AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 7, Issue 437, 27 December 1918, Page 1

AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION

(By 8 Oldfield, Organiser Farmers' Union.)

It is pleasing to notice by a recnnt issue of the "Timbs" that that the untiring efforts of the Pukekohe High School Committee are about to bear fruit, Mr Perkins having received word from the Prime Minister that a grant has been made for the cost of erecting a Technical High School at Pukekobe. Mr Perkins and bis Committee deserve considerable credit for the able manner in which they have managed to secure the site. Time alone will prove the advantages of this higher education for our rising generation, fitting them for the battle of life. Now that the of a Technical High Bchow it seems to us that the time is opportune to bring before the notice of the local Committee and the public generally the advisability and the unlimited possibilities of agricultural education. It may be possible in the near future, during the coming educational reform and the approaching general election, to secure a further grant to establish in conjunction with this High School a branch embracing agricultural education, the far-reaching advantages of which cannot for a moment be denied. That there is urgent need for such an institution is apparent to everyone taking an interest in economic questions. The fqture welfare of this Dominion depends in a very great measure upcn the scientific methods employed in propogating our great primary industry. The great advance made in farming at the present time, owing to the use of fertilisers and up-to date machinery, as compared with the crude efforts of years ago shows the benefits of greater agricultural knowledge. The geographical situation of Pukekohe, placed as it is in the centre of a large area of arable land, makes it an admirable site for an agricultural college. It will serve the requirements from Auckland to Hamilton, and it is possible that if an agricultural high school could first be established here it would soon develop into a college. Now that the war is over, and the world is entering upon a time of reconstruction, in which the question of the " cost of living " is going to figure prominently, the future prospects of this country depend largely upon the manner in which our statesmen grapple with this important factor, for upon the cost of living bangs the verdict as to whether we are to become a manufacturing country or not. The question of whether New Zealand is to carry a population of one million or ten millions depends on this same cost of living. The relation of the cost of living to higher wages has always disturbed the peace of the community. To continually increase wages and to grant bonuses to employees is no solution of the problem but is only putting eff the evil day. To grant an inorease of fifteen or twenty per cent to coal-miners, because of a strike, is in reality a criminal offence, because it merely passes the extra cost on to other sections of the community, who in turn must demand higher wages and higher values for the product of their labours. It is imperative that we face this question, and face it boldly for there is only one solution, and that is increased agricultural production Every form and manner of life is dependant upon the production of the soil. If you increase production you bring down the cost of living, and in doing so you raise the value of the sovereign, which automatically increases the value of wages. With the advent of cheaper liviug conditions manufacturing industries spring up, and the country is assured of a larger population. It now follows tint if production is to be increased we must first increase our agricultural knowledge concerning the nature of our soils, the judicious use of suitable fertili sers and more extensive employment ui up-to-date methods and machinery.

In this direction it is interesting to note the wonderful advances made by Germany during the last few years preceding the war, and also to note that these advances were entirely due to their policy of agriculural education. Compare an average 100 acres of cultivated lanu m Germany, including grass land, with the same area in England. Germany was able to produce 33 tons of corn against 15 in England, 55 tons of potatoes against 11, and 28 tons of milk against 17. Germany grows a third of the potatoes of the world. Previous to the war, England annually imported 1,700,000 tons of sugar valued at £23,000,000, whereas Germany annually produced sugar to the value -f £36,000,000. England imports 60 per cent of the food stuffs for her population of 45 millions wheteas Germany only imported 10 per cent iu. her population of 65 millions. The greater results of production iu Germany are due to the more scientific methods of farming, to the • onsunt extension of agricultural education and the increased use of artificial manures. The German farmer uses double the amount of

nitrogenous fertilizers, 25 per cent more phosphates and five times as much potash as the English farmer or as much potash as the rest of the countries of the world out together. Germany increased her use of fertilisers between the year 1888 to 1912 from 1,435,000 tons to 9,450,000 tons Take a few figures showing the value of some of German products for the year 1912 viz., corn £140,000,000, meat £200,000,000 and milk £137,500,000 The question of increased production and the establishment of manufacturing industries are not the only aspects of this question ; there is the effect on the health of the people to be taken into consideration. Everyone know the dissastrous effect of city life on the inhabitants and the unquestionable advantages of encouraging a life in the country. It had been said that it is not possible to find a fourth generation ro£<^bjßdj#ople.,Mr Lloyd George the people in England had been better, another million men would have been available for the army He said it was not possible to maintain an AI empire on aO3 population. Germany found that the bulk of her soldiers came from the country and only 1.7 from large towns. From every standpoint this subject is worthy of careful consideration. The people of this country should not rest and should leave no stoue unturned until our Government has been forced to make every provision for promoting agricultural education by establishing in suitable centres suitable buildings and pioviding qualified teachers of a high standing.

The words of a great writer will then come true viz, " Agricultural education is necessary for us from the economic, but above all from the national and social point of view. Without great and flourishing agriculture by its side, industry will soon use up the best forces of the nation. Agriculture is the mother of the Nation's strength which industry employs."