THE AUSTRALIAN FARMS TRAINING COLLEGE
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] SIR,—Your readers may be interested to hear of the estab- lishment at Lynford Hall in Norfolk of the " Australian Farms Training College," a college for the training in this country of University graduates and Public School boys with capital at their disposal who desire to migrate to Australia and to settle on the land. Men of education who are prepared to take up land and develop it are wanted in all the Dominions, but many who might otherwise become useful citizens of our Empire overseas hesitate for lack of the necessary training to risk time and money on an enterprise for which, in the end, they may prove unsuited. it is for them that the Australian Farms Training College will cater. It is designed to give a six months' intensive course of training in agriculture which will enable prospective settlers, as well as their parents and guardians and teachers, to decide on their fitness for agricultural life.
As principal of the college we have secured the services of Mr. H. W. Potts, who was formerly Principal of Hawkesbury Agricultural College in New South Wales, and who is recognized as one of the leading authorities on agricultural conditions in Australia. We have accommodation for a hundred students at a time, and we arc now enrolling candidates for the first term. I shall be glad to send a copy of our syllabus to any of your readers who may be interested.
For the course a fee of £100 is charged. This covers all the necessary expenses, but prospective students must guarantee to take with them to Australia at least £250 to start them on their new career. With the training Lynford Hall provides they are assured of a farm ; with 1250 in capital they are entitled to advances arranged by the State Govern- ments of £750. Thus students begin their careers with command of £1,000. Settlers with bigger capital obtain proportionately bigger advances. The scheme, I should add, is not a money-making concern. It is intended merely to be self-supporting. It has the co- operation of most of the Agents-General in London for the various provinces of Australia, and is widely supported by business men both in Australia and in London.—I am,
- Secretary.
Adelaide House, King William Street, London, E.G. 4.
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