HORTICULTURE

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 24, 29 January 1926, Page 11

HORTICULTURE

NECESSITY FOE EDUCATION,

(By Telegraph.)

(Special to the "Evening Post.")

DUNEDIN, This Day.

At the Horticultural Institute Conference a discussion took place on the great necessity of providing education in horticulture in New Zealand. Mr. Tannock said it was suggested that a miniature Kew be established here, and that after five years' training a young fellow could become a student gardener, and go through an intensive course. Another suggestion was that young men could be received from secondary or technical schools, and put to practical work for half time and theoretical work for half time. A man who professed to be a gardener, and who was not satisfactory from a practical point of view, was a humbug. No amount of scientific training would make a mau a gardener unless he had practical knowledge. A suggestion was that the institute should recommend for a diploma course, not a degree course. A five years' course, a garden course, could be established in each of the four centres, and the assistance of the Government and university obtained:

The president (Mr. Nathan) said that under the present labour laws no apprentice clause could be brought into the award. While the dairying industry was worth £20,000,000 a year to the country the Government had done practically nothing in providing education for it. Training in horticulture was also absolutely necessary. Perhaps they could go hand in hand with the agricultural people and make a request. Perhaps if they approached the new Minister of Agriculture (the Hon. O. Hawken) they would"get further in the matter. He thought it should be a recommendation to the executive to make representations to the Minister of Agriculture to see if some steps could be taken in the direction indicated by the discussion.

THE EVENING POST. FRTDAY. JANUARY 29. 1926.