THE DAIRY SCHOOL.

Feilding Star, Volume II, Issue 493, 11 February 1908, Page 4

THE DAIRY SCHOOL.

*•» — VISIT OF THE MINISTER OF LANDS. Official Inspection. | A Motoring Tour of the District. Unique Experience. Mr McNab Impressed with His Trip. Scenes and Speeches. A ttull Account of the Big Event. The Ministerial Speech. I Will Feilding Get the Desired School ?

j It would be difficult to make better arrangements or to more efficiently carry them out than was the case in connection with the visit of the Minister of Lands to Feilding and . district yesterday. From his landing j at tho Feilding railway station to the j : completion of the journey to Wan- j ganui by motor, everything went as j smoothly as the proverbial marriage j bell, ancl Mr McNab fully appreciat- j ed the excellence of the arrangements i and the wisdom of the committee in ; providing him with a pleasant afternoon in which he could cram in a fund of information likely to be of use to him in his Ministerial capacity. The success of the visit Avas mainly due to Mr E. Short, who provided the means of getting about the country in record time and acted as cicerone to the Minister during the trip, liis knowledge of this district being of considerable advantage. In this Mr Short has only added anothere obligation to the heavy debt the community owe him for his public spirit and disinterestedness. OFF TO CHELTENHAM. After the inevitable photographs had been taken- the party opposite the N.Z. Farmers f motor garage, a run of a quarter of an hour brought the Minister to Cheltenham. On the way out Mr Short pointed out th© objects of interest, including some oi the land it was the intention of a deputation to ask the Government to acquire. The Minister here received ■ a deputation on this subject, a full report of which will be found set out in another column. After disposing of this business, the Minister and hiß party then left for Waituna. • TO WAITUNA. The Cheltenham cross road was traversed in no time, and the difficult hills on the Midland road were easily negotiated as the party made for the AVaituna West school. Here Mr McNab, under the guidance of the headmaster, Mr Roy Anderson, inspected the school garden, and spoke in high terms of what had been done. Inside the school, Mr McNab spoke briefly to the children, pointing out the great advantages they would gain by nature study and the cultivation of their powers of observation, the benefits of which ! would be incalculable to them in after life. He referred in terms of , praise to their gardens, and urged them to remember when their school tasks were distasteful, that it was through that medium that thew were i being equipped to battle with the outside world after they left schopl. STORMY POJNT. A move' was then made for Stormy Point, beyond Waituna, where a fine view of the surrounding country was obtained. On the way some fine specimens of Mr Short's sheep were seen and admiration at their appearance was freely expressed. MR E. SHORT'S RESIDENCE. The next stopping place was at Mr |E, Short's residence, where a delightful half-hour was spent. Mrs Short entertained the party -at a delicious afternoon tea, and the Minister spent some time admiring the photographs of cattle and sheep and inspecting the innumerable prize awards the owner has so much reason to be proud of. MR G. C. WHELER'S LIBERAL OFFER. At Mr Short's suggestion, a visit was paid to Mr G. C. Wheelers farm, at Stanway, and an inspection was I made of his stock. Here Mr Wheeler made an offer which delighted the Minister, who has set his heart on making a success of the experimental farm for breeding live stock he is establishing. Mr Wheeler offered to allow the Minister to have his pick of his Hereford cattle and Romney sheep for the experimental farm, and the offer- was accepted with hearty thanks. THE BUSINESS OF THE DAY. The party then proceeded to Mr F. V Lethbridge's residence, where the "heavy" part of the day's work remained to do. Mr Carman, Chairman of the Kiwitea County Council, Mr Goodbehere, Chairman of the Technical School Committee, and Mr J. Cobbe joined the party here. VIEWING THE SITE. When the party arrived at Mr Lethbridge's place, the Minister was taken to view the site. The fifty acres included a piece of rich flat agricultural land, facing the Makino road, and a piece of native bush. The soil is most suitable for growing root crops, ' and Mr Lethbridge nbs at present a ! rape crop in. The Minister was also informed that he could take a site on any other portion of Mr Lethbridge's land if .he thought it more f I 6SII*_LI)I--THE DEPUTATION'S VIEWS. After the party had viewed the proEDsed site, they assembled in Mr ethbridge's drawing-room. _ . As spokesman of the deputation, Mr Fred. Pirani produced a map of the district, on which were marked the different factories for the information of the Minister. He Baid that about five years ago a deputation had inter- | viewed the late Premier with the obI ject of having a dairying school est ablished in the district ; but although ' the answer was to a certain extent , favourable, nothing definite had been done in the matter. Seeing, however, that the ' present Minister of Lands had made up his mind to go through with the matter, a number of the gentlemen who had previously interested themselves had come to the {decision that it was only right that I their case should be placed as succinctly as possible before him. A num--1 ber of particulars had been prepared ! by the Mayor (Mr Trewin) and Mr J. G. Cobbe, which he would lay before Mr McNab. What the Minister had seen that day, limited though the trip had been, would give him an idea of the sort of country surrounding t Feilding— country than which there was no better for dairying and agriculture in any part of the dominion. ; The deputation believed that Feilding j was eminently fitted for the estab- > lishment of a Dairy School for many J reasons. It was the natural centre 1 of one of the finest dairying districts in the dominion, having a radius of thirty miles, including the counties of Oroua, Manawatu, Kiwitea, Kairanga, and Pohangina, in every one of which there were dairy factories and , creameries already established, with a j promise of very many more. Another i advantage possessed by Feilding was a building specially erected for a technical school, which was to be fitted up with special regard to scientific in- ■■ struction, and in which those who desired instruction in scientific dairying would also be able to obtain useful technical education in other directions. The Wanganui Education Board had been successfully conducting dairying instruction classes throughout the district of late, and the result had proved that there was considerable demand, both from adults and young folk, for scientific education in dairying, and that there was evidence that the dissemination of this knowledge would do a great deal to counteract the "rush , for the towns" so detrimental to ', agricultural districts. In this district j are dairy factories belonging to the < Awahuri, Kairanga, Cheltenham, Bunnythorpe, Apiti, Bewa, Rongotea, and i Glen Oroua Companies, Nathan and 4

Co., and J. Gillies, to which creameries are attached at Waituna, Pukihikura, Sandon Block, Halcombe, Cinder Hill, Kimbolton road, Aorangi, Colyton, Roberts' Line, Pohangina, Raumai, Ashhurst, Stoney Creek, Taikorea, Kairanga, Beaconsfield. Kimbolton, Nikau, Colyton, Hiwinui, Ohakea, Freklington Line, Himatangi, Makowhai, Taikorea, etc., all of which wore within easy distance of Feilding, with 22,000 cows and a capital value of fully £125,000. The number of employees utilised to get this produce to market must be very large, and their interests alone wore well worth considering. There was no intention on the part of the deputation to set Feilding against any other place, but the Minister must surely be impressed and must feel that the arguments in favour of a dairy school were very weighty, and that he must carefully consider them before coming to a final decision on tho whole question. Mr Pirani concluded by expressing the hope that the Ministerfs answer would be favourable, and sma that even if the Ministor, after a trial, found that Feilding was not the best locality for the school, the people would be satisfied that the Minister was doing his best for the dominion. OTHER SPEAKERS. Mr W. T. Bowater followed, pointing out • the great need for agricultural education throughout the Island. Farmers needed to be instructed in the benefits of growing winter feed. Mr A. H. Atkinson referred to Feilding's advantages as the centre of a rich dairying district. If the Minister was looking for a site which would be suitable tor Hawke's Bay and the Wairarapa that was another matter; but if he wanted a site which was a suitable one for a centre, with rich surroundings- and prosperous dairying interests, Feilding was a splendid place for such a school. THB MINISTER'S REPLY. Mr McNab, in reply, first of all thanked the members ot the deputation for having put themselves about so much to enable him to get a wider view of this important part of the dominion. As Mr Pirani had stated, he could not be expected to say just then What the final decision with regard to tho establishment of the Dairy School would be. That decision would not be made until his report had been laid ' before the proper authorities, which would be in the course of a few days. He realised that his task was made much more difficult from the princely generosity which characterised fie different, parts of the dominion in offering sites for the Dairy School, it was very pleasing to himself and the other members of the Government to sco tho great interest which had been evoked, becauso it showed that the people recognised the importan_e of the step which the Government proposed, ft was possible that the School of Instruction might develop into a peripatetic institution, and Ik- 1 would say nothing that would preju- ! dice the final result of tbe establishment of the proposed school. He was ready to say that no country had done what New Zealand had done in regard to the dairying industry. They could not see far enough ahead to say the Dairy Sohool would not shift. But he thought it a very advisable experiment to establish it. As the work developed and oommanded a wider area, and controlled a larger supply, they could go in for the extreme form of education, and take in bacteriological work. He hoped tosee the day when tho work would be of such magnitude, and so complete in its operations, that he would be able to challenge the work done at any similar institution outside the United Kingdom and the United States of America. It was proposea to establish this Experimental Station and School of Instruction for geiera; benefit. At first a feeling was in the minds of the officers that the school shouta be for the managers of dairy factories all over the country, to bs in operation during the wintei mothsbut as a result of making inquiries iii other parts of the world, they decided to havo for their object the training of all who intended to devote themselves to the work of managers of dairy factories over a systematic course of instruction, taking them from the elementary part of their trade and giving them instruction such as would raise that trade to the dignity of a profession. (Hear, hear.) That could only be done by applying themselves to the scientific side of the question. Froni the proposed School of Instruction they should be able to guarantee a man a certificate by which he could convince the directors of any dairy company that he was j able to do any work he would be call- j ed on to perform. It was also his ; hope that side by sido witih the work in that direction, they would be able to train a body of men who would be able to go about amongst tho technical schools and give the children who needed it a systematic instruction in dairy work. So that the Dairy School would supply teachers to the Technical Schools. That would be the Agricultural Department's part of the work, and the' Education Department would follow on with their part. Speaking of the benefits, Mr MoNab said he wished to impress • n them what they looked to from the State's point of view. The experience of the Dairy Department in this country had satisfied everyone that it had more than justified its existence. Had the farmer been left to struggle on and endeavour to develop the industry on the lines of the past, it would j have meant that years would havo j como and gone, ana the lessons would have been taught at the expense ot the farmers' pockets. The question, he would point out with pleasure^ was not a party one. (Hear, hear.) Tho State nad been able in a -few years to get experience which had been appn?ciated by all those engaged in the industry. People might say, why is it necessary now to abandon those lilies which had proved -so profitable in tne past? The reason was that competition was -becoming so keen that every single, post had to be made a winning post, and they must have the same results in their products as other countries. The climatic conditions of the country, and the food grown for the animaiis, had an effeot on the product, and unless they could teach the farmer the effects produced by 4'hose conditoins, they would suffer for it. They wanted to get from the chemist tho operation of the ' water and' ithe food the animal consumed, and the Experimental Station was going to get from the chemist and the bacteriologist all the farmer sliould know. This would enable them to supply an article in tho London market whicn would command the top price. If they were depending upon an industry which, m its turn, depended upon fashion, one year they would bo it the top of prosperity, and tlie next at the bottom of adversity. But the -airy industry was -•; connected with the food supply of the. world, and no fashion — except one recently tried at Wanganui— (laughter)-- would bo likely to affect the food of tho people. The food of the people always rose n« price with the wealth of the world. His colleagues, said the Minister, were at one with him on the question of the establishment of the School of Instruction. There had been delay, because Mr Singleton had been sent to England, but a definite step would be taken in the course of a few , weeks. He felt perfectly confident t/bat wherever the, School waa placed..

it would mean an immense advantage to the industry. In concluding the Minister thanked them for the assistance given' to him in helping him to select the most suitable site, and lor the clear way in which Mr Pirani had put the case for Feilding's claim. (Loud applause). He hoped the map of the district" showing the positions of the factories and creameries would be sent to Wellington, so that he could lay it before the proper authorities. Afternoon" tea was then partaken of, being dispensed by Mr Lethbridge's daughters. THE DEPUTATIONS THANKS. Mr Pirani, on behalf of the deputa- i tion, thanked the Minister for his courtesy in paying the district a visit and his willingness to adapt himself to the wishes of the committee in rushing through the district so ias to cover as much ground as possible in the time. He referred in appreciative terms to the generosity of their member, Mr Lethbridge. He pointed out that everyone who knew that gentleman was aware that his offer was k . otated out of pure generosity, that he was not desirous of grinding any political axe, but was purely concerned for the progress and prosperity of the district for which he had done so much; that knowledge being gained through the numerous private benefactions and openihanded generosity with which Mr Lethbridge's name was associated in this district. The Committee also desired to thank Mr E. Short for his great kindness in placing his motor-cars at their disposal, and in driving the Minister himselt for it would bo difficult to find a better chauffeur than Mr Short, unless it were his able lieutenant, Mr J. Gascoigne. Mr J. G. Cobbe, who was unable to be present during the tour, had really been, their host at the luncheon, and his keen desire waa to make the visit of the Minister a pleasant and instructive one. Mr McNab thanked the Committee for the treat they had provided for .him, and referred in high terms to tne excellence of the arrangements for his comfort and enjoyment. DINNER-'AND WANGANUI. A number of the members of tho party, with the Minister and his secretary, were the guests of Mr E Short at dinner, after which botli cars, loaded right up, were driven to Wanganui, where the Minister was lett, ami a return to Feilding was made. It is difficult to speak too higldy of the pleasure of that trip. The run to Wanganui was made in an hour and thirty-five minutes, and the return occupied an hour and a half, the party being in Feilding by eleven o'clock. Mr Short drove the Ministerial car, ami Mr G-aseoigne drove the second car, and it was an event of a lifetime to those who participated in it. Although a departure was made from Feilding over an hour arter the train, tho cars drew in <it Turakina station as soon as the train, while they reached Wanganui threequarters of an hour before tho steam engine.