AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16881, 8 July 1920, Page 8

AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION.

PLSA FOR BETTER SYSTEM. (press association telegram.) WELLINGTON, July 7. A strong plea for the adoption of a better system of agricultural education in tho, Dominion was made by Mr J. D. Hall, of Hororata, at to-day's sitting of the Council of Agriculture. Ho was speaking to a recommendation from the Board of Agriculture which was couched iu tho_ following terms: "Tho Board views with satisfaction tho cordial co-operation that exists between the Education Department and tho Agricultural Department in agricultural education, as shown by the success of tho short farmers' courses carried oufa by officers connected with both Departments at Ruakura, and urges that these classes should be established wherever possible. If an experimental farm is not available, arrangements might be made to hold such classes at the" farm of some well-known farmor,. where accommodation for those attending could be obtained nearby." Mr Hall said that during his trip through America he had realised that New "Zealand -was absolutely not even in the "also started class" m the matter of agricultural education, as compared with the various States of the Union. In one small town in Oregon, which State was much smaller than k New Zealand, he found a college of agricultural education, with 4000 stu--1 dents undergoing most comprehensive training. The Director-General of Agriculture, Dr. C. J. Reakes, said that doubtless there was a very groat deal to be done in the matter. The difficulty in tho past was to get hold of tnen of the righb typo to act as instructors and advisors to farmers. Enquiries were being inado outside New Zealand, and the De? partmens might thus get hold of a few good men. The recommendation was unanimously adopted, along with other suggestions from the Board, as follows:— "The Board, having watched the good work of the field instructors connected with the Agricultural Department, is of opinion that thei'r number should either be increased or assistants be appointed, so that experiments or demonstrations could be greatly increased in number, covering farm operation in the various districts." "That where possible farm schools should be established." The Board desires to impress upon the Minister the great need of a. fullyequipped agricultural college, with sufficient land connected with it for all the necessary requirements, and urges that immediate steps betaken to utilise the money so patriotically bequeathed to the State bjr the late Mr Josiah Howard to provide such a college." # "That in connexion with such agricultural college there should be appointed : (1) a bacteriologist, (2) a chemist (■who should be a bio-chemist), and (3), a plant pathologist for investigation and research purposes, with a sufficient area of fand set apart for their use; district committees representing A. and P. Associations arid County Councils to act in conjunction with the agricultural instructors of tbe Department of Agriculture and the Board of Education, to work up interest in agricultural education generally; these committees to arrange practical exparimerfts to demonstrate the best use of the various manures and lime." The Council decided to forward the above recommendations to the Minister of Agriculture. It was further decided to ask the various A. and P. Associations to set up above-mentioned district committees of farmers to -work with and assist tho various Government officials connected with experimental and demonstration work.

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