BASIS OF CULTURE.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 260, 2 November 1928, Page 9

BASIS OF CULTURE.

"SHOULD BE RURAL."

SCHOOLS FOR FARMERS. -

CO-OPERATION OF TOWN ANI} COUNTRY. f ,(By Telegraph.—Special to "Star.* , )' ; DARGAVTLLE, Tursday. "In recent years we have done much in New Zealand to improve primary and rural education, but I believe that "our education system still has too much, of urban bias," said Professor Belshaw at an informal gathering after dinner this evening, when the Mayor, Mr. F. A. Jones, and a number of Dargaville residents met members of the commerce train party. Professor Belshaw said reforms were needed in our educational system. "I would go further," he added, "and stress the importance of adult education, particularly in rural districts. The basis of New Zealand culture should be rural. I should like to see farmers' organisations combining with- city groups to extend a network of rural adult education, particularly winter schools for farmers, and something in the nature of the folk high schools which have contributed so much to Danish prosperity." He commended the idea of the commerce train, but asked: Was it sufficient? He advocated an annual conference, preferably in a small centre, where men from town and country would get together, discuss social problems, closer settlement, and improved transport. "I am convinced," said Professor Belshaw, "that cultural progress need not be sacrificed to purely economic issues, for on this progress depends the true greatness of a people as much as on material achievements." He believed the springs of culture should rise, as in Denmark, from the soil. If New Zealand was to lead the world in an advance towards the ideal democracy, closer caoperation of town and country was an absolute necessity.