AGRICULTURAL CONFERENCE.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 8878, 1 August 1907, Page 2

AGRICULTURAL CONFERENCE.

Par Press Association. Wellington, July 81 Tie Agricultural Conference to-night had a discussion on agricultural education, there being a number o£ representatives of educational institutions present. There was a remit on the order paper from Auckland expressing the opinion that the interests of agriculture would be greatly promoted by tire establishment of Technical schools in certain convenient centres, making agricultural subjects a prominent feature of their curriculum. Mr George, Director of Technical Education •at Auckland, said , elementary agriculture should be prominent in the education of both town and country teachers. There ought to be some form of local rating for educational purposes as that tended to more economical administration. It was suggested that thev should establish schools at Hamilton, Waikato, where in conjunction with ordinary secondary education both boys and girls would receive (i course of instruction m the ordinary activities of the farm. They had come to the conclusion in Auckland that the school garden was a farce, that is if it was not made the complement to work inside the Mr Gray, principal of Wellington Training College offered the suggestion that agricultural schools should be established close to certain large centres co give town children access to country life. . ' Mr Gilruth said France was now in tne forefront in agricultural education. Agriculture there had quadrupled its output m thirty years. , ~ The Minister for Education assured the Conference that the Department was m till sympathy with the dosiro to extend

rural education. Mr Eennie, Instructor for Canterbury, said there was more difficulty in the South Island than in the North, farmers in the South holding the opinion that they knew all they required. The Minister for Lands said the prejudice of the lifelong farmer to innovation in practinal teaching was the greatest obstacle they had to deal with. August 1.

At the Agricultural Conference I to-day it was decided that in the 1 opinion of the Conference the interests of agriculture would be greatly promoted by the establish- I ment of a|tochuical school in a con- IJ venient centre, making agricultural subjects a prominent feature of the ; curriculum, so as to offer a practical I course of study, designed to prepare j boys and girls for successful country life, which school would also serve as a stopping stone from the public school to the agricultural college. The following recommendations ot the Export Stud Stock Committee were adopted by the Agricultural Conference to-day:—That it is tie- 1 sirahle that inferior rams should be I prevented from being sold to the public tor breeding purposes, and I that the only way to cusure this 1 would he by having all rams intended for sale culled by an mdepouI dent person j that to carry out the j work of such inspection and culling competent men for different breeds would have to he _ appointed in | various districts, and in the opinion I of the Conference the difficulties and I expense of such work at the present I time would bo too groat; that the I Department of Agriculture he em- ■ powered to have all sheep for exI portatiou inspected by some comI peteut man, and that no sheep ho cxI ported except passed by such m--1 specters as good and sound sheep I representative of their breed, the I Department to charge such fee as lit considered necessary; that the I I Flock Book Association should j take steps to cusure better inspection • j aut i culling # of flocks under their I charge.