THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY THURSDAY, OCTOBER 2, 1913. THE AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 2 October 1913, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY THURSDAY, OCTOBER 2, 1913. THE AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE

The Reform Government, urged on by the Farmers' Union, has practically decided that an Agricultural College shall be established in the North Island of New Zealand. Mr Edward Newman, member for Manawatu, recently visited Australia at the request of the Bj&mier, and since his return has presented" a report to Parliament, in which he strongly advooate&Jjjhe establishment of a College on siTOlar lines to the Hawkesbury College in New South Wales. A definite decision will not be arrived at until the Board of Agriculture has discussed the question, but it seems to be tolerably certain that the necessary funds will be provided for the establishment of a College. This is very good, so 1 fair as it goes. But we take leave to say that such an institution will not, by any means, fill the requirements' of the Dominion. Indeed, we are of the opinion that the Government may be incurring an expense that is entirely unwarranted. We have already in the South Island of New Zealand an institution at which the eons of wealthy se ( . tiers may learn t the scientific and practical side of farming. It seems to us that, with this College in existence, there is no immediate necessity for the provision of an institution on the lines of Hawkesbury. What are really wanted, in the first instance, are agricultural high schools to which pupils who have taken the rural course at our primary schools may be admitted. These agricultural high ..schools would enable the sons of small farmers to gain a knowledge of the scientific side of farming, and would be almost self-supporting. They would act as feeders to Lincoln Colleg© and any other College that might be established. It must he remembered that the Hawkesbury College serves a population of about five millions, nnd draws pupils from other

parts of the world. With its limited population, New Zealand could ftot hope to successfully found and maintain an institution on tho lines of Hawkesbury. "We are convinced that '■■ more useful service would be rendered the Dominion in the meantime by establishing subsidiary institutions.. Let us take tho Wairarapa as an illustration. If an agricultural high school were provided in the district, we should have an attendance of probably one hundred pupils from various parts of tho district. This hundred would receive such an education as would fit thora for agricultural and pastoral pursuits. if no such school were in existence, ninety per cent, of these children would be compelled to graduate for the Civil Service or take free places in our Technical School. At the outside not more than ten per cent, would be in a position to go to an Agricultural College. With an agricultural high school, we should be able to discover tho boys who are possessed of exceptional ability, and these, with the assistance of scholarships, would be able to proceed to the College and qualify for high positions in the State. Our" point -is this: That an Agricultural College, without subsidiary institutions, would be catering entirely for the sen* of the wealthy, and would not serve the beat interests of the State. Agricttrtural high schools would be available to tfoe sons of large and grnall setflfers, would be liberally endowed by the A. and P. Associations and farmers, and would occupy the same position in relation to an Agrieultcral College as. an ordinary High School occupies in relation to the University. We hope lhat tfoer Gx>reJnn*ent, before it incurs a 'heayy responsibility ivt regard to a College, wIH consider the question in all its bearings and will attach full importance to the immediate requirements of the greet bulk of the rural population.