THE VALUE OF EDUCATION.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 10504, 12 July 1910, Page 4

THE VALUE OF EDUCATION.

(Per Press Association.) Wellington, July 12. The New Zealand Farmers' Union Conference opened to-day, Mr Wilson presiding. In the course of his address, the chairman specially laid stress on the importance of fagricultural education. "If," he said, "education is as necessary as the nation considers it .by making it compulsory, surely to allow half-educated children to leave school is a mistake. I believe education to be the soul of the nation, and if in Scotland, where people have exercised self-denial almost to starvation point to educate their children, whyshould not we, in the interest of future generations, insist upon our youths taking full advantage of the education provided by the State. Only a small percentage of our youths will of their own accord take advantage of the means provided. The time may come when we shall have to say: 'You must.' A recent speaker said, 'lt is not the Ger-. man Dreadnoughts we have-to be'afraid of but the German schoolmasters.' " Referring to the fact that the veterinary college was still non-existent, Mr Wilson said he had come to the conclusion that it would be much cheaper and better for students to take advantage of the opportunity of attending the veterinary classes binder Professor Gilruth in Melbourne than wait for ours to be started. He reviewed the work done by the Farmers' Union, which could; fairly claim to have done something to improve the farmers' lot. The Minister of Agriculture attended and briefly- addressed the conference. .