NEW EDUCATIONAL DEPARTURE

Hokitika Guardian, 14 February 1917, Page 3

NEW EDUCATIONAL DEPARTURE

Proposed Course in Agriculture. TJiore was an informal gathering : Sfj fc the Education Office yesterday afternoon to meet Mr W. Banks of the Oonfprbnry Education Board and Mr V Chief-Instructor in Ag ; a the Board. Those prtr -d the Mayor (Mr Perry) Messrs J. J, Clarke (Chairman), J. King and Aitkon (members) of Uoki*

tika School Committee, and the members and Clerk of the Westland County Council, who hod just completed their mooting, including Mr J. Grimmond, a member of the Canterbury Board. Mr Valentine, Inspector of Schools, presided, and explained that be hau asked them to meet informally to meet the two visitors and to discuss tbe advisability or otherwise of having a course of instruction iu elementary agriculture included in the schools corriciilnm. Mr Banka explained the sympathetic altitude of the Canterbury Board to tbe movement and detailed the many advantages that would accrue. Mr Martin in a forcible address ex plained the proposed conr.-e of instruction and its many advantages if it were included in the school Bourse. Ho pointed out, however, that it was a matter entirely for the people of tbe district to decide. If the School Committees decided in its favor then the Board would do its utmost to carry out the necessary instruction, but it could not be added to the school course without the express wish of the Committee. If a sufficient number of schools and the two district high schools included tha nonr*3 : t s, eo it woo'd be iry .o r v» etroc'or on the' 00-et

After dealing iu detail w> h ins proposal, it was stated that it was a matter for the people and the opinions of these present, representative of the district, were invited to b.e expressed, to guide them to formulate their report to the Board, Tha Mayoi, in general terms expressed hia approval. He was followed by Mr Grimmond who gave some details and asked for further explanation which Mr Martin gave. Then Mr Norman followed expressing the opinion that the proposal would be a very welcome oue and that it had his hearty approval. There . was much that could be learned that would prove of inestimable value to the farmers. Mr B. Ward followed with a lengthy eulogistic speech in which ha gave a warm welcome to the visitors, one of whom (Mr Banks) had been a teacher when the speaker was a scholar at Lincoln Callage. Mr Ward welcomed the proposal ia very warm terms, feeling it was an innovation that woald do much good iu coming yeai’3 acd help the farming industry in no mean measure, by giving that instruction to our young people that was so much needed if tha district-was to be pushed on iu a successful manner. He heartily approved of the proposals put forward. The several gentlemen present joined in endorsing the previous remarks and after farther discussion and a reply by Mr Martin and Mr Banka on various poinis raised, Mr Evans moved that the meeting having heard Messrs Martin and Banks expresses the hope that tbe Canterbury Board will do its utmost to instal as soon as possible the teachmg in our schools of a course of practical agriculture. The motion was seconded by Mr Clifton and agreed to on tbe voices, A vote of thanks to the chair terminated the meeting, which lasted for If honra.