AGRICULTURE.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 13 June 1924, Page 5

AGRICULTURE.

POST-PRIMARY EDUCATION. A special report presented to the Taranaki Education Board on Wednesday by Mr. R. G. Ridling, senior instructor in agriculture, stated: By direction of the board an endeavour was made during the month to> ascertain what could be done .upon this matter. Advertisements were published in the Hawera, Stratford, and New Plymouth papers, and letters were addressed to the A. and P. Associations at New Plymouth and Stratford> and to the Farmers’ Union at Hawera. Acknowledgments were received from New Plymouth and Stratford, and at the invitation of the New Plymouth. Association I addressed the executive and the general committee : on the matter. As a result the association has circularised its members recommending that their sons should be enrolled in such classes as the board might establish. Up to the present no replied have been received either to the advertisements or to the circulars, but the interest of the farmers is aroused, and individual fanners in different parts of the province have asked what is the scope of the jwork proposed. Enrolment and Duration of Course.— In the event of classes being established, it is suggested that only bona fide farm workers who are unable to attend agricultural courses at the Technical or High Schools .of the province should be enrolled. The disability which prevents their attendance should be stated when application for enrolment is made. It is suggested that the duration of the course should be one day (six hours) per week for a period of three months. The months June or July to August or September would be most suitable for both instructors and fanners, for the lads could be most easily spared from the farmers during these months. Courses could be held each year during the winter months.

Scope of the Work.—The work to be undertaken could include soil science, crop husbandry, dairy science, animal husbandry, and farm economics. Practical demonstrations under good farmers would be a- feature of the course, and with the help of the farming bodies arrangements could be made for close observation of the work undertaken on farms, in the vicinity of the school. Should schools be established and the work proceed from year to year most valuable help could be given to the farming industry. Establishment.—The present organisation at the rural centres could be used for the conduct of these classes, and classes could be commenced at Inglewood, Stratford and Hawera without occasioning further expense for equipment. These centres should be able to deal with all applicants within a radius of five to ten miles of the centres. Instructors can only give a limited time to this work, and should applications be received from other districts for the establishment of classes this must be given consideration. _ Cost of classes.—ln the centres mentioned above the cost of maintaining classes would be inconsiderable. No charge upon the board’s funds ought to he made for transporting the applications to the centres. Should classes be established they would doubtless receive recognition, and the capitation earned should cover the maintenance costs, but if the establishment of other centres was determined upon the capitation could not cover the cost of establishment.