STUDENT FARMERS

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 53, 5 March 1925, Page 9

STUDENT FARMERS

DEGREES IN AGRICULTURE

BOARD OF 'INQUIRY.

The.-Board of Inquiry appointed to hear evidence and report to the Government on the question of agricultural training institutions and makin^ provision for the instruction of students desirous,of becoming farmers well equipped with a knowledge of the principles of scientific agriculture commenced takim: evidence yesterday afternoon. Sir James Wilson presided.-."... - __ .^ lT-W- D- Hunt said that he: took it the first question, to decide was' -towhat extent agricultural education was required in this country. In the term .agriculture he included" the pastoral industry. This country was self-contained as far as agricultural products were concerned. Taking it all round, our agricultural industry was the mainspring of this country; everything else depended upon it. The development of agriculture and tjie improvement of our agricultural products would push this country ahead more than anything else. He thought that the students at agricultural colleges would be mainly those who intended to become agricultural instructors ; Sid any comprehensive system of agricultural education must not. only train instructors but also prepare pupils to benefit from tlie teaching given by these instructoi-s. He expressed the opinion that our education system, at any rate in some of its 'branches, should turn more iv the direction of agriculture, chemistry, botany, economics, etc., instead Of so" much attention being given to languages. In his judgment, one well-equipped agricultural college would be very much better than having several colleges not so well equipped. As-to tha" place where the agricultural college should be established, '.^Wellington had many advantages, including its central position. The Department of Agriculture was here also the head office of th» Education Department. These Departments could give much assistance to the college. ■ .........

In reply to questions, ;Mr.,, Hunt, said he favoured taking education out: to. the farmers by means of the farm instructors, who would mainly be educated at the agricultural college. Farm students could get instruction in farm schools in the country districts. :

Dr. P. Marshal^ geologist, and president of the New Zealand Institute, thought that an agricultural college should itself teach the.elements of certain branches of learning in association with their agricultural bearing from the start. In his opinion, there should be at least two agricultural colleges in New Zealand. Scientific education in agricultural-colleges should be associated from the very start with its agricultural relations, and it would he an advantage to have as many institutions, providing instruction up to a certain stage, as the number of students warranted and th( finances'could provide. Facilities shoulc be provided for research in "connection with one specially equipped college.