PROPOSED AGRICULTURAL SCHOOL

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10434, 27 September 1911, Page 5

PROPOSED AGRICULTURAL SCHOOL

FOR THE WAI3ARAPA.

PROJECT WARMLY SUPPORTED

At-, the meeting of the Wellington Education Board yesterday, Mir A.. H. Vile moved, in accordance with notice given, '.'That a committee be set up to confer .with; the EducationDepartment, the Master-ton Trust Lands Trustees, and agricultural bodies interested, on the question of the-.,establishment in. the : of a School of Agriculture." Mr Vile pointed out that c .'dirties were given children of the primary schools tc continue their studies in every other branch of education but agriculture. The work done in the p<ri-ir-ary schools was good in its way., but it did not qualify the pupil "for these inipbriaiit'rural pursuits' which it" intended-to follow. '■: The education system was defective' in-that it did hot provide for the imparting of adequate instruction in scientific agriculture; There were numerous educational endowments in the Wairaropa, the proceeds of which, wteni towards maintaining colleges. Mr Vile was 6,f opinion that the proceeds of some* f of these reserves should be devoted!' to agrioulture. There- was no district in the Dominion where the conditions were more favourable to the establishment of an agricultural school than in the WaJrarapa. He thought that if a committee were to investigate the matter, it would be able to present a case to the Minister which would be irresistible.

Mr W. H Field, M.P., had very much, pleasure- in seconding the resolution. An agricultural school in the Wairarapa would be of value, not only to that district, but to every part of the North Island. lie was of opinion that .the time wds ripe for the establishment of such <a school, and felt sure the movement now being made would hear good fruit. (Mir W. C. Buclfanan, M.P., said the proposal of Mr Vile had' his hearty .sympathy. He pointed put, however, that he had himself made or.''offer to &e Department, and this'had been refused. He saw no harm in im&king another trial. Even if they did not succeed, they would have the advantage of knowing how Tar tihey could get. He heartily supported the resolution. The Chairman /Mr R. Lee) in supporting the resolution, dwelt upon the importance to the development of the country of a thorough knowledge of agriculture. There were no • means, at present, of securing a thorough! grounding in agriculture lin New Zealand.

Mr Vile having briefly replied, thanking meimlbers for the cordial reception ,given the proposal, the resolution was carried unanimously, and Messrs* Hogg, Buchanan and Vile were appointed a committee to further the project.