AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE

Waikato Times, Volume 100, Issue 16818, 9 June 1926, Page 10

AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE

AN ALTERNATIVE SCHEME. MP. J. P. KALAUGIIER'S PROPOSAL. Writing in the Wellington Post, Mr .1. P. Kalaugher, who for a number of years was supervisor of agricultural education to the Auckland Education Board, submitted an alternative proposal in connection with the proposed Agricultural College, lie says—- ". May I draw the attention of your readers to Ihc very grave mistake made by the Councils of Hie Auckland University College and the Victoria College, Wellington, when they agreed to forego their claims for establishing Chairs of Agriculture at each of those colleges in favour of establishing a University Agricultural College at a central site in the North Island? The University Colleges at Auckland and at Wellington arc well equipped, and they have highly qualified professors for subjects such as English, mathematics. economics, botany, zoology,, physics (heal, light, electricity), chemistry, and geology, all of which subjects are necessary fur the general education of ■a University sludenl of agriculture "The founding or a central University Agricultural College will mean i greal expense in the purchase of land, 1 erection mid equipping ot University buildings, including science laboratories, and the creel inn of farm build- : ings and purchase of live slock and farm implemenls and machinery. Such ' ii college will allracl only a innileralo number id' students, far 100 few to warrant the appointment of enough ; professors In supply Ihc general and j Ihc special educational needs of the ' students. Again, il is not at all likely , Ihan an agricultural college in itself ! will allracl many of the ablest students in Ihc nonunion, so that those, attending the college will be under two very i serious disadvantages—lack of suftiri- | enl. leaching staff and lack of oppor- : lunily of associating with large nuni- ! hers of fellow-students, thereby being ; deprived of that culture which is looked upon as a very important feature of university life. "The proper course to be adopted at Auckland, Wellington, and Canterbury (Christcliurch) would be to establish a Chair of Agriculture at each college. and then the agriculture students would have their general and their science education liberally provided tor by the present stall's of those colleges. The special expenditure, if such a course were adopted, would unly be thai required for i xtra science laboratories for the professors of agriculture and their assistants. Practical Training. "The practical training in farming operations could he carried out during vacations (and university vacations amount to at least live months in the year.; at the Iluakura Government Farm of Instruction (Auckland), at Ihc Go- , verimenl Centra; Development Farm, j Weraroa (Wellington'., and at Canteri bury Agricultural College. Lincoln I'(Canterbury;, At those farms the

students would receive instruction in practical farming and dairying, and would, in addition, take special courses of instruction in farm surveying, diseases of live stock, farm pests, etc. It must be noted that all of these three farms are particularly well equipped, and are suitable in every way for the purposes stated. The professors of agriculture at the universily colleges would ttiavc excellent opportunities of noting among the general body of students any who showed special aptitude for the sciences (botany, zoology, chemistry, physics, geology) which form a vital part of the foundation training of thoso who wish to become research workers on agricultural problems. Many of these students could probably be induced to specialise in agricultural science research work. "farmers may raise the objection that if what I suggest were adopted there would he no provision for the training of their sons in practical agriculture. Canterbury Agricultural College, Lincoln, provides a full three-year course of training in practical farming. At Huakura Government Farm of Inst ruction there is a farm school providing a two-year course in practical farming. The scope of thai farm school should he widened, and a farm school should also he established at the Cetilr.il Development Farm, Weroraa. These institutions would then he cap-

able for many years of providing the training required in practical agricultural operations. "It is generally agreed that school teachers should have a sound knowledge of agricultural science, and if the Chairs of Agriculture were established at Auckland, Wellington, and Canterbury (Chrisichurch), the students from the teachers' training colleges in those centres would be able to secure the benefits of courses from the professors of agriculture, thus enabling them lo take agriculture as one of the subjects of their degrees. "In conclusion, the scheme I outline will provide—"A sounder scientific training and general education to a much greater number of students. • A sound practical training in farm and dairy work. *"Far greater opportunities for those desirous of becoming teachers or instructors in agriculture, science, or for (hose desirous of becoming' research workers on agricultural, pastoral, and dairying problems. "The initial expenditure and the annual expenditure wilt be very con-? siderably less. "The benefits to the whole Dominion very much greater."