OPENINGS FOR BOYS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16826, 13 December 1928, Page 7

OPENINGS FOR BOYS

AVENUE OF AGRICULTURE EDUCATION FACILITIES An extension of the facilities for education in agriculture to overcome the disinclination of city boys to take up tanning as their occupation was advocated t>y Mr. G. J. i J ark, principal ot the Seddon Memorial Technical College, in his annual report at the prize-yiving ceremony in Auckland. "in my opinion it is unfortunate that agriculture as a vocation has few attractions for city lads," Mr. Park said. "There is little doubt that there is just as real a need for education for the farmer as for the skilled mechanic. The time is ripe for extension of the facilities for education in agriculture because there are more applicants for trade apprenticeships than there are vacancies, and at such a time it may not be so difficult to induce boys to turn to the primary industries." VALUE OF EARLY INTEREST.. It would be unfortunate if the present difficult times drove to the country boys in whom there had not first been created an interest in rural conditions and agricultural science. The reasons for boys being interested in various occupations wore many, but he Relieved knowledge was one of great importance. The more a boy knew of engineering or wireless or any other matter, the more absorbing became his chosen subject. He believed that \i city boys had the opportunity of instruction in agricultural matters, some at least through increased knowledge of rural science would develop an interest in agriculture, and turn to country pursuits for a livelihood. Very much more should be done among secondary school pupils in this direction. The board of managers set itself the objective of equipping the college with the necessary facilities for an adequate course in agriculture. If established a fund and had been paying to this fund such amounts as it could spare. It constituted an agricultural advisory committee, which propounded a definite scheme for practical agriculture to be carried out on a school farm of about 30 acres. The board submitted this to the Education Department, which, after some, delay, had authorised it to submit a definite proposal for the purchase of a property. There was, therefore, hope that they might soon be able to record a step forward in providing better facilities for education in agriculture SUPPORT OF FARMING COMMUNITY. The purchaso of a property would, however, be'only a beginning, and if the scheme was to succeed the board would undoubtedly have to obtain financial assistance to make the farm of such a kind that it would stimulate interest in rural pursuits. The conduct of such a department of the work of the college would involve many problems, and it would be necessary for them to be assured of the real support of the farming community before they agreed to conduct the experiment. Without this support it would be necessary for the board to consider whether it should not drop the work in agriculture and give the space occupied to its other activities. Mr. 11. S. W. King, chairman of the board of managers, said that if unable to obtain employment in the towns, boys should go to the country, where there was plenty of room for all. Although tho remuneration for tho hard work' required was not great, the life was healthy, and if their work was satisfactory", the boys would come to love it. Once started in the country, the bovs would never so back to the cities. The present period was one when there was a chance for the man on the land, and it was being realised that situations in the towns were limited.