The Daily News. MONDAY, AUGUST 27, 1900. THE NECESSITY FOR TECHNICAL EDUCATION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 192, 27 August 1900, Page 2

The Daily News. MONDAY, AUGUST 27, 1900. THE NECESSITY FOR TECHNICAL EDUCATION.

It is a matter for wonder says the New Zealand Dairyman that with so large a proportion of settlers without ' any technical knowledge of farming so many small farms have been taken up in New Zealand. That a large proportion of the farming population has had no special training for the work is evidenced in the slipshod farming we see on all sides, and we need not go past Wellington province for illustrations. True it is, that small farmers are able to make a living, but only the few trained to the work are able to do more than that. With the advantages of our super-excellent climate, plus the scientific knowledge of the art of husbandry there should be much more than a comfortable living in New Zealand farming. Take the dairying branch as an example. In this relation! we have a Department of Agriculture which has an efficient staff of experts' to deal with the produce of the farm, and teach farmers how best to turn that produce into money and where to find the best markets. Already, although less than twenty years since the first steamer left this colony fitted with the Bell-Coleman cold air chambers, we have reached a dairy export trade gradually growing towards £ 1,000,000 per annum, and this revenue is distributed almost entirely amongst the small farming community. With such a never failing market as Great Britain for our produce and with the further advantage of state-taught knowledge of how to manufacture the staple commodity of the small farm so as to command the top market price, our farmers ought to be fairly on the road to fortune. Yet what is the case? We see in our advertising columns long lists of farms for sale or to let, and it is well-known the majority of far sate hampered with heavy mortgages. The reason is not far to seek lor this u desirable state of things. The fac is patent, more than three parts of our settlers on the land are wanting in that teclmi cal education whicli is so essential to success. Work on the farm is both heavy and constant, but when from want of technical knowledge it is also inefl'ective, then we can understand how it is many settlers throw up their farms in disgust at their inabi iby to make both ends meeti Gqqcl tasd!

favourable climatic influences! a constant market 1 yet failure I What! does it mean but that, given proper technical training in farming, the settlers would find the position reversed and comparative ease would supplant the hard struggle for a living? In settingup a Department of Agriculture, the state acknowledges its duties to the settlers, but whilst we may go so far as to admit that no department of the Government has done so much to serve the small settlers, there still remains much to be done. On the Continent of Europe the powers are providing secondary education on the same lines as our primary schools, free and compulsory, and they are turning out thousands of young people well grounded in the arts and sciences ready to fight the battle of life against all comers. Germany in particular is well to the front in this direction, and the result is we have that country a successful competitor against Britain in manufactures of which for generations she has held the monoply. Before technical education was established in Germany, thousands of emigrants yearly left her shores to seek a living in the thinly populated American States, but to-day that class of emigrant is unknown. Thanks to the special training the youth of Germany now receive, they able to compete in the world's markets against all comers, and they threaten the commercial supremacy of Britain in her far distant colonies. There is no necessity for the imigration of Germans now, they have full employment at home, and her population, increased by several millions, is able to consume the products of the farm which, prior to this introduction of technical training, had to be imported to Britain and elsewhere. In New Zealand we have free primary education—we require more than that, we must have state aided, or entirely free, secondary schools. To these schools we must look to turn out our manufacturers, merchants, commercial men, clerks, engineers, electricians, chemists, farmers, mechanics, and professional men. In England, County Councils may assist secondary schools, under the Technical Instructors and other Acts, with money from fees they receive from the liquor traffic—a very good use to which to put money gained by such a source, The Seddon Government has long promised us a Local Government Bill. Under its provisions thesphere of County Councils will be considerably widened, and may well embrace some provision for the technical training of our youth. In country districts the chief requirement is a scientific training in farming. That should be the aim of those who represent us in Parliament, and when the Local Government Bill comes before the House, Members of the rural districts should see to it that provision is made for the young, in the industry to which they may legitimately look for a living, It will be seen by a Wellington telegram in this issue that the Government have a measure dealing with this question ready for introduction to , the House which apparently makes satisfactory provision. It is to be hoped it will be introduced without delay when there should be no difficulty in getting it passed into law this session,