FARMERS’ UNION

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXI, Issue 18822, 12 July 1923, Page 8

FARMERS’ UNION

I’ROVINCLAL EXECUTIVE MEET. The Wanganui Provincial Executive of the Farmers’ Union met yesterday. Mr E. Parsons presided. A letter was received from the Alton branch (Taranaki) thanking the centre for the offer of co-opera-tion in making representations to the Minister regarding the stops of the New Plymouth mail train. —Mr Parsons said that there was a chance that the Waitotara stop w’ould be reinstated. So far, however, the position was the same as before. — Action was deferred pending a reply from the Taranaki Provincial Executive. TECHNICAL COLLEGE. A lettei' forwarded to the Dominion President (Mr W. J. Polson) was tabled, complaining that the agricultural course at the local Technical College was more theoretical than practical, and as a result was not of much use to boys intending to take up farming. The letter urged that representation should be given to farmers on the College Board of Directors. The secretary reported tliat on receipt of tlie letter he had written to tlie director of the college setting forth the complaint. The director (Mr C. T. Newton) in liis reply, stated that if by “practice” it was meant practice in the ordinary manual operations required to be done on a farm then it was true that the course was more theorectical than practical, but if it was meant to refer to the practical experimental work done in the laboratory in botany, zoology, chemistry, dairy science, etc.,, then the statement was not true. The agricultural instructor (Mr E. 11. Hudson, B.Sc., B.Ag.), was extremely well qualified to hold his position, having been a farmer himself. Mr Newton’s letter went on to state that the college would welcome greater interest from the Farmers’ Union and other similarbodies in the agricultural course. The writer personally thought that a conference between the board and the union would be of considerable advantage to the course of agricultural training. Mr Alan Robinson said that he had been through the Technical College and in his opinion it was doing its work well. If a boy was prepared to work, the instruction given him at the college did everything to assist him to get on. Mr Parsons said that he did not think it was the union’s place to interfere with the work of the college. He was personally of the opinion that the difficulties of agricultural training would never be overcome until they had an Agricultural College. Mr Sommerville said that the trouble was that farmers sending their - boys to school could ill spare them from home. Most of the pupils attending an agricultural course only went for one year. A resolution was carried approving of the work of the Technical College. BOYS AND GIRLS’ AGRICULTURAL CLUBS. Tlie secretary reported that he had reecived from Mr Lange (Feilding) a copy of the results of the Wanganui Education Board's mangold growing competition promoted in the various primary schools. A crop grown at Glen Oroua School by Elsie White headed the best of 70 entries, with 170:, marks. It was suggested that a performance of this nature should receive some recognition. It was resolved that the Wellington and Manawatu Provincial centres be asked to join with Wanganui in offering annually a division prize for the most points gained in the whole competition. STOCK ROUTES. It w r as decided to support the Waitotara County Council in their controversy with the Wanganui borough over - the matter of stock routes, HOSPITAL RATES. Mr Currie stated that some county councils in making out their rate demands did not show the hospital rates separately. Farmers often desired to know the exact amount they paid annually towards the hospital. It was decided to refer the matter to the local counties for action.