AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 29 August 1925, Page 3

AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION.

APPEAL FOR SUPPORT

LECTURE BY PROFESSOR TEREX

An eloquent appeal for the establishment of agricultural education in New Zealand on a sound basis was made in Hawera last night by Professor G. S. Peren, of the Sir Walter Buchanan Chair of Agriculture at Victoria University College, Wellington. Professor Peren, whoso work in Wellington is hampered by lack of the proper facilitis—not only is there no School of Agriculture,. . bnR no special laboratory — spoke under the auspices of the Yv.E.A. Mr F. Gillanders presided over an audience which, while it followed the lecturer with the closest attention and expressed evident appreciation of hi& address, was nevertheless disappointingly small. The chairman said that Professor Peren was the first Professor of Agrieulture in New Zealand. He was a man whom training and experience alike had fitted to deal with the subject of agricultural education. In commencing his lecture the professor pointed out that lie had not merely studied the subject in .England* but had been for many years in Canada. He said that be intended to deal with the- subject of agricultural education and research, and also to speak on the aims and objects of the School of Agriculture which had been planned at Victoria College. He was confining himself to this subject when giving lectures outside the college, since it was absolutely essential that farmers understand it and take a keen interest in it, for the subject concerned them more closely than anybody else, although it had a national aspect. It was necessary, therefore, that farmers should give the School of Agriculture their united support and fight for it, else it was unlikely that that branch of the agricultural services would ho properly developed. To one new to New Zealand the lack of facilities for agricultural education was most striking. . In view of the fact that in most countries agriculture was accepted as a most important educational subject, this neglect in a country such as- New Zealand was hard to understand. At the present time the community as- a whole seemed- quite content to spend some £3.000,000 per annum on training the youth of the country for any other profession hut farming. The present system of educational training was very largely skimming the best brains of the country schools and packing them off to the cities to become business and; professional men, and in that connection the part played by the matriculation examination was well known. It was his belief that such a system would eventually weaken the whole fabric of the nation’s livelihood. Improved methods- of farming and increased production meant brain work by those on the land, and from New Zealand’s point of view the best men were wanted out in the country, and not in t-he cities. A number of rather high qualifications were required hv the farmer in order to be successful, and this would apply very much more in New Zealand in the future than at present. The farmer needed to know the technical side of his business. He had to take not only market risks, but weather risks—risks of attack by diseases and parasites, and finally he had to buy very largely in the retail 'market, hut sell in the wholesale.

Capable men would lie required if in the future tlie country were to net the most out of its soil and hold its own in tlie world’s markets; mid lie thought that New Zealand would ho making a verv serious mistake if it did not seriously take up agricultural education and research instead of playing with the question. Little beyond playing had been done since he arrived in New Zealand some I*s months ago. The outcome of all the previous discussion and findings of commissions would depend very largely upon the attitude taken up by the farming community. Tfc was believed that if the farming commonitv presented a united front to the question the Government might remedy the present weakness in the country’s scheme of education. The present state of affairs would probably continue until, in the throes of a serious depression, the country would decide that production had to he increased at all costs and that agricultural education was essential to that end. Frankly j he had gained the impression that New Zealand was far more interested in the development of her towns and cities than in the welfare of agriculture. A SCHOOL OF AGRICULTURE. Coming to the question of the aims mid present posit ion of the School of Agriculture a;t Victoria College, the professor sofa out Ms points as follows: “!' was aippoin.ted on May 1, 1024, and arrived on June 10, 1924. Some six weeks later a deputation consisting of tire College Council and a number of other influential people waited on Mr. Massey, and .stated that the college desired, to establish a centre of agrioulturiail education and research for tlie North Island and to offer:

(a) A degree course, for professional men, teachers, etc. (b) A two-year general course for men wishing to farm for themselves. (e) Short coursee in special subjects, refresher courses for teachers, “farmers’ weeks, ’ ’ etc.

“As soon as funds permitted research work would al.so be carried out. To make the scheme passible, lassistamce was required as follows: (a) The gift of owe of the numerous State farm properties. (b) A capital expenditure grant of ..some 4145,000. (e) An adequate annual null n ton auco grant. ('ll) A preli.mtin.a.ry .grant of £SOO for the present acswlemie year pending establishment on the peril i.aineirt site.

“-Mr. Massey replied: that there would be no difficulty over the farm ; that ho approved of the mwenietit; and that the Govern/ment would carefully conoider the matter. Since then correspondence -has passed between, the two bodies. The. Government continually states that the matter is under cotisi deration. Only the preliminiary grant of £SOO has been received. Some three or four months ago the Government .set up a commission to go into the whole question of agricultural education and research. The report of this corn.mi.st'ion h.ais not yet been made public. The position has hc.cn complicated by the requestis. of Auckland University College for assistance to establish a, School of Agriculture, and of Ginnterbuny Agricultural College for h, grant of £20,000 far improvements. Twelve students begun the course, this year—an excellent lvegi mi ing. Assistance is being given by three members of the Government’s biological research, laboratory. Work this year hats been’ cnnfined to (he most wii.'onieivt subjects. Next, year we must have premier fa.e.i lilies, .a nal the use of a. I arm or we shall lie unable to. deal w-ith Several suibjoeitis scheduled in the Cmveusiity .siyllaibns. I have been in the country 45 months. The Governmenthas done pracitimllly nothing. Wo are faleed with a fiaisco and our excellent start will be nipped in the bud.

“Such is the brief history to date of the efforts of Victoria, College to help agriifCirltiuro through the medium of Sir Walter B noli a,man’o gift. The present .sitivaition -its very unsatisfactory and the outlook still more -so. There are several points on which. I wish to elaborate. In the first place I want t-o make it- quite dear that our punposed soli.oo-l .is intended to cater ior men who wish to farm for theniisclve.s as well as for pro-fes-s-ional men. Many people -seem to be under the impression that our -sole aim is to turn out large numbers of men with degrees. Jn aebuiail fact we expect nine-tenths of our men to be diploma, or general fanning course men, and it our experience is "that of other institutions of a similar type our expectation® will, prove correct. Wo fully appreciate that while there is a,n urgent need for well trained professional men, yet the number iso required i-s in proportion to the size of the country.”

DAIRYING TO BE INCLUDED

It was absolutely essential to success that these courses be concentraed at one institution, for the several main branches had to be dealt with by specialists, and the expenses would thus ho reduced to a minimum with one institution. The professor said he favoured the M.astcrlon site for a college because lie fell: that it would lend itself to a greater range of work than at Levin. “1 am by no means under-estimating the imiHutace of dairying, and hope to make it a strong subject in our course. There are some nice even Hats on Penrose farm which are being used for dairying at the moment, and which, would enable us to carry on that branch of work very fully. 1 think that some of our critics on the West Coast are under-estimating the amount of dairying on the rich flats around Wairarapa Lake, on the strong river silts lip the - eastern side of the valley and between Master t-on and Woodville. It- is not ns though, the school would be isolated in a. community of sheep farmers.” Professor Peren paid a- very great tribute to the late Sir Waiter Buchanan, by whoso death, he said, agricultural education .lost its most powerful friend in the. Government. It was now necessary lor the farmers to help themselves by taking a. Jinn stand- in tho matter. Unless- they did this, it was doubtful whether anything would be done unless it were in the nature of some small scheme which, would merely enable- the Government to point out that action had been taken. He suggested to the people of New Zealand, and mor e particularly tho city people, that they analyse their agricultural industry as a business proposition, and not bake it too much ior granted. Too many judged, it by the profits of those who had inherited their land and by the immense value of its products, which were- being constantly brought to their notice.

7:s CREASED POPULATION

In conclusion the professor said

“A student of the situation cannot fail to see the need for careful statesmanship of this industry is to carry for New Zealand the much larger population of which so many dream: You will need better fanning, more research work and good teachers, and my earnest advice to you is, amongst other things, to establish without delay a strong School of Agriculture where the men for these branches oi work can be trained. \ r ou may he quite sure that some day you. will set ap a fn.st, class system of agricultural education and research. It is merely a question of whether you will wait until forced to do so by economic stress, or whether you have the foresight to prepare ahead.” QUESTIONS.

On tlie chairman’s invitation for questions, Mr T. A. "Winks inquired with regard to the scheme how long it would take a farmer’s son to go through the course, whether it was expensive, and if he could obtain a first-class education in the subject.. . - The professor replied that the course would be two or three years. He preferred a three years’ course. The term had not been decided upon, and depended on the standard of education possessed by the men who came up for the course.' The year’s course would be of seven months, with five months in the summer off in order that students might get. out and work in order to “go through the mill.” Students would never learn at an agricultural college all that should he known. The Canadian colleges insisted on at least one year’s practical farming experience before entering college. During the college terms there would be demonstration work out of dooi's and a series of discussions. If the men took the instructors’ advice they would seek jobs in different localities each summer. The whole course would compare very favourably with any university course. Rep'vihg to Mr I>. Wards (Moko.ia), the lecturer said that fees had not been arranged, hut it was believed that they would not be higher than those of any ordinary university course. The chairman asked if one farm would he sufficient for the whole of New Zealand.

The professor answered tliat theMasterton farm and the Government farm at Ruakura. would he sufficient, as the Government could not afford to obtain good men for each of a large number of institutions. The idea was that the wlio’e of the Agricultural College should he concentrated on one farm. Ruakura was more for the practical work. Air G. H. Buckeridge inquired if the hoys’ and girls’ agricultural clubs of Canada were regarded a s a foundation for tlie other course to come later, and the professor said they were quite good and to he recommended. A PPR EGI ATI ON.

The chairman thanked Professor Percn for his very able lecture, and expressed sympathy in tlie difficulties under which he \v:y working. He had had great pleasure in listening to the Ibcture. and was sure all those present were delighted. He had pleasure in moving a hearty vote of thanks to the professor. Mr J. W. Snowdon, in seconding the motion, said he was disappointed at the small attendance. But for. the energies of the Workers’ Educational Association, the professor would probably not have come to Hawera. Itmust be very disappointing to the instructors. Mr T. A. "Winks, in speaking to the motion, said that, be congratulated the orofessor on his lecture. After hearing it he had come to the conclusion that a farmer required to know a great deal in order to carry on. It was extraordinary that, considering that 90 per cent, of the Dominion’s exports wore of primary produce, so little went towards agricultural education. He was finrl"ng out that the land wa« deteriorating and knowledge was required to work it hack to its. original state. Tlie townsac.aple and farming communities should combine and insist on the Government assisting. Mr Muggeridge endorsed the nvoviowj ■-•nenkors’ remarks, and spoke ol the apparent lack of interest shown hv the farmers. The motion was carried by acclamation.