160 Transactions. — Miscellaneous. 



July) are set forth in " seven planks," and members of the 

 union are advised to vote only for those candidates who agree 

 to the platform of the union. Not one of the planks has even 

 a reference to education, or to the necessity of scientific train- 

 ing in the preparation of future farmers along lines that are 

 suggested by the discoveries made in agricultural science and 

 the application of physical laws to the production and pre- 

 servation of the products of the soil ! With all the direct 

 advantages tbat farmers reap as the outcome of scientific dis- 

 covery, and in full view of the facts such as are quoted above, 

 is it not surprising that the only thing the representatives of 

 the farmers of New Zealand could think of as being necessary 

 as affecting the present system of public instruction is a 

 modification of the syllabus " that sewing may be taught to 

 girls in all schools"? What a thing to set forth as represent- 

 ing the deliberations of a conference that embodies the in- 

 terests of over a hundred thousand producers, and whose 

 prospects have been so materially improved by the direct 

 application of science to the preservation and carriage of their 

 products to distant markets. 



It will perhaps be urged that the country has adopted a 

 scheme of science instruction for the schools and the people 

 generally. In the year 1882 the great producers of wealth in 

 this countrv were at their wits' end to find markets for their 

 produce other than wool. Science stepped in and showed 

 them that the preservation of perishable foods was possible. 

 Since then the adoption of scientific methods has so enhanced 

 the value of what were in a large measure waste products that 

 the export of butter, cheese, and frozen meats falls little short 

 in value of the great staple of the country, and has brought in 

 something like £30,000,000 during the twenty years that have 

 gone by since the frozen- meat industry began. 



With these facts before us, is it possible to suppose that 

 the farmers do not yet realise the vast possibilities awaiting 

 them if they will adapt themselves and their offspring to the 

 newer conditions that have arisen by the mere introduction of 

 scientific processes in the preservation and transport of perish- 

 able foodstuffs ? If they are indifferent as to the benefits 

 science is conferring upon them, then let me quote for their 

 edification the words of Locke that he addressed to a certain 

 class of people "that want proofs not because they are out of 

 their reach, but because they will not use them. 

 Nor," says this philosopher, " shall I take notice what a 

 shame and confusion it is to the greatest contemners of know- 

 ledge to be found ignorant in things they are concerned to 

 know. But this, at least, is worth the consideration of those 

 who call themselves ' gentlemen ' : that, however they may 

 think credit, respect, power, and authority the concomitants 



