AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION.

Waikato Times, Issue 2920, 2 April 1891, Page 4

AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION.

To T>l ►. !• IHT'ii:. Ni l : -Yo'.i' 1• ■ hfll.nrtieic in i 11ly i : |..-;i! at t ! ir !'.•>> ot ell' ediie:;i' .Incti,.-. !. i. _ 1 111.; i ; .~iur»te;! wilii m,;u iiu l money :'• /ml.'iihl i -Led with in'Oilui' 1 : ana lifioccupio'! I.Ml?:. A.! tile cm I,n-k"! a country ;,t : .I';..::!-, il' ■ I."(II I. : e I 111 OU" I .11.. :irr ' .'ii!. <»: >mr nioi.i.-y it;, \> iin /.■ ..i. 'iv in f I il' I' I:i I .'-clll'T i... Met I . .IJ H>! I,v 11! e f„|- t I). II . til..: Mil... [lUceil ap ill New Zealand a: ii |if|i| ler ■ iii'inti'■!i ami caiti'al—>rf)ill , ~.., j »n •. .: ihe le>|V>ii'.iM'' } lj.fi,|.~. rill I t.lh.y C,lllicit 111<_<'t til- ll' 011- ~ i ■ I.l■!(•,'.!li< vlllru to the country I -, ; .1,..-. ii! mur ~u t(>ln-s l ine t",,:i.i... !, , , i, -; . taiueii- ; Mini !a. ill .' 11 ;in I le- i' i: .ii ■Ii tricM, 'iv Z-aland to ilay '..i.-iidl" -.lill.liy, mi li i't li.ii.t, and viceiou! iu •. 1-■ I I I'l waring I' ll ' appearance of a r »'iii! i y t:.jiii|Ueri'il ami nei-upied liv a lori-ign army, holding possession of all sources of t-nturpiiho until a war inili'inriity is paid in gold. New /calami ilix is worth £100 per ton if only we knew liow to manufacture it. It is not a linen, Imt is a vegetable silk and should not touch water in its dressing. Hundreds of families could be agreeably employed in this industry— 50 acres of flax fiuld forming an independence for a householder. New Zealand can produce £50 worth of sugar from an acre of land if only this industry was fostered and understood—so acres of land being ample to provide all the refinements and requirements of a large family.' This industry in itself would people our land and end the strife between capital anil labour in our congested centres of population. Without at all reflecting upon commerce and finance, we say that agriculture is not to blame for the ills of New Zealand. We must consider agricultural advancement not from a monetary point of view, bat as an essential to our national ad vaiieeiiient : and to educate our youth in agricultural science will be a pillar of strength to those who believe in our pit! In: sy.- lent of education, Our country u.-huuls should be converted into schools el agriculture, and be liberally supplied v. ilh all the appointments requisite to a thorough primary education. To start •e> agricultural college before establishing primary schools was as great an error as i: would be to start a university without lirst. tot a Wishing primary schools. Where ivuuld our educational system bo to-day 11 111 ui: .-.Laited with a New Zealand university or college V Nevertheless we say I be country ijtlie proper location for all l.i clinical schools of scieuce and art as well a.-; agriculture. Carry out this policy, and your average citizen will look to til'.: country for his retirement and recreation instead of going abroad, and our country settlers will not have to regret l In: migration of their sons and ilau'.'.liter.i when they reach the time for iiidepcudeiiLaction. Government by party is becoming a eurse ; confederation will only intensify our evils, if the wasp of opposition is not driven out of our hive to make room for the bee of co-operation there will be more stings than honey for all to gather later on. IJy co-operation wc shall become a nation : by opposition or competition, never. Commerce and agriculture must co-operate, not confederate. Neither must they oppose nor ouinpntc; and to enable agriculture to cooperate with eommcrec, agriculture must Ik: educated up to the standards to wliijh linanco and commerce are now educated. No subject, no policy, deserves greater thought and closer attention ; and, therefore, I hope, Sir, you will not allow the matter to drop, but v. i!l make it a plank in your editorial plat form.-—Yours truly, WII,I,IAM A, CIi.UI.UI. The Loili'C, Hamilton, March tilth, 18111. I'.S.—()f course each school would require its own agricultural area for cult ivulior. by the pupils, the products of which could be. devoted to hospital, i'i luge, ami cuaritable aid liind ; as voluntary ilouatioii j.- -W.A.G.