MINISTER OF EDUCATION PAYS VISIT TO FEILDING

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6849, 2 March 1929, Page 3

MINISTER OF EDUCATION PAYS VISIT TO FEILDING

Extension of Rural Studies HOLIDAY ASKED FOR SCHOOLS ON MONDAY ' • Yesterday the Hon. H. Atmore, Minister of Education, paid an official visit j to Feilding, first inspecting the two primary schools and later the Feilding Agricultural High School. On arrival, the Minister was the guest the Hon. J. G. Cobbe, M.P., for Oroua and in the afternoon, proceeded to the Manchester St. school, where he was welcomed by the chairman of the committee, Mr. G. J. Fitzpatrick. The Minister took tho opporportunity of inspecting the school, after which he addressed the assembled students and concluded by declaring a holiday on Monday to commemorate his visit to Feilding. Tho Mayor (Mr. E. Fair) and the town clerk (Mr N. C. Harding) then joined the official party, which proceeded to the Lytton street school, where Mr James Penney (chairman of tho committee welcomed the visitors. Here again the Minister made himself conversant with the structure and the needs of the school and authorised a holiday for Monday, after addressing the children.

At tho Agricultural High school the Minister was met by Mr. H. Tolley, chairman of the board of managers, who introduced Mr Atmoie to the assembly. Others present included - the Hon. J. G. Cobbe and Mrs Cobbe, Mr and Mrs J. Gordon Eliott, Mesdames J. E. Barltrop and Tingey and Messrs J. Knight, A. J. Kellow and 0. Aldis (members of the board of managers), and the Mayoress (Mrs E. Fair).

Agricultural Education. In addressing the students here, the Minister congratulated them on their good fortune on being on the roll of this unique institution —the only agricultural High School in New Zealand. It was to the credit of Feilding and its settlers that such an institution was made possible, and the speaker appreciated tho important part the instruction given would play in the development of the Dominion’s primary industries. The Minister deplored the neglect, of agricultural education. In his opinion this had amounted to a grave, blunder, particularly when it was realised that the country was entirely dependent upoa the products from the soil for its stability. He promised that all steps possible would be taken to increase tho bias for agricultural studies. The mistake had been made in concentrating on the academic side, with the result that our towns and cities were to-day overcrowded and the basis of the main sources of the country’s wealth neglected. He firmly believed that our education system was largely responsible for unemployment. The cream of the country had been lured to the big centres by the attractions offered by professional training. Nothing from our secondary industries was exported, consequently these institutions were dependent upon the exports from tho land. What was desired was that our boys and girls should havo a prttper understanding of the dignity of rural life.

Extension of Farm Studies. It was intended in the near future to extend farming studies, but he admitted that it would not be a sound policy to increase such training facilities without providing land for settlement. This phase of the question was at the moment being investigated in order to meet the proposed extension of agricultural training. It would not be possible, said the minister, to build such schools as the Feilding institution all over New Zealand, nevertheless there were adequate proposals under way to extend the important work of farm training. In conclusion the Minister assured the assembly that the school had his backing, for ho thoroughly recognised the importance of its teachings in relation to tho future development of the Dominion. He knew tho school had a fine principal in Mr L. J. Wild,, who ■was noted for his extraordinary capacity for work. Mr Atmore then asked that the school be given a holiday on Monday, or on a date convenient to the staff.

Mr Wild returned thanks and cheers for the Minister of Education, and the Hon. J. G. Cobbe concluded tho address. The visitors were then entertained at afternoon tea at the school hostel. Later they inspected the school farm and the Merry Hill property, after which the board waited on Mr Atmore, as a deputation, to place before him matters of moment in relation to the school’s development.