AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION.

Hokitika Guardian, 6 March 1925, Page 4

AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION.

COMMISSION OF INQUIRY

ORDER OF R-EFE REN Cl-

WELLINGTON, March 4

in connection with the inquiry into agricultural education, which it is midertaking, the Board of Agncultme held a. preliminary meeting this morning for the purpose of discussing its itinerary, and matters affecting the procedure of the inquiry. Sittings were commenced at 2 o’clock this afternoon in the Parliamentary IJuildings, and it was decided that all sittings of tho board during the progress of the inquiry should be open to tho Press. Evidence submitted to the hoard will lie limited by the order of reference, which, together with the proceeding statement furnished by tlie Government for the board’s information, is set out below.

The existing system of agriculture education includes instructional ser vices of; . (a) Canterbury Agricultural College (b) Department of Agriculture.

(e) Education Department. (cl) Educational hoards, high school hoards, and technical school hoards. The following bequests or donations are already in existence for the purpose of agricultural education. (a) Tho" Sir Logan Campbell bequest of £20,000 with statutory Govern ment subsidy for £SOO for a Chair ol Agriculture at Auckland. (b) The Sir Walter Buchanan dona tion of £IO.OOO with statutory Go vernment subsidy- of £IO.OOO lor ;

Chair of Agriculture at. Victoria College, Wellington. (c) The Howard Eslii’.o ol a capital value of approximately £90.000. The testator left no detailed direction in his will, but b-.s remarks, as recorded by his solicitor, indicated that be wished the bequest to lie devoted to training of young farmers. (d) The sum of £IOSO donated by Sir .Tames Wilson, for agricultural scholarships in eon nee tion with the \ ictoria College Chair of Agriculture. (e) Revenues from sundry areas of land in Taranaki reserved for educational purposes under the control ol the Education Department, the annual amount being approximately Cl7oo. The order of reference having regard to the fads embodied in Die above statement is as follows: “ft. is desired that the Commission inquire into and report upon : (a) What new agricultural training (institution, or institutions, are re-

quired in order to provide facilities in accordance with the Dominion’s present day requirements for the efficient training of: — •ft) Students desirous of taking a University degree in agriculture, lilting them fully to become either instructors or research workers in agriciißuie. (2) Students desirous of becoming fi.rniors, well equipped with a knowledge of the principles of scientific agriculture as applied to the work, ot practical farming in all its branches. (h) The probable number of students of the kind mentioned in paragraph (1) that could be utilised in New Zealand, after taking their degrees. (o) How such an institution, or institutions. should he equipped as regards staff, laboratories, and farming land. (d) Where each or any ot such institutions should lie situated in order t,> best nerve efficiently the present requirements of the Dominion as a "hole. (e) To what extent, and under what conditions, could the Canterbury Agricultural College he utilised (subject to the approval of the Board of Governors') as an integral portion nf the gen-

eral scheme. (f) What estimated Government expenditure would lie involved by giving effect to the Commission’s recommeiida I inns regarding paragraphs (a), (e). (d), and (e) immediately above.