UNDER-ESTIMATED

Evening Star, Issue 19639, 19 August 1927, Page 9

UNDER-ESTIMATED

VALUE OF AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION PREMIER ON THE SCHEME [From Our Parliamentary JtepcniEß.j WELLINGTON, August 18. A general survey of tho scheme for agricultural education was given by the Prime Alinister towards the conclusion of his financial debate speech. He expressed the opinion that, oven among farmers, tho value of the Agricultural College was under-estimated. The formation of an Agricultural College Council had brought about a much-needed amalgamation of all interested in the subject to provide for the farmer the best possible, means of pioducing at the lowest possible cost. Some had become restive over the delay, but he thought they could say that, so far as Canterbury College was concerned, the dillicultics there had been satisfactorily settled (“Hear, hear.”) As for the Alassey College, that had no experience behind it, but it would have a good deal of valuable data at its disposal for tho benefit of farmers, already obtained by the Field Work Department. It had started on lines entirely new. He could find no record of a similar organisation elsewhere, for it would be managed by a joint committee representative of the Dairy Board, the Scientific Industrial Research Board, the Agricultural College Board, and the Department of Agriculture. This gave direct contact with tho farmer, and up to a certain point the Department of Agriculture managed it, and there wore special scientists to investigate problems which required special qualifications and coudderatkm. possibly beyond what could be given by the officers of the Department of Agriculture. Ho believed that now the arrangements had been {mailed they had something of real value. No doubt in the South '- u ’id

operation must take place. -There must bo complete’liaison between the two colleges, and the whole system linked up with Empire investigation activities.