Classes in Agriculture and in Dairying.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 8070, 22 August 1905, Page 5

Classes in Agriculture and in Dairying.

At last night's meeting,o.Ltlie Wan-; ganui Education Board the, ■ following1 communication from Inspector Gray, under the above heading, was read:— Provision should be made for classes in both these subjects at our chief centres. Provision means two things—(a) suitable laboratories, aud (b) suitable instructors. Laboratories have already been erected at Palmerston, Hawera and Wanganui, and application is being made for them at Marton,-Eltham. and Feilding. The finding of suitable instructors is the chief difficulty. For this land of work experts are needed; and it seems to us that the best course for the Board to adopt is to obtain the services of a thoroughl}' competent expert in dairying and agriculture, who could direct the work for the whole district and give such instruction to our science teachers as would enable themtoassist him. I would recommend the Board to adopt this suggestion. The salary could be made up from various sources: (1) tlie £150 grant for the training of teachers might-in future be specially applied to this object; (2) capitation grant from the classes held; (3) contributions and subsidies. I believe that the time has come for a forward i movement in this matter. If necessary lit would be well to go abroad for 'a suitable man. Given a man thoroughly competent and practical, to direct operations, the success of the work would be assured, and the gain to the district and to the colony inestimable. The co-operation of the'A. and P. and kindred associations is essential, and I would suggest a conference of these with the Boards at which the matter might be fully gone into. The Palmerston North High School Board, and, if it is deemed advisable, the laranaki Education Board, should also be invited to co-operate. I might add for the information of the Board that classes in Elementary Agriculture have already been established at quite a number of our schools. In connection with each of these is a garden in which the children of the upper standards have regular practical work. The kind of instruction given in connection with these classes furnishes a very good foundation for the more advanced work contemplated in connection with the District High and Technical Schools, and it is in every way desirable that the benefit of such instruction should be extended as widely as possible. To tliis end we are recommending the establishment of these classes with their necessary gardens at all schools where the conditions are favourable. An •xpert, if appointed, could materially assist in this work also.

A letter was also read from Mr J. G. Wilson endorsing the suggestion, and recommending the Board to consider the appointment of the head teacher of the Mauriceville school.

The Taranaki Education Board also wrote on the same subject. The Chairman suggested that the matter be left in the hands of the Inspector and himself. Ho thoroughly improved of the proposal and considered that a great deal would be accomplished.* Mr Gray considered that the A. and P. Association and kindred bodies should be asked to assist, so that they would be able to offer a salary of something like £'100 a year. Mr Pirani considered that the subject was of such great importance that it was asking too much to expect the chairman to do full justice to it without assistance from members of the Board. The hint the inspector had let drop about the salary was a wise one, and even if they had to go to Canada or the United States, for an expert of the highest calibre they should not be debarred from endeavouring to arrange it. He moved that the chairman, Messrs Atkinson, Dixon, Carson, and himself be a committee to act with the inspector iv the matter.

The motion was carried