THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN" CROSS. SATURDAY, MARCH 18, 1905. TEACHERS OF FARMING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12818, 18 March 1905, Page 4

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN" CROSS. SATURDAY, MARCH 18, 1905. TEACHERS OF FARMING.

The awakening of Canada is one of the most interesting political occurrences of the beginning of the century. People who knew Canada ten, or even less than ten, years ago are astonished at the change which lias taken place in so short a time in the temper of its people. Ten years ago the chief characteristic of the Dominion and its people was a quiet, steady, laborious, and somewhat plodding industry, which resulted in a fair amount of well-being for its people, and a steady increase of its prosperity, indeed, but compared very unfavourably with the results achieved in the neighbouring States. It was the common complaint of Canada's most intelligent citizens that their country could not compete successfully with the great Republic to the south, and that the most energetic of their young men left the Dominion in search of the better fields and greater rewards which the United States offered to their exertions. It would be an exaggeration to say that this state of things has entirely passed away, even now ; but it is not too much to assert that it is passing. The

States, as near neighbours, have still very; much to offer to the flower of Canada's young men which they cannot secure at home, but they arc rapidly learning that Canada also lias something to offer them which they cannot so •well obtain by leaving their own country. Not a few of them have already returned, and Canada is profiting to-day by some of the lessons they have, learned, and brought back with them. One of these is the lesson of public generosity. No country in the world has owed so much of its progress to the public-spirited generosity of its citizens as the American republic has in the last sixty years ; and the example is now being followed by their Canadian neighbours. One of the latest instances of this is recorded in the news of this week, and the instance is notable as showing the practical character of these gifts. A well-known Canadian banker and philanthropist- proposes to devote something like half a million of money to the establishment of a college and experimental farm for the training of teachers of agriculture. The munificence of such a gift is not more remarkable than its timeliness and practical importance.

The age is one of competition, and the best-equipped communities, like the best-equipped men, will inevitably come to the front. The vast increase of population which lias characterised the last century, and is still going on. probably at an accelerated pace, has rendered this inevitable, and one out of several causes that have led to the rapid and almost, phenomenal success of the United States and its people has been their full acceptance of the situation. In every branch of reproductive work they have not only recognised the supreme value of energy, but have seen that energy, to be fully efficient, must be specially equipped with knowledge. It is this conviction that has led to the establishment of schools and colleges in nearly every State of the American Union devoted to specialised teaching of the arts and sciences that concern themselves most directly with the world's practical work. Sir William Macdonald's proposed endowment is essentially of this kind. Nobody as yet knows what the resources of Canada may prove to be in the future, but at present they consist largely in agricultural products. It seems likely that Canada is destined for many years to come to be one of the greatest of the world's storehouses of grain, perhaps also one of its greatest breeding grounds for .cattle. Population is flowing into the country at a rate never even imagined ten years ago. and most of if is destined for settlement on the land. If this is to he made the most of. it must be taken in hand and wisely directed and this can best be done in the way suggested by the Canadian philanthropist and successful merchant, The thousands who arc seeking homes on the great Canadian plains to-day may be possessed of the energy, necessary to cope with the hardships and difficulties which they' will certainly find awaiting them, in a degree we in New Zealand can little appreciate ; what they will almost certainly want will be knowledge. It is this want which the Macdonald Teachers' College is intended to supply, and in doing so it will probably enormously increase the value of the settler's energy and perseverance.

The lesson is one we hare need In learn in New Zealand also. At present, and for many a year to come, the prosperity of the country must depend chiefly on the use we make of the land. Unlike the Canadian Dominion we are handicapped by no severe climate, and everywhere our lands are within easy reach of some port of shipment to which access can he given wishout difficulty, by a fair and intelligent use of the means at our command. The land of Now Zealand is specially adapted for most kinds of agriculture ; the climate of the country lias very few competitors for such purposes, and, therefore, our success as a people should be great. On the oilier hand, this is a small country compared with Canada or Australia, and the results of our industries may appear small when compared with the millions of bushels of grain exported from Canada, and the vast quantities of wool exported from Australia. Our advantage lies in the ease with which we can make the most of our resources. There is no reason why New Zealand should not, compared with Canada, be cultivated like a garden, and return manifold more to its cultivators than can ever be hoped for by the Canadian fanner. We, too, however, must depend on our energy, directed by our knowledge, and, therefore, we, too, need trained teachers in this most practical branch of learning. Something has been done in this direction, it is true, and with good results, but it is not yet enough. The settlers in the North need the advice and instruction which only specially-train-ed teachers can give, in making the most of their special soil and genial climate; those in the South have equal need of teaching how to make the most of theirs. In these days of political experiment, would it be too much to ask that steps should be taken to give the New Zealand farmers some of the advantages which the proposed Maedonald College for Agricultural Teachers is designed to give the settlers on the Dominion lands '!