"TOO MUCH PLEASURE."

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 114, 16 May 1929, Page 27

"TOO MUCH PLEASURE."

COMMENT BY FRUITGROWERS SPECIAL TECHNICAL CLASS. LACK OF STUDENT SUPPORT. The difficulty experienced in getting students for the horticultural class at the Auckland Technical College was a subject of emphatic comment at the executive meeting of the Auckland Provincial Fruitgrowers. "At first, after a great deal of effort, we managed to get eight students," said the secretary (Mr. G. A. Green). "We have two representatives on the College Advisory Board (Messrs. H. C. Scott, Henderson, and Captain Lambden, Huapai). However, further organisation was undertaken, and we now have sixteen students. The subjects are horticultural botany, horticultural zoology, and horticultural soil chemistry." It seemed a strange thing in a city like this that there was such discouraging support of this class. Three of the students are men who were brushing up their knowledge. The class was doing splendid work now under Dr. Stanley Hill, who was giving enthusiastic service voluntarily. Mr. Rodger: Do you know exactly why this class is not better taken up? The Chairman (Mr. Etouse): I think there is too much pleasure with the young people—too many games, which they seem to prefer to study and means by which they can improve themselves for years to -come. "A Stable Industry." The Secretary: I think a great deal more would be accomplished if we could get the idea into the heads of people that our industry is a stable one, and worthy of the consideration of young people starting out in life. If that were generally more appreciated more young folk would join this class. It was also mentioned that the secretary had issued 700 circulars on the subject and invitations in the interests of the class had been sent to schoolmasteis and through other channels drawing attention to the value of this instruction at the Technical College. The Auckland City Council was giving a special bonus to two of its young employees who were takin« up the study, and the Auckland Racing Club was also giving a bonus on this account. _ "Must Convince Parents." Mr Green: The thing is to get the young people who are coming up, without bothering about the present generation We have to convince the fathers and mothers ot to-day that this sort o sound technical education is a better thing than what they havd thought in da i y t ß was e fina'lly decided to recommend the annual meeting to mamtam its representation on the Technical College Advisory Board.