TRAINING FOR FARMERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18223, 17 October 1922, Page 7

TRAINING FOR FARMERS.

PROPOSED LECTURESHIP.

establishment advocated

COLLEGE COUNCIL SYMPATHETIC.

The proposal to establish a lectureship in agriculture at the Auckland University College was advocated by a dep citation from the Auckland Agricultural Education Committee, which waited on the University College Coui.cil last evening. Mr. F. C. Rollett stid he considered the subject to be of immense value to New Zealand in general, and to Auckland in particular. Ee would like to pee a lectureship established at the college in order that the general work of agricultural education might be encouraged. Unless the leading educational institution gave Its assistance, he did not see how the proposal could go further. Support for the scheme was being given by agricultural and pastoral associations and by local bodies. Mr. F. R. Caliaghan said the n<?cd for extending agricultural education implied the need for someone to teach. The subject of agriculture had moved up the educational scale /during the last few years,' lifi last year the senate of the University of New Zealand made it a pass subjoct- for the B. A. depree. So long 35 there was no one to teach it. however, it would nunain a dead letter, and he would like to see the position imprpved. and lecturers taking the subject to the degree standard. The lectures would have special application to teachers who would be stationed in country districts, to agricultural instructors, and to high school pupils who were going to the universities. It was proposed to start in a modest way with a lectureship, and to build up. The lecturer would be associated with the professors of natural sciences, and the present science laboratories would suffice for indoor practical work.

Messrs. R. Mac Arthur and E Clifton also spoke in support, contending that the cost would not be, very serious and no great obstacle to the establishment of\a lectureship. Professor A. P. W. Thomas, a member of the council, said he tried to introduce agriculture as a subject in 1888, when he memorialised the senate, but it was nearly 40 years before his views were generally adopted. Every teacher should nave a sufficient knowledge of agriculture. There were practical difficulties, however. The present laboratory equipment might be used, but that was problematic. Finance was a difficult question, and there were very heavy caljl.s on the limited funds of the college. The chairman, the Hon. George Fowlds, assured the deputation that the council was in sympathy with the views expressed, but the funds were very limited. The council would be glad to give the matter its consideration.