TRAINED MEN NEEDED

Putaruru Press, Volume XXI, Issue 1235, 19 June 1947, Page 3

TRAINED MEN NEEDED

FARMING OF THE FUTURE Application Of Science In all countries there is an everincreasing need for trained technical agriculturists (writes Professor W. Riddet, Massey Agricultural College). In a country such as New Zealand, .technical agriculture should offer the best of all openings to the cream of our university students, p We find- in practice, hawevcr, the deplorable fact that other phases oi activity are attracting these men. I wish at this point to stress the influence that advances in. agricultural science can exert in increasing the total and variety of production from the soil. In this connection we must never forget that our soils are a heritage which must be maintained intact, and any method of soil utilisation must be such that when we of the present generation are finished' using the Soil its fertility is never impaired—indeed, that it is raised to a level higher than that at which we found .it. Scientific methods' can achieve this. (Bub in spite of the fact that agricultural education is- now available in all countries, it is to 'be deplored that it is not used to better advantage. , Too Conservative On the one hand, many farmers, in all parts of the world are tooconservative to take advantage of advances in science and of education. This: position is fortunately tending to improve amongst the rising generation. On the other hand, governments, important public organisations and other bodies too frequently enter into- long and short-term production and trade arrangements without previously obtaining the necessary scientific guidance as to their success in the future, and whether they are likely to be greatly affected by scientific advances. This latter aspect is- exceedingly important, because definite knowledge is , continuously in a state of flux and it •is only those actively engaged in making advances who can indicate the prolbable trends in the near or more distant future. The scientific man needs really to be more than an adviser, to ibe used merely as and when those in executive positions Ehink fit. If he is going to exert his full influence he must be part and parcel of the executive organisation, sharing with others full knowledge of all facts ■ and the full responsibilities of their actions. Enormous Advances What I have said with respect to the place of science in agriculture applies with equal force to industry. Our industrial leaders still do not realise what enormous advances l in science have been, and are being, made in the present century and the extent to which these affect society, trade and industry. They are net yet prepared to accept the man brained in science a-s their fellowdirector, and too frequently enter into binding arrangements, which with scientific advice would never have been made, and which in the

final analysis are harmful to themselves and the community. It is noteworthy that the most rapid teehnicological advances are always made in periods of war. Surely it is tragical to feel that it takes a war to make people realise what modern advances in knowledge can make available to a community! It is the duty of moden industry to take every advantage of scientific education up to and including the university level, and the university is failing in its duty if it is not offering such facilities to all branches of industry. These industrial questions. are important to agriculture, because agriculture and industry must bc-co-ordinated to move forward together.