OUR FUTURE FARMERS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 9856, 25 July 1914, Page 7

OUR FUTURE FARMERS.

THEIR TRAINING.

"Education has to fit a boy for his future, and we are'spending a lot of money unwisely," said Mr W. B. Maiheson, of Eketahuna, at the Farmers' Union Conference in Wellington on Thursday. "In our high schools we are aggravating the differences between capital and labour. Very many of our boys must be brought up to an agricultural life if this country is ? to prosper. The Government," he added, ''should erect a high school in every district, and I move:— "That this conference urges the Minister of Lands, the Minister of Education, and the Board of Agriculture to consider the immediate establishment.of an Agricultural High School in each province, as 1 one of the most urgent needs of the Dominion." Mr Hugh Morrison (Masterton) approved of the motion. He said that from the high schools a boy should have a chance of going on to an up-to-date training farm, run on economic lines, to take up any branch of agriculture under good teachers. Mr P. Meehan (Marlborough) opposed the motion, because he thought the cry for education had been ridden to de\th, end that what was really necessary was to teach children the battle of life under practical farmers. He knew men who bad had no education, but had retired worth large sums of money. Mr H. J. Richards (Levin) remarked that what was now suggested was what the president of the union (Mr J. G. Wilson; had advocated for years. To better the means of agricultural education was one of the things nearest to Mr Wilson's heart. Major Lusk (Auckland) moved as an amendment: "That in every high school there should be established an agricultural branch, where all the elements of agricultural education should be taught by competent teachers," The mover considered that this would be easier to get. After sdme further discussion, Mr Matheson again spoke in advocacy of his motion. "We must train our boys," he said, "to the life which is of necessity theirvthe country life. Teaoh boya the charm of country life, and make them into better men than they otherwise would be." A voto was then taken, and the result was that the amendment was carried nv 13 to 9. J

(i Good Lord," ejaculated Mr Matheson, that is exactly what we have already. I hope the press will rub it into you."