Expansion Of Agricultural Education Facilities Urged

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 29067, 2 December 1959, Page 27

Expansion Of Agricultural Education Facilities Urged

(New Zealand Frees Association)

GISBORNE, December 1. About 3000 boys will enter farming this year. Ten per cent of them will come from a primary school, compared with 50 per S “ ame “u«e 1939, 65 per cent will have had two years or less of post-primal education while 25 per cent will ctrtiftrX lifled TT *? Bit for Scho °l Certificate or University Entrance. Presenting these figures at the annual conference of the South Island Grasslands Association in Gisborne tonight, Mr C. E. Iversen, the president of the association, said that of those with postSB edu ?^ on ’ loss than half would have taken an agricultural course. Mr Iversen said farming was not being provided with sufficient trained personnel. “Where is a young man to get vocational training—at an agriral Mr Iverlen * • Unfortunately, only a ?£ nber Can be accomLo- £ at , ed ** Massey and Lincoln and it is desirable that these should be of higher academic attainment. A bottleneck at both col- •?’. residential facilities and it is in your interests to ensure that this bottleneck does not remain.

“However, this still leaves a large number of youths of lesser scholastic attainment for whom some education is desirable. To this end the consultative committee on agricultural education recommended the setting up of farm institutes. It was suggested that these should teach practical farming, but many people have reservations about that latter pro-

n^l b .! lieviDg 11131 u is cheaper ™ et^ r 8 yOUth te learn the farm itself. u?he suggestion does not appear to nave found much favour, but if Lincoln and Massey are now becoming more and more unicolleges, then there is probably need for new agricultural colleges. , ‘What about the education of the existing farmer and the young farmer? The main job of farmer education has been with the Education Department and the farming community has been well served. “But it is hoped that the recent reorganisation in the Education Department will provide the salaries, conditions of employment and stimulus necessary to retain the many gifted men already in this field and recruit many others like them.”