The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is in. corporated the West Coast Times. FRIDAY, JANUARY 9th, 1926. MAKING PROSPERITY SECURE.

Hokitika Guardian, 8 January 1926, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is in. corporated the West Coast Times. FRIDAY, JANUARY 9th, 1926. MAKING PROSPERITY SECURE.

Si’kakinci with particular reference to the primary industries on winch this country chietly depends lor its prosperity, the Prime .Minister observed in liis New Year message that in his judgment- there was sound ground for looking forward with confidence to 1926. This hopeful view, remarks the “Dominion,” Wellington, is supported by wlmt the Director-General of Agriculture (Dr C. J. lleakes) had to say a

few days ago about the fortunes ol agricultural industry in the Dominion during the past twelve months, and its prospects for the immediate future. Prices of export produce have fallen to some extent, and the head of the Agricultural Department anticipates that as compared with the exceptionally favourable season of 192126 there will be a somewhat lower level of production during the current season in the leading branches ol‘ primary industry. Dr lleakes is of opinion, however, that, although the present. situation of our primary industries “is not without difficulties In some directions,” there is nothing to justify a pessimistic outlook. While this opinion appears to he justified, it is clear that there is still very wide scope for well-directed enterprise in maintaining and building up the prosperity of our stable industries. One

vital means to this end which should receive early and practical attention in the year that has just opened is the promotion of agricultural education. This is an enterprise in which the Government should he prepared to give a hold lead without any further delay. There is no doubt that agricultural education, developed as it should he, will do more than anything else to increase the productivity of the lands of the Dominion. More than this, it is fairly obvious that New Zealand could not much longer maintain its present position in oversea markets it its neglect- of agricultural education were allowed to continue. Apart- Imm the considerable areas classed as “deteriorated lands,” a large part of the occupied land of the Dominion admittedly must ho fertilised and farmed generally by more intensive methods than in the past if

is to he kept in full productivity. Increasing attention is being paid to the improvement of dairy herds by testing and in other ways, hut- here also there is much scope for accelerated progress. A widespread knowledge of the principles and methods of scientific agriculture is indispensable if these problems and others are to ho attacked in the best and most hopeful conditions. A great deal, of course, is being done in this direction, hut the sum total of what is being done falls far short of what is necessary. Tn contenting itself with anything short of really full and comprehensive provision for agricultural education, a country dependent, as New Zealand is, on farming industry is -subjecting itself to heavy, continuing loss. The Government can he in no ffeuht as to the line of action it is bound to pursue if it wishes to make np as far as possible for lost time where agricultural education is concerned. The inquiries conducted last year have thrown clear light on the problems involved. In particular an overwhelming case is -made out for the establishment- of a single School of Agriculture. of university grade. Regarding the matter from a national standpoint, the Government should have

little difficulty in deciding that a beginning should be made at once upon the establishment of such a School.In recommending that the main enterprise should be delayed and that makeshift arrangements should be relied upon for the time being, the Board of Agriculture obviously took too limited a view of the problem of agricultural education, /booking for guidance to the experience of other countries, there cannot be any doubt that the development of our primary industries will he governed definitely by the development of agricultural education. If there is further delay in making adequate provision for agricultural education, the development of onr primary industries to the point of highest efficiency will be correspondingly delayed. To individual farmers and to the country as a whole, agricultural education offers an assured means of increasing production from the land and establishing a widening margin of security against the onset of had times. The Government is faced by no more plainly-marked or imperatively urgent duty than that of setting agricultural education on its feet.