N.Z. SOLDIERS AND THE LAND.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16507, 26 April 1919, Page 8

N.Z. SOLDIERS AND THE LAND.

INSTRUCTION IN AGRICULTURE IN ENGLAND , . A SUCCESSFUL SCHEME. (SPECIAL TO "ME TRESS.") AUCKLAND, April 25. An interesting account of the methods' which are being employed to train Now Zealand soldiers in tho science- of agriculture was given by Captain H. EMcGowan, who returned to the Dominion by the transport Bhamo to-day. Captain. McGowan is tho chiof instructor at tli© agricultural farm at tho Ntw Zealand depot at Torquay, England. Ho is well known in agricultural circles in tho Dominion, and for JU years prior to the outbreak of war Jio was funning at WiUowbndge, South Canterbury, whero he became prominent because of tho many experiments h e carried out in connexion with' tho growing of potatoes. He has returned to tho Dominion, on four weeks' furlough, at the expiration of which no wilf return to England. Captain McGowan was created a member of tne Order of the British Empire for his services in the field, and in connexion witn agricultural work in England. Recognising that the time and brains of some 3000 New Zealanders who wero at the base at Torquay wore boing allowed to go to waste, Captain McGowan suggested at tho beginning of last year that an endeavour should be made to establish an agricultural class on comprehensive lines, and, receiving tho necessary authority, lie, in February, 1918, obtained control of 30 acres ot land from a local golf club. Almost immediately aftorward3 ho was offered 100 acres, a portion of the- Ugbrooko Park Estate, by Lord Clifford, a cousin of Sir Gco. Clifford, at tho nominal rental of Is a year. Hβ was th£n asked to take over 400 acres of the Torquay watershed property, which was under the control of the Torquay Borough Council. Thus the total area was brought up to 530 acres; the greater portion of which, was virgin soil, practically none of it having over been cropped. The small portion which had received some attention had been untouched for 28 years. It was overgrown with fern and heather, and abounded in rabbits. Work was commenced on March Ist, a permanent staff of experts, holding the rank of first-class warrant officers nnd non-commissioned officers, boing appointed by Captain McGowan. The initial expenditure on implements was borne by the Regimental Institute, and all tho' horses were supplied' free or charge by the Remount Depot. Tho Torquay Borough Council provided tho wntershed property and all seed required. It paid for horse feed and the o>l and parafliri usod for tho agricultural motors, and for the superphosphates, and in return it was reimbursed by half of the resultant crop, which was put in and taken out by tho men of tho school. From" the outset the schomo was a success, the authorities being deluged with applications from New Zoalanders anxious to receive tho benefit of tho course. In addition, requests were received from members of tho British Army, but as the number of instructors and accommodation wero limited, not more than 400 men could be trained at one timo ; a total which was always fully maintained; indeed, the waiting list practically always contained BCO names. All tho students lived on the farm under canvas. Captain McGowan gay© a number of instances where good yields of cereals and root crops wore obtained, and stated that tho profit on tho venture for the first year amounted to from £1300 to £2000. including stock nnd plant, and it was anticipated that tho surplus for this year would bo between £5000 and £7000. Tho whole scheme was undor the control of the Headquarters Dcoartmont. Considerable interest in the scheme was aroused in agricultural circles in England, and just before Captain McGowan left Enpland, ho received a letter from the Devon Agricultural Board to tho effect that the TCnclish farmers had been shown how to handlo land. This, said Captain McGowau, was nothing extraordinary, as prior to the < establishment of the school, the agricultural motor was a strange sioTit in Dovon. Captain MeGowan said that from the out'ot tho farm had proved a great attraction to the men, tho majority of whom were .keon to take a courso of thn training, and after such they invariably expressorl the intention of settling upon the land upon their return to tho Dominion.