DOMINION'S FEW

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 100, 30 April 1945, Page 3

DOMINION'S FEW

FARM-TRAINED BOYS

PREJUDICE A BARRIER

Only 200 out of the 3500 boys who attend secondary schools in Auckland city and suburbs are taking agriculture courses, said Mr. George Drake, principal of the Otahuhu Technical High School, in addressing the Auckland Rotary Club to-day. Ke contended that the demand for agricultural education must be greatly increased if New Zealand was to bring science and industry fully to the aid of primary production. One hundred of the boys who were studying agriculture in the Auckland area were attending his school, said Mr. Drake. Of the others, about 70 were at the Mount Albert Grammar School and- about 20 to 30 at the Northcote District High School. "There is a popular prejudice against agriculture as a career that is seriously handicapping New Zealand, arid this must be broken down before we'can' attain the progress needed for the good of the country," declared Mr. Drake. "Farming is regarded by many parents as not to be compared with the professions when deciding on a career for boys. Later many of these boys may turn to farming, but they have then lost the opportunity for thorough preparation which the schools are able to provide. The schools have developed the right courses, and the Education Department is right behind them' in their efforts. It is up to the parents to do the rest." Low Educational Average About 30 per cent of the male workers in the Dominion were on the land, stated Mr. laake, but the ; majority of them had not received a full primary school education, and onlv a small majority had the higher training needed. There were, however, sighs of improvement, and he , remarked that in the past two years the number of boys who were studying agriculture at the Otahuhu Technical High School had increased from 25 to 100. Lack of a farm attached to a school where agriculture was taught was not necessarily a handicap, he said. At Whangarei and also at Otahuhu it had been proved that the existence of excellent farms within a short distance afforded the practical experience required by the boys and at the same time left the schools free from the problems of running farms of their own, problems which were particularly difficult in holidays. Of the diversity of training needed by an efficient and self-reliant farmer, Mr. Drake had much to say. He pointed out that a modern farmer must he arv agricultural scientist, an artisan, a tradesman and a business manager. At the same time he must be able to take his place in the comrnunity on a social basis, and must have an intelligent understanding of and an interest in local and national affairs. Above all he must have his full share of competence arid commons'ense. He must be able to plan and carry out tasks which involved knowledge of a wide range of general knowledge. Offshoots of farming were numerous, said Mr. Drake, and he mentioned some of the interesting movements among young farmers. He also highly praised the Army education qourse in fanning and contended that farmers had just as much a right to a decent life as anyone else. One of the most important needs of to-day, he said, was a vigorous and well-directed attack by all farmers on pests and diseases, which were annually causing many millions of pounds of loss in New Zealand. Intensive production was not. yielding the benefits it should while this situation existed.