246 pkesident's address — section k. 



cf specialized training will produce soonest technically satisfactory 

 carpenters, lawyers, and farmers, will it also produce the type 

 of citizens of whom we shall have most reason to be proud ? 



I find myself insisting on this question of leisure, because, if 

 the lonely evening hours be taken into account, the isolated 

 agriculturist of Australia has probably more of it on his hands 

 than the more gregarious classes of men. Hence, in my view, 

 no scheme of education for the agriculturist will be complete, 

 or even morally acceptable, that does not take these empty hours 

 adequately into coaisideration. I am of those who believe that 

 the key to' the present is tO' be found in the past ; and that it is 

 only the mentally atrophied who refuse themselves occasional use 

 of it. If we wish to take an intelligent interest in the problems 

 of the day, we cannot afford to overlook what time has sifted from 

 the records of the past. For these reasons, then, and because 

 I believe that we are called upon to be good citizens, first and 

 foremost, and craftsmen afterwards, I am of the opinion that 

 the son of the agriculturist should not be indelibly labelled frcin 

 his earliest days ; that up to his fourteenth or fifteenth year his 

 education should be general, rather than special, and that eveyy 

 effort should be made towards reducing the educational disabilities 

 under which hei labours relatively to his more fortunate city -bred 

 cousin. Had I the time, and were it essential to my main theme, 

 1 could labour this point at considerable length. I could show 

 that much of the unrest which is driving the country youth 

 citywards is not unconnected with inadequate educational facilities. 

 My main purpose to-day, however, is to discuss technical training 

 as such, and I must rest satisfied with having indicated the founda- 

 tions on which I believe this training should rest. 



Is the State justified in making special provision for the technical 

 training of those whose future occupation it will be to till the 

 soil and tend flocks and herds, supplying thereby the rest of the 

 community with the means of subsistance, and incidentally, in 

 this country, with our main articles cf export? The mere posing 

 of this questioii may possibly jar the sensibilities of some educa- 

 tionalists; in the end, however, difficult issues are better met 

 squarely rather than avoided ostrich fashion. Doubtless, it is 

 sufficiently obvious that we cannot hope to-day to have competent 

 physicians, chemists, engineeirs, &c., without adequate outside pro- 

 vision for their training ; but is it equally obvious of the agricul- 

 turist ? I think not ; but not because of fundamental differences 

 in the nature and scope of his occupation, but rather because of 

 special circumstances in his life which do not obtain in other 

 occupations. It is thus that the professions are no longer here- 

 ditary and personal as in earlier times they were more or less 

 wont to be; and in the main, the practice of them is a thing 

 quite apart from the ordinary routine of family life. Because 



