FACILITIES NEEDED.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 81, 17 January 1936, Page 3

FACILITIES NEEDED.

AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH

(Special to the " Guardian.") AUCKLAND, Jan. 16. Whether agricultural research should be the responsibility of the Agricultural Department, as it now is, or of agricultural colleges and institutions was a question discussed to-day by the Hon. J. A. Hanan, M.L.C., Chancellor of the University of New Zealand, in his address to the Senate, at the Auckland University College. The present system, by which that responsibility was assumed by the department, in addition to the administration of regulations, was not approved by some, who were competent .authorities, said Mr, Hanan. They argued that the system did not make for real efficiency. They contended, too, that the responsibility was one for colleges and institutes. As it affected primary industries, it was asserted, the change would mean that the State and, the farming community would receive a better return for money spent on research and on teaching. It would be especially desirable to farmers, who had to meet fierce competition in the markets of the world. The need for development of agricultural colleges in New Zealand, for their being made of greater use to farmers was spoken of by Mr Hanan. Massey Agricultural College and Canterbury Agricultural College, as well as the Cawthron Institute, had done good .work, he said. But the needs mentioned deserved emphasis. In the interests .of research work especially, further financial assistance and better organisation were desirable. There were good grounds for suggesting that better methods should be adopted to ensure knowledge of discoveries made at the colleges being rapidly disseminated throughout the country and put;into Tiractice. Reports made to him had satisfied the chancellor that there was justification for a strong claim for increased facilities.