DRIFT TO THE CITIES

Waikato Times, Volume 118, Issue 19758, 13 December 1935, Page 5

DRIFT TO THE CITIES

UNATTRACTIVE FARMING. HEADMASTER OUTSPOKEN. NO FUTURE FOR BOYS. “ The agricultural course, re-intro-duced at the Hamilton High School some years ago, has not made the appeal anticipated,” said the headmaster, Mr Eben Wilson, at the Hamilton High School breaking-up ceremony this morning. Though about 90 boys are taking agriculture in place of chemistry as their science subject foi school certificate and matriculation, only a few- boys are taking the full agricultural course. “ Of the 5000 boys who left secondary and technical schools at the end of 1933, only 90 odd or about 19 per cent went on to the land. Our own school record is more encouraging. Twenty-five per cent of those who left at the end.of 1934 took up farming. Considering the importance of the agricultural industry we can have only misgivings that more boys are not attracted to rural pursuits. Are the schools responsible? Farmers complain that they cannot get boys to help. All secondary and technical schools, except those in the main

centreE, offer facilities for the study of agriculture. “ The primary schools by nature study and the secondary schools by agricultural courses are endeavouring to create a love for country life and to check the drift to the cities. " But a solution of our agricultural troubles Is not likely to come till farming Is made economically attraotlve. Under present conditions, it offers little future to the boy who has no capital behind him. “ Accommodation on farms is ia many cases indifferent. The hours ars long. More often than not the life is a lonely one. The boy misses the companiqnship to which he has been accustomed and the chance of securing a reasonable livelihood and a farm of his own by Ills own unaided exertions is remote.”