AGRICULTURAL LECTURESHIP.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 246, 17 October 1922, Page 7

AGRICULTURAL LECTURESHIP.

PROPOSED BY AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION COMMITTEE. UNIVERSITY COUNCIL TO CONSIDER ITS ESTABLISHMENT. A deputation from the Auckland Agricultural Committee, comprising Messrs. 1". C. Rollett, F. R, Callaghan, R. McArthur, and E. Clifton, waited on the University College Council yesterday afternoon, for the purpose of urging the 1 establishment of a lectureship in agriculture at the Auckland University College. Mr. Rollett, who was the first speaker, : said that he would like to see a lectureship at the University, for agriculture . was of immense value to New Zealand in general, and to Auckland in particular. Agriculture should be encouraged, but unless it received assistance he could not see how it could go any further. The deputation would like a definite promise . that if sufficient finance was obtainable that the council would appoint a lecturer in agriculture. Mr. Rollett said that it was absolutely necessary for higher agrii cultural education in the Auckland pro- : vince. The Agricultural and Pastoral Association, local bodies, and firms in the city and country promised to support the scheme. Mr. Callaghan said that in order to promote agricultural education it would be absolutely necessary to have a leei turer. A few years ago the subject of i agriculture was not recognised in the examination papers, but he would remind tin . Council that at the present time agriculture was a. subject recognised by the Senate for the. B.A. degree. It was regrettable that there was no provision for the teaching of the subject at the University. A lectureship as was proposed would servo (1) teachers, (2) instructors, and (3) high school pupils. Mr. Callaghan further stated that a ■■ large percentage of the teachers must remain in the rural schools, and it was ; highly desirable that they should have lan agricultural training, and attain the degree. The subject was languishing in the secondary schools through the lamentable lack of tcnehers. Lack of teachers in the past had caused lack of progress in agricultural teaching and science—the matter was initiated badly, and in consequence the subject was in disrepute. * Speaking with regard to instruction, Mr. Callaghan stated that it would be desirable that teachers should pivc exposition of the subject to fanners and wliool pupils, but at the present time the difficulty was that many teachers had : no opportunity of securing agricultural j training. There was an urgent need of instructors to keep theoretical and prac-' tical agriculture going hand-in-hand, i There were at present in the Auckland province 700 high school pupils receiving agricultural training, and some were taking subjects from agriculture up to nature. The junior university school i standard must changv to assist the j science, for a break in educational con- i tinuity often meant a loss to agriculture, j Farmers in the country districts were | not anxious to send their sons to the city to be educated, for it often meant that such would wean them from farming. Explaining the suggested duties of an agriculture instructor, Mr. Callaghan said that the lectureship could eneilv be associated with the professors of natural science. The practical work could be done in the present laboratories, the field work on the Ruakura State Farm, and on locations on farms in the vicinity. the direction of the theoretical studies and their application to farm conditions. At the same time if lectures in agriculture were given, they would eerve to act as propaganda for the suggested chair of agriculture. Concluding, Mr. Callaghan stated that it was proposed to start in a modest! way. The Education Committee hoped ] to be able to raise a sum equal to £250 per year for five years. This amount, he understood, would carry a Government subsidy. Mr. R. McArthur and Mr. K. Clifton contended that the cost would not be {Trent, while the benefits to be derived would be of tremendous value. Roth speakers hoped Unit the Council would see its way to establish a lectureship at thr University. Professor A. P. W. Thomas stated that in 18SS ho endeavoured to introduce agriculture as a subject, but it was nearly 40 years before the Senate adopted his views. However as there were at present heavy calls' on the finance of the University, that difficulty would have to 1*- faced". He estimated that to provide a highly qualified lwcturer, n laboratory and other incidental expenses, would cost little short of .CI 000 a year. The chairman, the Hon. Geo. Fowlds. assured the deputation that the Council was in full sympathy with the views expressed. The funds were limited but the Council would consider the matter thoroughly and acquaint the committee ot their decision.