PROPOSED WINTER SCHOOL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 180, 21 July 1908, Page 4

PROPOSED WINTER SCHOOL.

SUPPORTED BY FARMERS' PROVIXCIAI. EXECUTIVE.

At tlie meeting of the Taranaki I'rivincial Executive of the Farmers' Union on Thursday the following circular, forwarded by Mr. 0. D. Braik, Chief Inspector to tlie \\ angauui Education Board, was read:—

"'Referring to the proposed winter school for technical instruction in agriculture, f have the honour to address your Union as follows:

"The Education Department has provided and equipjted technical buildings, winch my Board desires to render as serviceable as possible to the farming community. The Board has also a staif of instructors which it is willing' to place for a time at the disposal of your Union were it disposed to enter into the proposal outlined below, viz., Mr. Grant in agriculture, Mr. Blown i„ dairying, Mr. Clark in woodwork, and possibly also Mr. Cox in book-keeping. If your Union could secure the services of the Agricultural Department's stock and veterinary officers my Board believes that work of-an extremely valuable kind might be done by the building of such a school as is proposed. 1 '* The students, to the number of say 20, would meet this year at Eltham, the best-equipped school'being there at present. Each would pay a fee of say £2 for the course of instruction. Lessons would be-given for six hours on five days each week. "In outline the course of instruction would be some such as follows:

" (1) Agricultural Science.—(Physical properties of the soil, classification of soils; action of sunlight, air, moisture, and bacteria on soils; productive properties of the soil; action of manure on soil; composition of manures; classification of manures; manure analysis; the life history of plants. Much of this work would he taken practically in the laboratory. " (2) Dairy Science.—Composition and

analysis of milk; milk: testing of milk; milk ferments; principles of separation and ripening; chemistry of milk; byproducts. All this work would be taken in the laboratory. " (3) Farm Carpentry.—Plans, sketches; quantities; common joints, and construction of doors and gates, sizes of tools.

" (4) Book-keeping as for farmers. *' (5) Veterinary.—Lectures and demonstrations.

" (6) Stock.—Lectures and demonstrations.

" (7) Insect Pests.—Life history of insects; methods of coping with the pests; natural enemies of pests. "It is reasonable to presume that some of the local farming authorities would give evening lectures on selected topics. Visits might be paid to neighbouring farms for the purpose of observation and demonstration, and at least one visit might be paid to tile State Experimental Farm. Such an outline is the proposal. It is a small beginning, but might possibly lead to something very much better. It would, of course, be impossible to establish the proposed school without the eo-operation of your Union. .1 shall lie glad to receive such suggestions or criticisms as may lead to some thoroughly workable scheme, and I shall also gladly confer with your Union if it should think the proposal worthy of a trial."

Messrs. G. D. Brail; (Chief .Inspector) and Grant (Board's Agricultural Instructor) waited on the Executive in support of the proposal submitted. Mr. Braik, speaking with reference to the technical schools wliich had* been started in the district, said the people had been exceedingly liberal in providing funds. Had it not been for the liberality 011 the part of the people those schools couid not have been built. The Board wanted to reach the fanning community; this he thought could best lie accomplished by a series of evening classes, or by winter schools of a fortnight's duration as was proposed. The Board did not say that they could make farmers, or artisans, etc., but they tried perhaps to make the inexperienced a little more proficient in their work; fo study the scientific side of farm or anv other walk of life as the case may be. They had the facilities for teaching chemistry, botany, biology, ami perhaps they might do something in geology too. Mr. Brown bad been very successful in his dairy work; *o had Mr. Grant in agriculture. The Board were extremely anxious to place the schools at the services of the farmers.

Mr. Davidson asked if the proposed school would be open for those young men who had left school ami were working in the day time. Mr. Braik explained that the usual technical classes would still be carried on, but that what was now being proposed was a continuous school for a fortnight. There would probably be lectures, etc., in the evenings, but the practical work of the classes would bo done in the day time. He pointed out the advantage of continuous instruction, and said that although only one of 1 family could be spared to attend the classes the 'results to be gained were worth striving for. Replying to a further question, Mr. Braik said the minimum number of students with which to commence the school was 20. Mr. Davidson said that in a scattered .community it would be difficult for farmers' children to attend the classes. Mr. Forsyth stated that school teachers in this district highly approved of the scheme, although they were in another Education Board's district. Replying to Mr. Allhusen, Mr. Braik said the scheme could not be extended to country schools, as the apparatus would not be available.

Mr. Forsyth said there was no doubt about the usefulness of the proposed schools to the farming community. Mr. Allhusen expressed the opinion that there were a good many in favour of the scheme, but he did" not think they could spare a fortnight at this period of the season, lie did not think the fee would stop them at all. Mr. Stevenson had understood that the scheme referred to any district where there was a school, but now found that it only referred to places where there were technical schools. He said that if Jt was possible to get a school] of 20 pupils at Eltham it should be tried there, but he did not think it would pay. Mr. .1. t re Murray said Eltham would be a good centre, and as the schools had been successful at other places he thought one would lw a' good thing there. He hoped the. scheme would be given a trial somewhere, and lie would move that it lw given a trial at Eltham. Mr. Stevenson thought that if the scheme were started now it would be rushed up and would not be a success afterward-. .He favoured the resolution applying In next winter. Mr. Davidson seconded the motion.

Mr. .1. -loncs said lie would like th? scheme to be given a trial. If one school were held for a fortnight thev would have an indication as to whether the scheme would be a success. He would lie sorry to see it killed.

Mr. Grant briefly explained the course of agricultural instruction, etc. (as previ-

ously reported), and said the main principle of the work ivas to teach the science and art of farming.

Answering questions, Ml'. Braik said it would he advisable for students to take tile full course of lessons, which he outlined in detail. He pointed out that the proposals were not new, although new to thi< district, and instanced the great progress made in other countries —Great Britain. Germany, etc. Discussion followed as to how far 111:'

Union should assist. ami it was cvnliialty agreed that the matter he left in the hands of Mr. Murray (Kltham representative). It was also ascertained that the classes would not only be for tlio-e residing in the Wanganui Board's district, but for anyone residing ill Taranaki. The motion was carried. The deputation were accorded a vote of thanks for attending, and Mr. Braik thanked the meeting for the favourable consideration tliey had shown (he scheme.—Hawcra Star.