STUDY OF FARMING

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 531, 7 December 1928, Page 12

STUDY OF FARMING

AGRICULTURAL HIGH SCHOOL ADVOCATED COMMITTEE APPOINTED “The provision of a training school is one of the most important questions in agriculture,” said Professor H. I-I. Corbin, who presided over a meeting of those interested in obtaining an agricultural high school, in the Agricultural and Pastoral Asociation’s rooms yesterday afternoon. The meeting was convened by the Auckland council of the Institute of* Horticulture. Representatives of the Agricultural and Pastoral Association, the Department of Agriculture, the Chamber of Commerce, the Grammar Schools’ Board, the board of managers of the Seddon Memorial Technical College and the '’Civic League were present. Professor Corbin said attention should be focussed on an agricultural high school and he felt a committee should be set up, or any existing committee modified, to meet any present requirements. Such a committee could then take steps to have the agricultural high school founded in Auckland. It* was an opportune time to approach the Government and stress the importance of better educational facilities for boys taking up farming. The secretary read a letter from Mr. IT. S. W. King, chairman of the board of the Seddon Memorial Technical College, urging that no overlapping should take place between the committee to be set up and the Technical College Board, which had already investigated the matter. In a report from Mr. G. J. Park, principal of the college, it was shown that, the Agricultural Education Committee had said it would be advisable a farm school should be attached to the new Technical School at Otahuhu rather than to establish an independent college. In addition the Education Department maintained much cost would be saved at the outset by having the agricultural school attached to the Technical College. He (the writer) had been instructed to search for suitable land near Auckland and report to the board which would inform the Agricultural Education Committee. Mr. J. P. Kalaugher said a high school at Otahuhu or in that direction was required for those living south of Auckland. From 25 to 30 acres "would be quite sufficient to give such a school a start, and it would be better to have the school under independent control than under control of the Technical College Board, so as to give it an individual character. Mr. W. IT. Rice said the real need was for a high school giving strict vocational training, as at the present timo all secondary schools seemed to exist only to prepare boys for the university. After further discussion the following committee was set up: Professor H. H. Corbin, Messrs. D. Hay, j. p. Kalaugher, C. M. Spencer. T. L. Lancaster, E. Allen. J. Hunter, G. Brownlee, W. F. O’Donnell, X. R. W. Thomas, Dr. J. A. Clinch and Mrs. R. E. Watson. * The committee was instructed to investigate and co-ordinate the efforts now being made to institute agricultural schools. It was decided that representatives of other bodies interested should be joined with the committee in forming a general committee.