MAKING FARMERS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 223, 20 September 1935, Page 3

MAKING FARMERS.

COMMITTEE'S SCHEME.

TRAINING FOR BOYS. TRADES SCHOOL PROPOSAL. A report by a special sub-committee suggesting the establishment of a training centre near Auckland with the idea of training boys to become farmers was discussed at a meeting of the Auckland Boys' Employment Committee yesterday. It was decidcd to put tlio proposal before representatives of the Unemployment Board as soon as possible, probably next week, and show the Government that tile committee was ready to deal at once with a growing need. "We have too many boys going in for academic training," said Mr. J. W. McGechie, headmaster of the Parnell School and viec-president of the committee. "They are looking for jobs in offices in the city, and personally I think many of them are the right type to be trained as farmers." About 2500 boys were receiving secondary schooling of more or less academic typo, and SOO were receiving technical education dealing with trade and town callings, stated the report, making little provision, if any, for learning- the business of farming. In view of this fact, the provision of a training centre on the outskirts of the city was advocated. The Dominion was vitally interested in evolving the best possible type of farmer. and a rural population normally provided one of the best elements in any nation.

"The training centre should have as its central idea the training of boys as farmers. In addition to practical work there should be classes in, say, agricultural botany and chemistry, drawing (plans of farm buildings, gates, etc.), engineering (such as would be of use on a farm, internal combustion engines, pumps, windmills, etc.) and farm hygiene, also small specialised lines such as bee and poultry keeping, seed growing, etc. The school as a beginning might be small with, say, 50 boys. Aptitudes of Boys. "As a development of this idea, the work might be extended to provide, in addition to the training mentioned above, the carrying on of carpentering, plumbing, bricklaying, general building, elementary engineering (both general and electrical), sail and tent making, etc., the idea underlying such proposals being that by means of actual contact with" the work the aptitudes of boys should, if possible, be discovered. The boys would probably not board at the centre, and so its sito would have to be fairly close to the city. It was suggested, said the president, Sir Joseph Smith, that it should be centred 011 the St-. John's College property, where the committee's present arrangements for the use of land would shortly expire. It would be nothing of an elaborate nature, said Mr. McGecliie, and would be started on a small and careful scale, but 011 broad, practical lines. "The centre should be controlled by a body such as this," he added, "otherwise it would soon stagnate." He suggested, however, that the Unemployment Board should be asked to give financial assistance in its actual establishment and equipment with tools, stock and machines. After Primary School. After primary school training a boy would attend the centre for at least a year, said Mr. McGechie, and receive a training that he would not get at any school in this country or in any other. He would perhaps visit farms which specialised in different phases of production from the land, gaining the experience and careful observation that would make for good farming. In the case of boys whose circumstances would not allow them to train thus before getting actual jobs, it was suggested that some form of scholarships should be instituted.

"It is obvious that such a course would make provision which would enable the recent suggestion of trades schools to be tried out and developments advanced from the results of the experience gained at the training centre," concluded the report.