FARMERS PUBLIC UTTERANCES

Southland Times, Issue 23181, 23 April 1937, Page 6

FARMERS PUBLIC UTTERANCES

Vocation Presented In Worst Light HIGH SCHOOL COURSE AFFECTED (Special to The Times) AUCKLAND, April 22. The view that the tendency of farmers in their public utterances to present their vocation in its worst light and aspects was in some measure responsible for the dwindling in the numbers of boys taking agricultural instruction at high schools was expressed on behalf of the Otahuhu Technical High School by the principal (Mr F. Martin) and the agricultural instructor (Dr Hill). It was stated that there had been a marked decrease in the enrolments this year. The agricultural course had been in force at the Otahuhu School for four years and the peak enrolments were 81 in 1934. Last year the numbers had dropped to 49, and this year there were 37 boys taking the course. It was stated that the school sought to present the agricultural course m the most attractive manner, but this was in part, at least, counteracted by the tendency of farmers to disparage their calling. For economic and political reasons this public disparagement had been given more publicity of recent years, and had probably accentuated the falling-off in the enrolments. The public decrying of farming as an industry had undoubtedly had a discouraging influence on boys and parents seriously contemplating farming as a career. _____