AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION.

Auckland Star, Issue 123, 24 May 1919, Page 11

AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION.

REQUEST FOR HOSTEL. FEILDIXG, Friday. A deputation, introduced by the Hon. D. H. Guthrie to-day, asked the Hon. J. A- Hanan, Minister of Education, ts increase the grant for a new technical school ,to provide accommodation for students living at a distance. Mr. Hanan, in reply, said the Government, so far, had not favoured giving assistance in the erection of hostels in connection with technical schools, but the Department would look into the matter when the new proposals respeeing technical schools were under considerationHe was endeavouring to ascertain what sum would be requested if the Cabinet sanctioned an extension of financial assistance. An education proposal had been placed before him the previous day involving an expenditure of £300,000, and another proposal, to include kindergarten work in the National system of educa. tion, his Department assured him, would cost about £200,000 a year. What the deputation stressed about agricultural education appealed to him. Early next month he was calling a conference, to be held in Wellington, of all lecturers and instructors in connection with agriculture. The desire was to place agricultural education on a better footing, and make it more efficient. They had heard a great deal about town-planning, but a good deal might be said for making the country more attractive, and so arresting the drift towards the towns.