RURAL EDUCATION

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 10966, 30 July 1921, Page 3

RURAL EDUCATION

FOR BOYS AND GIRLS TARANAKI * SCHOOLS DECLARED GREAT SUCCESS. EXTENSION OF SYSTEM URGED. Much interest was taken in a motion, moved at the Fanners* Conference yesterday by Mr E. Harding/’(Auckland), which read :—“That the Government be urged to extend the present scheme of practical and *th»orecicfal training in agriculture for boys from 16 years to IS years of age, and also provide better facilities for the holding of short corirses for farmers and' school teachers/*

Mr R. Dunn moved as an addition to the remit the -following: —“That the movement to establish boys and girls agricultural clubs throughout New Zealand meets with the approval of this conference, and that the Farmers’ Union is willing to undertake, with the assistance .of the Departments of Agriculture and Education, the organisation and management of these clubs throughout the Dominion; (2) that to place the finances of the boys* and girls* agricultural clubs on a sound basis the’" Gif-* vernment be asked to set aside an ado-' quate annual grant for the purpose "hi providing the cost of organisation and maintenance of the movement, outside of. the assistance Government officials, aiid that they subsidise any voluntary moneys collected by a subsidy/* Mr Dunn said tint the schools m Taranaki had done splendid work. The union had interested the children i- the growing of farm products, and the exlubition that wp.a held would hove clone the hearts of the farmers good had they all seen it. Parents had also taken a great interest in the enthusiasm displayed by the children.

Air F. Mills (Taranaki) stated that he would like to move every farmer in New ZettJand to take up the work with the enthusiasm that it deserved. The system. had been copied from Canada, where it bad met ttilh vtmoM uui cess. He trustee! that the union would not allow th© control of the schools tc get oijft of its hands. A competition in farm roots hud been held, and its success was bo pronounced that the rearing of calves was to be added to the evstem this year. One of the greatest effects that had been obtained was the interesting of the children in farm life and keeping them from going to the towns He hoped that the question would br taken up and extended throughout the country towns, and he saw no reason why the larger towns should not be :n----eliuled.

Mr IV. A. Banks (Canterbury) heartiK .supported the -motion. It was pleasing he said, that a move was being made in the direction of rural education. In America .£7,ooo,<‘<lo was spent annua IN in rural education, and nothing ha : been . spent by the Government of Nov Zealand. Taxanaki should receive everv support in tlie effort that was being made to teach the children, -but thsystem should be made widespread. Mr Harding said that a competition was started in America by a boys' maizt club. The production of maize at the time was 80 bushels to the acre, and the winner of the competition was a boy who produced 223 bushels to the acre. Air 0. J. Henkes, on being appealed 'to. said lie was in favour of boys’ and girls’ clubs long as they were efficiently managed, as they had been in the Taranaki district. The motion was carried unanimously.