Move For Relieving Farm Expert Shortage

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28447, 29 November 1957, Page 19

Move For Relieving Farm Expert Shortage

The new agricultural courses w hich will be introduced ,t Massey Agricultural College and Canterbury Agricultural College Lincoln next year are expected to have an important bearing on the future of New Zealand’s farming industry. Describing their purpose, the Vice-Chancellor of the University c f New Zealand <Dr. G. A. Currie) said they had been carefully designed to meet the urgent need for more highly-qualified agricultural scientists and research ers"The amount of new land remaining for farm development is thrinking rapidly and there is a

s; -a * achieving this and 1 2 e - ln costs K, ’ a . nn In reducing ency.” y “Proving farm efficiThe courses, have been specially evolved by the University of b; W th Z e e S?a n t d e Son Advances Corporation, the. Department of Agriculs?on’and Service CoSSatFon d thE Dcpartmen t of Edu-

Specialisation The new syllabus will enable to graduate bachelor of agriculture in three years or bachelor of agricultural science in four years The latter course wiU 'finn S reater sc ope for specialisation than ever before. For the first time students will be able to do a complete degree course at an agricultural college instead of first haying to spend an intermediate university year at Auckland, Welbneton, Christchurch or Dunedin, the new degree courses have also enabled an important extenZITVr'L made to the longestablished rural field cadet scheme, which for many years has trained recruits for Government departments concerned with farming. land development and farm finance. In the past, boys selected under this scheme have qualified mainly for the diploma of valuation and farm management, but now those with suitable qualifications are being encouraged to study for a degree. The first 10 degree bursars were selected recently from second-year. sixth-formers leaving school this year, and more will be selected next July. The scheme supervisor, Mr H. M. Casselberg, hopes to see the annual intake reach about- 30 boys, with a scholastic background in chemistry, physics biology, or mathematics. R.F.C. Awards The rural field cadet study awards aim at producing agricultural scientists, research workers and farm advisory officers with both academic qualifications and a personal knowledge of farming conditions and problems to guide them in their work. For this reason, their training will combine study at the agricultural colleges with periods of practical work on selected sheep, dairy and other types of farms in both the North and South Islands. This scheme is the first of its kind in the world and has already attracted attention overseas.

■ Federated Farmers and the pro- ‘ ducer boards have supported the 1 new degree courses and leading ; firms of stock and station agents i and others connected with primary industry have also shown in--1 terest and are being encouraged i to take advantage of the opportunity to train more young men for their own staffs.