RURAL EDUCATION

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 65, 19 March 1925, Page 9

RURAL EDUCATION

SYSTEMATIC RESEARCH

WORK NEEDED

CLAIMS OF HORTICULTURE

(BI TILIORAPB.—PRESS AgSOCUTION.4

CHRISTOHURCH, 18th March.

The Commission set up to inquire into the means of developing agricultural education in the Dominion, continued its sittings to-day. '

Mr. A. H. Shrubshall said that as a horticulturist who had received hia training in Britain, he had found a lack of training facilities in New Zealand. Horticulture in the 'Dominion was purely an economic department. Agriculture gave instruction in fruitgrowing, but little or nothing was done for the maiket gardening branch of horticulture, which deserved much encouragement. In reply to the chairman, who asked what steps should be taken, Mr. Shrubshall said that the Division of Hortisulture of the Department 6f Agriculture might, very well extend its operations from fruitgrowing to- vegetable gardening. \

Mr. S. G. Smith, secretary of the Canterbury Council of the New Zealand Nurserymen's Association, said that the latter found no means of education in horticulture. There was an apprenticeship, of course, but no theoretical instruction, no system of standardising attainments, and no certificates of proficiency. Nurserymen simply had to depend' upon the man who took an interest in his work. The industry should be put upon.a standardised basis like tliat of plumbing and electrical work, for which registration was insisted upon. The Government appeared to be apathetic about the matter. The technical colleges did-not hold classes.. The gardener was "just anybody." Mr. Cockayne remarked that about 15 per cent, of- the two years' .course at Ruakura was given up to' vegetable growing and propagation of plants. Mr.-.iVE. \Vard,iie!ds instructor for Canterbury, under the Department of Agriculture, considered that New Zealand's requirements in the degree rneft in agriculture were small—about a dozen a year fo» higher instruction and research woj;k.«. There should be a much larger number.of students aiming at the Djploma in Agriculture, and a career as a first-class farmer or stock inspector. In addition there should be a special course for men who desired greater practical experience in some particular line, such as dairying. These courses should include, one in horticulture. Further, tliCji'e must be instruction for tho farmer himself. The research work needed to be organised systematically, and the instructor needed to have a sound' scientific training, in order that correct conclusions might be drawn from the facts laid before him. He had found himself that there was an extraordinary variety of soil types, and that tho statements of farmers about soil treatment and other such" matters were often most unreliable. Graduates in agriculture, in his opinion, should be given .it least, a year's practical and specialised training after taking their degrees. They needed a personal, knowledge of the farmer, his methods, and his problems, before they could gain his confidence, and be of real use as instructors.

Questioned by members of the Commission, Mr. Ward said that'if experimental work were turned over to special officers, the instructors' districts need not be so 'greatly reduced in- size at present, though • the sheer necessity of experimental work was confined almost entirely to the Lincoln district.

Mr. R, M. D. Morten, representing the New Zealand Sheepowners' Federation and the Canterbury Sheeppwners' Union, said that the sheepowners were convinced that better means of education were needed, and that Canterbury College and Lincoln College ought to provide them. They recognised, however, that. Lincoln College ought not to be the only agricultural college in the Dominion. It was probable that, a second college was needed in the North Isand.

Mr. J. D. Hall, president of the North Canterbury executive of. the Farmers' Union, confined his remarks to agriculture. He said that ■ in . Canterbury there were 13,107 holdings of over one acre in area. It was estimated that 5000 holdings of over 50 acres were mainly agricultural. The average acreage under wheat, in Canterbury was 200,000, and in the Dominion 260,000. He was convinced that if the principles laid down by Dr. Hilgendorf, of Lincoln College, were put into operation, the wheat yield could be very greatly increased' The yield recently had dropped heavily, and there was no (better time than the present for instituting reforms. Some ten agricultural experts were required in Canterbury, six for instruction and four i for research. The wheatgrowers' principal trouble was the high cost of production. - Mr. G. T. Holford, Bachelor of Agriculture, handed the Commission diagrams of a complete scheme of rural' education, drawn up by a conference of farmers and educationists a few years ago. He advocated the multiplication of rural high schools, such as that at Bangiora; ,a more elastic matriculation examination; entire co-operation between Canterbury College and Lincoln College; and the appointment of an official to take entire charge of rural education under the Education Department.

Mr. J. A- Strachan, headmaster of the Rangiora High School, which specialises in agricultural education, .described the main lines along which his school works', and discussed thel scheme submitted by Sir. Holford. He strongly advocated post-primary education.* in the country and the cultivation of the rural spirit among both pupils and teachers. If it were not possible to continue the cul-\ tural education of the boy: beyond the sixth standard, he said, technical training should be continued. Boys' farm clulis were an aid to this,

The Commission adjourned uutil tomorrow. '