AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION.

Otago Witness, Issue 3769, 8 June 1926, Page 79

AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION.

ONE COLLEGE TKKEEKABLE TO I3V O. A. AND P. SOCIETIES SUPPORT MR . SiLDUOLAIt.. A conference of delegates from South Island- Agricultural and i'aatorui Associations \vu» held in tho lecture hall at the Winter Show on Wednesday morning. The principal subject discusseu was mat oi agricultural education, which was mtro duced by Mr John ttudholme, of Canterbury, whose interest in various aspects oi education is so well known. Ho advocated the establishment of only me agricultural college for the Dominion instead of two as has been proposed. Mr Studholme recalled that lie had attended a meeting ot A. and I*. societies in Dunedin about 30 years ago, when he heard discussed the question of agricultural education. Since then, however, there had been little progress made in the provision of agricultural education of a university status. New Zealand farmers were now faced with the keenest competition from highly organised and educated countries such a* America and Holland, who were right at the doors of our markets in England. '1 here was also Canada, where agricultural education was highly organised, and there was also the Argentine, with its virgin soil. New Zealand was losing its virgin soil, and there would have to be an increased expenditure on manures. We had a great need if every possible help from agricultural science and good leadership. Our present agricultural education was fragmentary and discon pect. I What we needed was a highlyofficient training centre capable of turning out the best leadership. Once we had this the bet methods could be radicated throughout New Zealand. We required one fully-staffed and fully-equipped agricultural college. Mr Studholme drew attention to the fact that since the Otago A. and P. Society had passed resolutions on the subject 18 months ago there had been two commissions, one on agricultural education alone and one on university education, including agri cultural education of a university standard Both commissions had reported in entire agreement with the resolutions of the Otago Societv. The Board of Agriculture, which carried out' the firet commission, had reported that in its opinion there was room for only one agricultural college, and it even doubted whether the time had yet arrived for one. The speaker quoted the findings of the Commission on University Education. He urged that it should lie printed and broad carted to members of Parliament. The commission had reported: "A properly equipped university school of agriculture must have a .ff "dequate to provide a sufficient variety of courses to produce the different specialists the country requires. But to do this efficiently involves very heavy expenditure on staff and equipment.” IftheGv. v-rnment went in foj two colleges it would be acting in direct op • position to the recommendations of the University Commission. If two colleges were established instead of one we would have, as someone had expressed it, two colleges "of amende mediocrity ” In urging that the best leadership was required, the speaker referred to the following passages from the report of Hie University Commission: — “The question w-hich the Government of New Zealand must decide, and at once, is whether the example f countries which have made a success ol •agricultural education in its highest aspects is to be followed, and whether the principle is to be accepted that the best possible training for the future directive staff of the agricultural army is the only sound policy. Second-rate and third rate agricultural experts are a hinder aiico and a danger to agricultural progress. New countries suffer greatly from such guidance. “It is undoubted that the greatest factor in Danish success in dairying and marketing has been skilled leadership and guid atice. 1 hev (the Danes) have made a won derful success of their system of adult education, hut it is to trained scientific leadership that they really owe their success. and in leadership the second best cannot be tolerated. The history of the Royal College of Agriculture, Copenhagen, illustrates the wisdom of concentrating upon one first-class institution capable of turning out tir*t-class graduates.” Mr Studholme particularly refrained from suggesting where the college should be established. lie thought that a decision should not be arrived at until every part of the country which desired to do so should advance its claims in regard to anv special suitability of a district for the college. He moved —“That, in accordance with the strong recommendation of the Royal Commission on university education and dominion agricultural requirements will he best met by the concentration of all available funds in the establishment of a fully-staffed and equipped leaders of the highest standing and efficiency:” and^ "That the Government should defer decision as to the location of this one agricultural college until the opportunity has been given to such parts of New Zealand as may desire to do so of giving evidence as to the suitability of their district for the purpose.” The motions were seconded by Mr George Black, and carried unanimously. The following resolutions bearing on the matter, which were passed at a meeting of tho committee of the Otairo A. and P. Society in 1925. were confirmed by the meeting:—l. "That this committee place on record its appreciation of the generous contributions received towards the establishment of agricultural colleges. 2. "That this meeting recommends that all contributions be consolidated so as to ensure one college being established and fully equipped. 3. ‘That no success can bo achieved by having chairs of agriculture established at several universities without providing for the necessary facilities for a course of training.” ,