AGRICULTURAL INSTRUCTION.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13915, 28 May 1909, Page 2

AGRICULTURAL INSTRUCTION.

Tn the Kclitor of tho ; 'Tinwru Herald.'' Sir. —1 see that at the meeting of the Eduealion Hoard a motion to appoint an agricultural instructor for the district will be considered. This is a matter of great interest to all interested in educational matters. and as one of these 1 would like to be granted a little space to discuss the proposal. As the -ippointmont is to be offered to ])r Hilgr.udorf. it is presumed that the salary will at least be £3OO a year. Sow what can an agricultural instructor dor He can assist the country school teachers to otablisii gardens nr<! instruct them how to carry out various experiments. J3ufc it is wellknown that a great deal of enthusiasm is necessary oil the part of teachers

who take, up school gardening, and they must he prepared to spend \;i, groat deal of overtime in the working of them. In the smaller /.country schools teachers seldom stay any length of time and that is another obstacle, to success. . As. to'the. 'value of school garden experiments, not much can be said in favour of. theni. .-Experiments to be useful must be carried out in a. larger and more reliable' way. The chief benefits of .school.- gardening lie in the cultivation of the amenities, together with giving the children a knowledge of practical gardening. No instructor is needed for these purposes. The agricultural instructor is -to be required to give courses of lectures to farmers in various parts of the district. How many • farmers will attend these lectures:' Very few will take the trouble. Some may go to the first two or three, but after a year or two the attendance will be very small. Now fi<r the financial aspect of the nffair. There is already a Technical Director who is in charge fit all technical work in .South Canterbury. Why does the Hoard not send him out to advise teachers in the management _of school gardens!' He is well qualified to do all that is necessary, and the time could easily be spared even il some other less important part ot Ins work had to be dropped. T fail to see how the Board can raise £3»>o a veai. The capitation from school classes would amount to say £SO, the vote from the A. and P. Association, with Government subsidy, £SO. the Timaru Technical Association £lO, the' vote from Teachers' Classes Fund say £oo, and here I come to a full stop. (Information would be glady received by the public on this particular ouestion.) Let me in conclusion state that if an agricultural instructor is appointed in South Canterbury. Dr Hilgendorf is the one man suitable. Re lias the lull confidence of the teachers and would undoubtedly be an acquisition to the district. The benefits derivable from such an appointment however, do not appear Ukelv to correspond to the expense it will cause, and the Board, would be wise if they shelved the matter. T am, -to,, , CRJTIC _