25 



, This was another departure. Mr. Irvine laid great stress upon 

 steps being taken to train the rising generation of ■vignerons, and 

 to train them thoroughly -was a most important thing, because the- 

 fight to-day was not against the cheap labour of Southern Europe 

 but against the brains of the world; and this colony could only 

 take its place in the world's market by training the young men 

 who would have the future destiny of this rising industry in their 

 hands. That work might be accomplished without any expense 

 to the'State, which was already overburdened with its functions j 

 the material was ready to hand. In order that the educational 

 development of the younger men in the community, who will in 

 the ordinary course of events be called on to carry out the viticul- 

 tural industry, it shall be the duty of the Board to enter into an 

 agreement with vignerons of high reputation and standing in the 

 colony to receive pupils for practical training in vine-growing, wine- 

 making, and distillation under the auspices of the Board, and 

 subject to such regulations in regard to fees charged, instruction 

 imparted, and management of the students, as may from time to 

 time be deemed necessary; and they shall further provide that 

 annual examinations of these students shall be held by a Board of 

 Examiners, who shall award first or second class certificates of 

 competency, as the case may be. In addition to this the Board 

 shall provide at least one annual travelling scholarship, to be open 

 for competition to all young vignerons in the colony. The con- 

 ditions of the scholarship to be so framed that the successful 

 competitor shall be sent to Europe to obtain a knowledge of 

 the best methods in regard to viticulture adopted there; and, after 

 he has completed his studies, to return to the colony and impart 

 his knowledge to the vignerons of the colony for a specified time, 

 as the Board may direct. 



He thought there was a great opening in this direction. The 

 same system had already been tried with regard to the art work 

 of the colony, and men like Mr. LongstafF and others had been 

 sent away, and were likely to make a great name for themselves 

 and the colony. 



Lastly, that experimental stations be- established, at which all 

 the known varieties of vines in the colony be cultivated to the 

 number of not less than 50 vines of each variety, and their proper 

 classification and naming, and the recording of exact knowledge 

 in regard to (heir characteristics, products, and diseases be carried 

 out. 



The Chairman said that the papers that had been read were 

 bristling with practical suggestions, but he did not think it was 

 necessary to discuss them at any great length. He did not wish 

 to shorten the discussion, but he thought it would be better tot 



