FARM SCHOOL.

Waikato Times, Volume 111, Issue 18652, 2 June 1932, Page 8

FARM SCHOOL.

FIRST WINTER FIXTURE. OFFICIAL OPENING TO-DAY. A COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAMME. The first Winter Farm school to be established In New Zealand Avas officially at the Claudelands ShOAA-gr'Sunds, this morning, by the Mayor, Dr. F. D. Pinfold. The course, under the direction of Dr. H. E. Annett, will Include Instruction in the latest methods of agriculture, cattle diseases and pig husbandry for herd-testing officers and farmers’ sons. Massey College provides an annual course which herd-testing officers now have to take to qualify for appointment to the Herd-testing Association, but the Waikato Winter Farm School is the first practical effort made to widen their knowledge on farm practice and thereby enable them to be of further assistance to the farmer. Provision has been made for local students at a reduced rate. The school is being ■conducted on a purely voluntary ba-sis, the only charge made being for meals and the necessary lighting in connection with 'the school. The Waikato Agricultural and Pastoral Association and the Waikato Trotting Club have made available for the use of the students the necessary accommodation during their stay at Claudelands. The committee responsible for -the inauguration and carrying out of the scheme comprises Mr C. M. Hume, supervisor, Dominion Group Herd-test-ing Federation; Dr. 11. E. Annett; Mr W. H. Paul, secretary, Waikato Winter Show; Mr C. E. Goosman, secretary, Waikato Agricultural and Pastoral Association; Mr S. J. Sheaf, manager, New Zealand 'Co-operative Herd-testing Association; and Mr G. E. Curnirfg, editor, New Zealand Farm and HomeA Cordial Weloome. The director (Dr. H. E. Annett), In extending a cordial welcome to students, explained the circumstances leading up to the formation of the Waikato Winter Farm School —a fixture which it was -confidently anticipated 'would he an annual event. The speaker referred to the co-operation of the Waikato Agricultural and Pastoral Association, Waikato Co-opera-tive Herd-testing Association, Waikato Pig Recording Club, and the Waikato Winter Show in the objects of the course. In declaring the school officially ■opened the Mayor (Dr. F. D. Pinfold), congratulated the parties responsible for its formation. It was not until one left school that one’s real education commenced, Ills Worship commented,Vand a school such as this was an excellent, ground for sound education along proper lines. New Zealand to-day, he said, had a very big education grant and there Avas something undoubtedly wrong, in his opinion, with its distribution- The essentials Avere being neglected. Today there Avere approximately a quarter of a million students in primary schools, 20,000 in secondary and 5000 in technical schools in the Dominion. A-t Lincoln Agricultural College there Avere only 50 students, while Flock House Avas complaining that it could not get enough students to economically run that institution. That descending scale Avas wrong. The best brains of the country Avere needed for farming to-day and science must play an important part. Mr H. Windsor, president of t'he Waikato Agricultural and Pastoral Association, joined Avith the Mayor in wishing the school success. The Waikato Winter Show President, Mr J. Treloar, remarked that the large gathering of students AA r as a happy augury for the progress of the industry. He referred to the general progress of engineering in the last few decades and considered 'that the surface -of knoAvledge had been only scratched. The developments of today would be nothing compared with what AA-as going to take place In the future. Agriculture, he said, Avas similarly situated. Schools such as these AA'ere going to proA'ide the leaders of the future. First of Many Schools. Mr C. M. Hume, supervisor, Dominion Group Herd-testing Federation, remarked on their good fortune in having Dr. Annett as director of the school aud expressed the belief that this AvoiSd be the first of many winter sehoolsMfeld in the Waikato. Mr C. E. 'Cuming, in explaining the origin of the -school, said that it had emanated from a suggestion by Mr E. Grocott, herd-testing officer of Putaruru. It Avas the first school of its kind In NeAV Zealand, and it was fortunate that they had as director of the school the most capable director In Ncav Zealand. Mr S. J. Sheaf, general manager of the New Zealand Co-operative Herdtesting Association, remarked upon the useful knoAvledge that herd-test-ing officers would gather from a course of such a nature. The course Avas a most comprehensive one, and one which he hoped Avould bo the forerunner of an annual event in the Waikato. This afternoon lectures AA'ere given by Dr. H. E. Annett (Grassland Management) and Mr D. Marshall, M.R.G-, V-S. (Animal Management).