78 Report of Committee on Agricultural Education. 
institutions providing agricultural education is not calculated 
to diminish overlapping during the next few years. It would 
be interesting, moreover, to know what county councillors and 
farmers, who have concerned themselves for some years in the 
promotion of agricultural education, think of its main argu- 
ment that it is since the passing of the Education Act of 1902 
that instruction in agriculture had progressed ! Either all the 
landowners, land-agents, farmers, county councillors, and 
county education olficials were mistaken, who complained to 
the Committee of the deplorable effect which that Act has had 
upon agricultural education, by diverting the “ whisky-money ” 
to the training of elementary school teachers, or else the 
memorandum in question is the outcome of a really surprising 
misapprehension of the facts of the case. 
Finance. 
It is clear that, to carry out the recommendations of the 
Committee, additional funds must be forthcoming. Much 
evidence was given to the effect that it is idle at the present 
time to expect any material increase in the sums devoted to 
agricultural education by county councils. The Committee 
therefore recommend that the amount at the disposal of the 
Board of Agriculture for this purpose should be largely 
augmented. Unless this recommendation is adopted by the 
Government very few of our suggestions for the improvement 
of agricultural education can be carried into effect. Agricul- 
turists throughout the country must, therefore, not merely 
accord a tacit approval to the Report, they must raise their 
voices and demand its adoption. In Ireland, in Canada, in the 
United States, and in many countries of Europe, where 
agriculturists have realised the importance of agricultural 
education, they have required and have obtained its adequate 
support by the State. In Britain agricultural education has 
been starved. Full financial provision must henceforth be 
made. The Board of Agriculture alone cannot obtain this 
grant. Agriculturally-minded Members of Parliament are few 
and silent. Even were they numerous and vocal, their speeches 
unaided would not avail to effect a breach in the walls of the 
Treasury. It is for agriculturists themselves, in their Societies, 
and in their Chambers, in their journals, and in public 
meetings, to raise a demand so insistent that it cannot be 
denied. 
Norman Lamont. 
House of Commons, 
London, S.W. 
