AGRICULTURE

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 43, 20 February 1925, Page 2

AGRICULTURE

INSTRUCTUBAL FACILITIES

BOABD TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO GOVERNMENT.-

Having had the question of; agricultural instruction undei* consideration for some time past, the Minister.of Agriculture (the Hon. W. Noswortny) has now referred it to the Board of Agriculture for full inquiry into all phases of the subject., .. ..... ..', , ,'

In making his "announcement late yes r terday afternoon the Minister said that various sums of money had been donated for the purpose of agricultural infitruction, and he stressed the necessity for careful thought and inquiry as to their"utilisation, so that tho best results to the Dominion as a wholo might be .obtained. In addition to the question. o£ what further educational facilities were required, there was " aleo/. the matter of. bringing ', Lincoln College into whatever scheme was finally. ; adopted., Having regard ,to all the facts, said Mr. Noswdrthy, ■ the Board of Agriculture would bo asked to obtain ovidencs from all parts of the Dominion/investigate the matter from all points of view, and finally report to the Government with recommendations as to the; line of action they considered sliould be adopted. <It 'was proposed to associate with the board for the pur poses of. the inquiry two responsibla Government pfftcp.ai representing Jtlio Department of Education; and the.Department of Agriculture respectively .'He felt confident that ■ the gentlemen .to whom the inquiry was being entrusted were exceptionally fitted to advise the .Government as to the best course to adopt in the interests of the whole Dominion. It was anticipated that" the' inquiry would be comineuced at a very early dat« .:■■.■; . . ..■■■' , ■ The members of the Board of Agriculture aro :. Sir. James Wilson (Bulk), president, Messrs.- E. Averill (Hastvß& A 1 Granfc (New Plymouth),' t.Hall (Onehunga), D. Marshall (Southland) J H. Perrett (Sansou), W., l'errv (Masterton)y D. W. Westenra (Dunsandel), J. Begg (Dunedin), E. D. M'Lennan (Papakura); G. L. Marshall (Marton), and W. D. Pike (Blenheim). _ In view of the Minister's decision it v of interest tq: recall that the board expressed the opinion after its last meeting thdt the establishment of two or three aL'Mcultural colleges in the North Island was not warranted.at the present tune It, was also a vain hope to expect that the Government would Pcon° sent to subsidise each college to the extent necessary to establish, 'equip, \ Aa d maintain satisfactory institutions, The ■tefi tf 501"^ 011 was tiua"y *™™E ColW f a °P"? 1On of this board one College or Agriculture in the North Is° land would be sufficient for many vpsT-r in making a .tart with thia work?- "y