AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 12911, 27 February 1906, Page 3

AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION.

In. the direction of agricultural education ire believe, says the "2Sew Zeaiaud Times," .here is scope for development. Oniittiug, ior obvious reasons, from our consideration such an institution as Lincoar College, we hnd no provision made for the education of the children of our setters in agricultural matters on broad and inexpensive .hied. There are possibilities here for the initiation of a system of agricultural education that would prove of inestimable benefit to the children of our country settlers. The Government possesses great initiative powers; it has tackled the most difficult problems of the hour,, with advantage to the community, ~and we believe that its driving power is by no means exhausted. There is capacity in the Education ami Agricultural Departments of this colony to present the country with a scheme of agricultural education that would secure 1 for the Government lasting credit. We can learn much from Victoria. The Government of that State, in connection with its scheme of agricultural education, is establishing eight agricultural high schools in centres which will guarantee an attendance of fifty students at the moderate fee of two guineas per term. Residents are to -undertake to raise locally half the cast of the necessary building and equipment of the farm. The are.n of the fann to be" attached to each high school must be at least acres. In New Zealand, it seems to us, some of oi'v Suite experimental fauns might be utilised for this purpose. Under the' Victorian scheme it is estimated that the total icost of a-building and equipment will ran from £ISOO to £2COO. As a qui/ pro quo for local contributions, it- is proposed that a Jocal committee shay be appointed by the subscribers, to assist in supervising the curriculum and the work of the school. Each committee is also to have the power to nominate for free education one student out of every two attending the school. There will, therefore, be five scholarships in a school of fifty pupils.

The aim of these schools -will be first of all. to give » sound knowledge of agriculture from its practical side. and. secondly, to provide a good general education on modern similar to that given in continuation schools. This scheme has much to commend it. The country, we believe, would not stint any expenditure in this direction. Past experience has sh,own that the Parliament has never refused to vote money for educational purposes, ami a scheme of agricultural education, we feel convinced, if submitted to Parliament next session, would receive .the hearty support of members, no matter how small the beginning might be.