FARM TRAINING

Evening Post, Issue 12, 14 July 1936, Page 11

FARM TRAINING

RETURNED SOLDIERS' SONS ,

(Special to the "Evening Post.'1)

MASTERTON, This Day. The effective use of the Wairarapa Training Farm at'Penrose for purposes of agricultural instruction, in which preference would be given 'to the sons of returned .soldiers, Ms ibroughtirito prospect by a statement made yesterday by Sir William Perry, chairman of the Training Farm Trustees. . . ...... ■

"It has been felt for some time past by the trustees of the Wairarapa Training Farm," Sir William Perry said, ''that something more should be done with it than is being done at present, but first the election and. then the change made in the position of Director-General of Agriculture resulted in the matter being held over for a considerable time. The question of making an appropriate use of the training farm is now, however, being tackled in earnest.

1"A meeting of the trustees and representatives- of the Department of Agriculture was held oh July 7 \o decide on .the future use of the farm. The main principle of what should be done was unanimously agreed to, an important point being that in any scheme of training developed the sons of returned soldiers are to be given preference, and the Department of Agriculture has .undertaken to draw up a scheme in detail and to place it before a further meeting at an early date."

At the moment, Sir William, observed, there might not be many sons of returned soldiers seeking a course of agricultural training. Information went to show, however, that within a ■year or, two there would be a considerable number of lads in' this category who would welcome the opportunity of undergoing such a course of instruction as might be afforded at the farm. All details remained to be considered and determined, but it should be possible' to institute at the farm courses of instruction somewhat on the lines of those developed by the Department of Agriculture at Ruakura.

The present trustees of the farm are Sir William Perry (chairman), Messrs. Duncan McGregor, Quentin Donald, C. Reid, and F. Court. All save Mr. Court are members of the original board.