THE Wairarapa Age. MORNING DAILY. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 21,1911. TO-DAY'S CONFERENCE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10456, 21 October 1911, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age. MORNING DAILY. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 21,1911. TO-DAY'S CONFERENCE.

The conference to 'be held in, Mastertoil to-day to discuss the question of rural education is one of national as well as local importance. New Zealand, though leading the world in some of its social and industrial legislation, (has lagged far behind in the matter of the (scientific training of those engaged i n our most import ant industry. It was oiuly in recent years that- the Government, yielding to pressure brought to 'bear upon it by Education Hoards and country settlers, assented to the inclusion of the rural course in the elementary sibhools of the Dominion. Tiiis course TVas adopted by the Wellington Education Board some years back, and is now liupplied to various District High Schools. It is an excellent institution, .so 'far as it goes; but, from a practical point of view, it is sadly deficient; In every other branch of education, facilities one offered boys and girls to pursue their studies. If a iboy shows an aptitude for the classics and an aoad/emical education, he has free access to the Colleges and Universities. If he displays a bent for industrial pursuits or clerical work, the Technical School is at hi.3 disposal. But when it co-mes to the great primary industry, the industry

upon, which the future of the Dominion depends, he lias no facilities other than those offered in, the elementary schools. He is turned out, as it were, a raw recruit, with no practical knowledge of the requirements of rural life. In other countries this ia not eo. Far off Japan, the supposedly unenlightened, possesses no fewer than eight thousand agricultural ■schools, all of whioli have sprung up in the last couple of decades. The United States and Denmark are dotted with these institutions. Canada, and Victoria, and New South Wales have made great strides- in agricultural teaching, and have their High Schools and Colleges .set a.part specially for tile purpose. And what have we in New Zealand? We have one private institution far the whole Dominion, access to which is open only to a restricted few. Is this as it should ibe ? Is it right that out of a million of money expended annually toy the State in education, not a penny should be employed in imparting secondary education in agriculture? It is the knowledge of the fact that the fboys and girls of our .schools are not receiving justice that has prompted the Wellington Education Board to invite the co-operation of local bodies and others interested in making a forcible representation to the Government upon the subject. The Wairarapa possibly offers (better facilities, on account of its splendid endowments, and the variety ef its rural occupations, than most districts in the Dominion, for the establishment pS an agricultural High School, and if the Government can be. brought to recognise the importance of the proposal and of offering reasonable financial assistance, there is no doubt that a scheme could be devised 'Wihich would be an inestimable boon to-, .the. district. The fact that the local and agricultural bodies have taken the matter up with enthusiasm, augurs well for the -success of the iproject. In the .meantime, the result of the deliberations at the conference will be awaited with interest. '' 1