AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 10, 13 January 1926, Page 6

AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE

CENTRAL SITE NEEDED. NORTH ISLAND FAVOUR^ UNIVERSITY STANDARD DEMAjjj, (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent) WELLINGTON, thie day. A newspaper reference to the nm settled question of an adequate an? cultural University College for Zealand, and a suggestion that "fi* Minister of Education and the Minis*.! of Agriculture should place this eubWt on their list of New Year resolution! was brought under the notice of Rj James Parr to-day. The Minister ?! keen to see the matter brought to practical point, and is emphatic tint there should be a central agricultnpii university, that the resources of ffc Dominion will not enable the necessarr high standard to be attained withont concentration, and that the matter U now one for the authorities to settle. "We have obtained the very W\ advice on this subject," remarked Sir James. "Sir Harry Reichel, Chancellor of the University of Bangor, where ami. cultural education is strongly emtfu. sised, and Mr. Frank Tate, Director of Education in Victoria, are emphatically P' of opinion that a central agricultural I college of university standard should b> § established in the North Island in the P country. Mr. Tate has given special I attention to the subject, and he epent I three months in Denmark studying th, -I successful system in that country. He has written a brochure on the matter We should follow their report, which declares that there is only room for one institution of the kind in this country of university standing, because in tht first place there is only the need for one, and there is certainly only money for one. I am satisfied, therefore, have to sink any provincial difference* in order to make a proper beginning with agricultural education, providing an institution which will set a high standard, influencing the subject Tight down, through high schools and technical schools, and through the technical schools the primary schools. "The idea of a high university standard may seem strange, but in all other progressive countries this plan is iccepted without question. Agriculture is our oldest art, but it is by no T rneans stationary. Science can be applied more and more; research is neeessarr Increased prosperity for the industry can only come through improved methods of production, not high prices. The experts who advised us say that the needs of New Zealand can be best met by an institution in the North Island, centrally situated, which, I take '•■ it, means somewhere between Auckland and Wellington, and that North Island university colleges should pool their resources, including the Logan Campbell endowment to Auckland University and the Buchanan endowment to Victoria College; also the colleges should also pool their academic resources and concentrate on a well equipped institution which will be well financed. "Such a college will require £50,000 to £60,000 for initial capital expenditure on buildings and equipment, and it could not be adequately maintained for a smaller cost than £10,000 to £12,000 per annum—a sum beyond the resources )f any single college council. This, I think, is being realised by them, and I am very glad to hear that the University Councils of Auckland and Welling* ton have commenced to discuss the possibility of co-operating in the matter. I fervently hope they will come to an igreement on the lines suggested by the reports, the result of which will, I trust, enable the Government to push on with this vital essential of agricultural education. "If a proper standard is once established I believe a central agricultural university college, with its hostels for students, will develop into a rural university where teachers may be trained mder more natural and suitable surroundings than a city. It will lead to a greater appreciation of country life and the lessening of the general demand for a position in some city school. I know that the Prime Minister is fully seized of the extreme importance to the agricultural and pastoral interests. of this country of the establishing of an agricultural college of the higher type as soon as possible. Let the University settle its differences, and I am confident that the Prime Minister and the Government will do. their bit without delay." The Minister was asked how this, development would affect the existing Lincoln Agricultural College in Canterbury. He replied that he realised fully its capacity for doing valuable work, and it should be raised to university standard.