CLASSES IN AGRICULTURE AND DAIRYING.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11643, 22 August 1905, Page 5

CLASSES IN AGRICULTURE AND DAIRYING.

At last night's meeting of the Wanganui Education Board tho following communication was read from the Chief Inspector, Mr W. Gray. Provision should be made for classes in both these subjects at our chief centres. Provision means two things — (a) suitable laboratories, and (b) suitable instructors. Laboratories have already been erected at Palmerston, Hawera, and Wanganui, and application is being made for them at Marton, Eltham, and Feilding. The finding of suitable instructors is the chief difficulty. For this knid of work experts are needed; and it seems to us that the best course for the Board to adopt is to obtain the services of a thoroughly competent expert in dairying and agriculture, who could direct the work for tho whole district and give such instruction to our science teachers as would enable them to assist him. I would recommend the Board to adopt this suggestion. The salary could be made up from various sources: (1) the ,£l5O grant for the training of teachers might in future be specially applied to this object; (2) capitation grant from tho classes held; (3) contributions and subsidies. I believe that thevtime has come for a forward movement in this matter. If necessary it would be well to go abroad for a suitable man. Given a man thoroughly competent and practical, to direct operations, the success of the work would be assured, and the gain to the district and to the colony inestimable. The co-operation of the A. and P. and kindred associations is essential, and I would suggest a conference of these with the Boards at which the matter might be fully gone into. The Palmerston North High School Board, and, if it is deemed advisable, the Taranaki Education Board, should also be invited to co-operate. I might add for the information of the Board that classes in Elementary Agriculture have already been established at quite a number of our schools. In connection with each of these is a garden in which the children of the upper standards have regular practical work. The kind of instruction given in connection with these classes furnishes a very good foundation for the more advanced work in connection with the District High and Technical Schools, and it is in every way desirable that the benefit of such instruction should be extended as widely as possible. To this end we are recommending the establishment of those classes with their necessary gardens at.all schools where the conditions are favourable. An expert, if appointed, could materially assist in this work' also. A letter was read from Mr J. G. Wilson endorsing the suggestion, and recommending the Board to. consider the appointment of the head teacher of the Maurieeville school.

The Taranaki Education Board also forwarded a letter referring to the same subject.

The CHAIRMAN suggested that the matter be loft in the hands of the Chief Inspector and himself. The CHIEF INSPECTOR suggested enlisting the assistance of A. and P. and kindred societies. He thought they should be in a position to offer a suitable salary to a good man, say ,£4OO. tMr PIRANI urged that a larger committee be set up to deal with the matter as the Chairman and Chief Inspector had quite enough to do already. He fully agreed with the Inspector's remarks re salary, and if they could not get a good man here they should go to America or Canada for one. He moved that the Chairman, Messrs. Atkinson, Dixon, Carson, Pirani and the Chief Inspector be a committee to deal with the matter. The motion was carried.