CANTERBURY AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 9815, 26 August 1897, Page 3

CANTERBURY AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE.

TO THE BDITOB OF THE PRESS.

Sir,—l can hardly let " Student, 1890's" letter pass without saying that I thoroughly endorse, at any rate, one part of his letter, viz., the age ot cadets. I can say that as a rule boys from 16 to 18 are just at a very troublesome age, and hardly know what they want. I was a cadet once on a farm, and also have had, I see, nearly, a dozen cadets myself, at a £100 a year, and could have had many more, if X wished. Of these, those I found willing and taking an interest in their work, i remitted at once the secondjualf-year's premium, and in one or two cases when exceptionally painstaking I paid them for work within the year. I may say, to show the difference of those that wish to learn and those that don't, in two cases on leaving mc the management of a property was at once got and retained to the present day. Others, too young or too old to take interest and learn, I would rather, like Mr Overton, have been without at £200 per annum. I think myself that willing students could be perfectly well kept for £30 per annum. Many persons as well as farmers would like to send their sons to the College, but cannot afford it at the present rate. With willing boys of eighteen to twenty very little labour would be required with good management. 1 believe the present Director to be a good man if given the right lads to work with. So much rests with the youths themselves ; if they do not wish to farm and take every chance of learning nothing can be done with them in any institution.—Yours, &0., EXPERIENCIA.