FARM SCHOOL.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 198, 23 August 1928, Page 9

FARM SCHOOL.

PUKEKOHE BOARD'S PROPOSAL EDUCATING PROSPECTIVE FARMERS. SCHEME OF SELF-HELP. (From Our Own Correspondent.) PUKEKOHE, this day. With the ultimate aim of establishing an agricultural college in Pubekohe, the Pukekohe Technical High School's board of managers is actively engaged in endeavouring to form the nucleus of a farm school. The board having unsuccessfully urged the Government to make a grant for the purpose, a number of local farmers were approached and suggestions made to them with the result that without exception they agreed to allow the use of their land for the benefit of the boys who desire instruction in agriculture. The board has received offers from Messrs. John Schlaepfer and Sons, C. A. Willis, E. J. Campbell and N. Stuart, all successful local farmers, while the manager of the Paerata Dairy Factory, Mr. J. Bowman, has offered assistance in the matter of dairying, particularly cream grading. The board has chosen Mr. Stuart's farm for the main purpose of the scheme. At present the Department of Agriculture is carrying out experiments on this farm, as well as several others in the neighbourhood. Arrangements have been made with Mr. Stuart, and it is hoped to secure the co-operation of the Department, whereby agricultural students at the school will be enabled to visit hie farm and receive tuition under the school's agricultural instructor, Mr. P. Gallagher.

It is proposed that the students shall undertake all the practical work oft the farm on certain days in the week and the theoretical work at the High School.

The scheme is estimated to cost less than £60 for the first twelve months, and sufficient money is in hand for at least three years. The cost includes £10 for special fertilisers, £10 for the right to enter Mr. Stuart's farm, £30 for transporting the students to this and other farms in the district and £10 for contingencies.

The board contends that Pukekohe 16 the place where the town boy should gain his agricultural training and experience, for in the district exist the facilities, the farms, the stock and the proper atmosphere for rural study. The Director of Education will visit Pukekohe shortly to investigate the possibilities of the establishment of a farm school, and the scheme will be placed before him. The board is very optimistic over the matter, and, if the scheme materialises, it looks forward to the time in the near future when every incentive will be offered boys from a distance to attend the classes, which will embrace all branches of farming. The owners of the farms offered the board are carrying on sheep farming, cattle raising, dairying (a pedigree Jersey herd) and cropping on an extensive scale. If the scheme fails after a trial very little money will have been wasted, but if it is successful it is hoped to receive the approbation of the Department.