority of. the farmers to-day have done their part and done it well, but it is desired that the next generation shall have the fullest advantages of training on scientific lines which modern education can give them, and the Government is showing that it is willing to help towards providing the means. The Hon. Mr. Parr suggests that the technical schools curriculum should be broadened, and the Hon. Mr. Nosworthy states that the Government is prepared to find £2OOO to assist the boys’ and girls’ club movement. The Government- is-ready to do its part, and we hope that the people will be. prepared to do theirs. In South Taranaki we look, for strong ■ support for the boys’ and girls’ club movement, which has for its object the practical education of young people in matters pertaining £o farming, and serves as a valuable beginning for further work as they pass from the primary to the secondary schools. It is in the interests of the Dominion to support this work and to encourage young people to turn their attention to the primary industries which offer plenty of scope for people who are willing to enter them equipped with a proper education. Professor Peren, Ijuchanan Professor of Agriculture at Victoria University College, in a recent article in the Wellington Post, set. out the work to ■be done •by an agricultural college as; A specialised course ‘leading to a degree; a general course leading to a diploma; short courses bn specialised courses; refresher courses for school teachers; farmers’ weeks; and-' the publication of bulletins on important subjects. Farmers who have attended the farm schools held at Stratford or at Ruakura, know that the information gained has been of great value to them, and an agricultural college dealing in a comprehensive manner with agriculture, as suggested by Professor Peren, should be of great importance to the primary producers of the Dominion.. It is to be hoped that the . establishment of the institution in the North Island will not be long delayed, and that whatever improvements can be effected in the existing facilities for teaching agricultural science will he . undertaken