AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION.

Hokitika Guardian, 9 March 1925, Page 4

AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION.

PROGRESS OF INQUIRY. WELLINGTON, March G. « The hearing of local evidence by the Board of Agriculture concerning the provision of greater training facilities in agriculture concluded to-day. The main question involved in the statements of witnesses was the locality ol agricultural colleges, in rural or urban centres.

Giving evidence on behalf of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, W. 1L Alatheson said that evidence of the need for greater study of agriculture and for giving farmers the opportunity of gaining wide knowledge of scientific 1 arming was contained in the fact that land iimsome parts of the Dominion was reverting to second growth, and in the remark of the Alinister of Agriculture that the Dominion could not extend or even maintain its exports without summoning the aid of agricultural science. He referred to the parochial attitude by which each province was anxious to possess a college. Ministers were pestered so much that they were almost sick of the whole question. The Government should announce at once its intention to spend £IOO.OOO, which would be part of a scheme to provide eventually really good agricultural colleges. It should bo a national scheme, and the college should he situated in a rural locality. Farm schools did excellent work, hut did not provide equipment for research or tuition. He commended the American system by which the agric ultural student took off bis coat during the vacation and performed actual farming work. Air Holms (Levin) favoured several centres of agriculture, learning and practical training. One, ol the colleges should he located at Aleraroa. _ C. J. Hark ness (Horowhemia), T. llohson (Atnyor of Levin), and Air H. Field, Af.P., supported Air Holms. Some members of the hoard will visit Feilding to-morrow, others Ruakura. Subsequently the whole will meet in Auckland to hear further evidence.