FARMING CAREERS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 86, 28 April 1937, Page 15

FARMING CAREERS

More Ixicei^ive Urged For Students SUGGESTED STATE SCHE The provision by the Goverxnent of some scheme that would aet as an incentive to boys to take up ruial life and enable them to acquire farms of their own is considered eBsential by Auckland educational authorities if the ■Steady declino dn the numbers of those taking agriculturai courses is to be arrested. Kuggested remedies for this situation are the financing' Of euitable boys on small holdings for a number of years, and the subsidising of a boy's WageS whaie "he i'B being trained on an ap» proved farxn, . so that evenfually he will have snMcient security to obtain his own farm. A return of the fcyurses of inatruction in the secondary departments of district high sehools furnished to the Auckland Education Board this week showed that comparatively few boys were taking agricultural courses, and the same position exiets at two of the city's largest secohdary sehools, which have similar courses. Lack Of Prospects. There has been an . agricultuval course at MoUnt Albert Grammar since 1933, and the headmaster, Mr. iP. "W. Gainble, said that the numbers had been steadily failing each year, and were defindteiy down this year. Mr. Gamble said that lack of proapects Was the reason for the decline in numbers. Most of the boys taking the course were the sons of farmers who had been sent to obtain some scientific knowledge before going back to the Eartti, and there Were practically no boys coming from the eity areae to be trained in farming as a profession. It was 4 very serious matter indeed that there were only 36 new boys taking the course this year. The only remedy could come from he Government, said Mr. Gamble, who suggested that suitable boys might be financed for a number of years on small holdings, and allowed to pay off the money after a term df probably five yeafs. "If something similar to Mr. D. V. Bryant's land settlement scheme could be undertaken by, the GoVernmentj ' ' he added, ' ' the boys would Come forward, and the parents would SUpport it." Mr, Gamble said the school Was getting a very gobd type of boy, and it was a pity that their talents should be wasted, " It is aimost time certain boddea took up the question with the Governinent and forced its hand to do some thing to finalise the agricultural position, for conditions on farms are uncertain at pf eseht, ' ' said Mr. V. Davxsj agrieuitural instructor at the Seddori Memorial Teohnical College. Mr. Davis explained that the number of full- time agricuitiiral students at the college had I allen off by 50 per cent. in the last few years. This decline reflected the attitude of parents, who did not want theiir eons to go on farms on account of the lack of prospects, Conditions in the city were more attractive, and there was an enormous range of employment at present. The problem was to provide conditions in the country • equally aa attractive as fche basic wage and the 40-hour week. 4,A scheme that would allow a boy with limiited capital to acquire a farm would act as a definite incentive to take. up rural life,'" said Mr. Davis. ' ' It is definitely essential, and the ouly repiy to the- 40-hour week and the baSie wage." Mr. Davis said the scheme was that the boy should go through a recogiuised agricultural course and, if he passed satisfactorily, be sent to a farm approved by the school 'and the Government to work really as an apprentice. ±Ie would be paid a certain amount, which the Government would subsidise, and some of the money would be bhnked, sO that at the end of his training he would have sufflcient to get a small place of Ms own.