LINCOLN COLLEGE

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21967, 16 December 1936, Page 15

LINCOLN COLLEGE

DIPLOMA DAY

PRESENTATION OP PHIZES

The presentation of diploma certificates and prizes awarded during the year to students of Lincoln College took place yesterday afternoon. About 120 people attended, the majority parents, and including prominent farmers and others who had assisted the college at various times. Mr W. O. Rennie (chairman of the Board of Governors) presided, and others on the platform included Messrs G. F. Wright and M. E. Lyons (mem- ! bers of the board), and Dr. Denham (former chairman). Dr. Hilgendorl (recently acting-director), Messrs Norton Francis and G. W. Osborne, The chairman read apologies for absence from the Hon. W. Lee Martin (Minister for Agriculture), Mr N. M. Orbell, Sir R. Heaton Rhodes, Mr A. W. Hudson, and others. Review of Year The chairman comprehensively reviewed the operations of the year, first dealing with the changes in the personnel of the Board of Governors and the staff. Referring to the students, he stated that 16 full time students had taken the degree course. Four of these started taking the honours course, but all of them had secured positions in the Fields Division of the Department of Agriculture during the year, so did not sit for their final examination. Of the four students completing their bachelors' course in November, three were now employed by the department and one had been added as a part-time assistant to the college staff. Of the diploma students. 24 had just finished their second year's course. Of these, 18 had beetf awarded the diploma of the college.! Eleven students finished their first year's course. The districts from which the students came were:—Canterbury 20, Otago 12, North Island 11, Southland 4, West Coast 2, and from abroad 2. Of the four veterinary scholarships given by the Government at the beginning of the year, three were awarded to students of Lincoln College. The college was indebted to private persons and firms for donations of prizes for various competitions among students, Several valuable new gifts appeared this year for the first time. The old students had given a scholarship valued at £25 a year for diploma ; students. This had been awarded to J. H. T. Anstey, of Hunter, and the New Zealand Refrigerating Company a similar scholarship, valued at approximately £6O a year, for competition among young farmers from Otago. This has been awarded to H. A. Duff, Edievale, Otago. Anonymous donors provided two valuable challenge cups. Farmers' Day It had been decided to abandon the function that for over 30 years had been known as farmers' day, on which the farmers of Canterbury were invited to inspect the college activities and to witness the distribution of diplomas and awards to the students. The reasons for this were that the numbers attending had grown so large that demonstrations were difficult to carry out, and that the material to be demonstrated had grown so large that it could not be demonstrated in the half day available. JLt was therefore resolved to hold several farmers' days instead of one, inviting groups from i various districts or*tint crests on days sitttable to themselves. The..chahge had beert-almost entirely successful. He said "almost," because some of their old friends who often visited had not found themselves included in any of the groups into which the old general gathering had been divided. An attempt would be made to i ectify this. The organised groups that had visited the college during the year were:- - North Otago Farmers' Union, North Canterbury Farmers' Union, South and Mid-Canterbury Farmers' Unions, Stock and Station Agents of Canterbury, instructors of the Department of Agriculture. The excursionists totalled probably 2000 persons. The outcome of the abandonment of farmers* day had been the establishment of an exclusively "diploma day," which was in the nature of an educational rather than an agricultural celebration. Research Work The chief lines of research had been:— (1) Grass breeding under the direction of Mr J. W. Calder; (2) animal nutrition, which would in future be* under the care of Dr. Franklin; (3) farm economics, under Dr. Weston; (4) wool and sheep, under Mr Sidey; (5) plant diseases, under Mr Blair; (6) soil physics, under Mr James; (7) entomology, under Mr Morrison; (8) veterinary work, under Colonel Stafford; (9) farm advice, under Mr Flay. , The Farm and Buildings The farm buildings and much of the stock were not in as good condition as the board desired to see them. The farm buildings were in the last stages of decay. Some years ago the Government promised financial assistance for their replacement, but after only portion of the money had been received the financial depression supervened and the grants in aid ceased. They had. however, good hopes that the present Government realised that an institution of this sort, with its traditions and advantages, must be equipped in a manner that was in keeping with Us importance to the community. The college building was also in an unsatisfactory condition, due ] partly to age. partly to the fair wear and tear of 55 years of occupancy by \ a somewhat virile population, partly to the changing ideas of comfort and elegance. Floors were wearing, through, roof slates were perishing, and the lighting was inadequate. It was hoped that funds might be forthcoming for improvement in this direction also. Farm Stock The live stock, of which the college had long been justly proud, still retained its high quality; but the best quality was found in the older animals, and a heavy expenditure had to be faced to keep up the standard of the flocks and herds. In many Parts of the farm fertility had fallen and troublesome weeds had found ingress as a result of over-cropping in an attempt to keep up revenue. This was a development that had been all too common in the country during the period of financial depression. Finance The finances of the college were not at all in a satisfactory condition. The basic fault was that their endowments and other sources of revenue provided an almost stationary income, while the demands on it were constantly increasing The population they had to serve was becoming much more numerous, and at -the same time the work they were called upon to do was extending in scope, in variety, and in complexity. Researches which in the past could be undertaken with small means had, m the general progress of knowledge, become much more complicated, and called for heavy expenditure in time and personnel. Restricted finance was primarily the cause of the deterioration of the farm buildings, fences, etc., as well as the cause of losing valuable members of the staff, and restricting the programme of research. Director's Remarks Professor Hudson expressed his sincere thanks for the cordial welcome that had been extended to him by farmers, the teaching and domestic staffs of the college, and the students. He wished particularly to thank Dr. Hilgendorf and Mr J. k W. Calder. In

referring to general matters affecting the college, he mentioned the suggestion that had been made that old students . should be represented on the Board of Governors. He knew of no other institution of the kind where old students were not represented on the board, and probably in any alterations made provision would be made for such. He hoped that his work would maintain, and if possible improve, the standard of the college. Of the many functions it had to fulfil, he specially stressed the importance of teaching, and in this respect it might be advisable to revert to the three-year course —field husbandry the first year, animal husbandry the second, and various major branches of agriculture the third. He hoped that with Dr. Denham as chairman of the Institute of Scientific Research, the recognition of the research work of the college would be adequately recognised. Perhaps no institution felt the depression more than their own, and it was definitely in need of funds if it was to be kegt on its proper plane. Funds had to come from one of two sources—either the Government or from private sources. What the Government could do to help he did not know, but it might reasonably be hoped that something might yet be done by private sources. There were a number of wealthy families in Canterbury and other provinces who were closely associated with the land, and he knew of no better way in which their names could be perpetuated than by endowing an institution such as the college. Such, no doubt, would be a further incentive to the Government. In concluding, the professor said that he looked forward to a useful and happy time amongst them. (Applause.) The chairman then presented the diplomas and prizes as follows: Diplomas and Scholarships During the year degrees were conferred by the New Zealand University on the following students of the college:— ivfaslers of Agriculture—J. W. McLean, with first-class honours; I, D. Blair, with second-class honours.

Bachelors of Agriculture—M. C. I Armstrong, L. Blackmore, J. R. J. Fleming, A. F. Greenall, C. S. Harris, D. R. Wilkie. Scholarships—First year scholarship, for student obtaining the highest aggregate marks in the annual examinations for the first year, A. M. Lee. Job Osborne Scholarship, for final year diploma students: N. M. Peryman. Shell Scholarship for degree students: W. R. Lobb. Entrance Scholarship: P. D. Bell. Prizes Final Diplomas—College medal. R. F. Fryer; Leonard White Cup, G. H. Nelson, R. S. Hayes, A. G. Wilson, J. S. Maclean, L. R. Morris, P. B. Pavletich. J. S. Bowker, W. A. McKellar, H. H. Deans, W. S. Emmett, G. E. Rennie, C. Seymour, C. R. Bischoff, I. R. Falconer, P. A. Deans, H. W. Williams, J. G. Castling. Special Prizes Pyne, Gould. Guinness Cup (for estimating prices of live stock at Addington)—J. S. Bowker. Marcroft Challenge Medal and Wreford Reed Memorial Cup (for the best knowledge of live stock)—C. Seymour. New Zealand Refrigerating Company's Perpetual Challenge Cup (for estimating weight of freezing sheep and lamb at Addington)— H. H. Deans. David Sidev Challenge Medal and Wright, Stephenson and Company's Cup (for best and neatest farm worker) —J. S. Bowker. Dalgety and Company's Challenge Cup (for shearing, shepherding, and woolclassing)—G. E. Rennie. George Osborne Prize (for horsemanship)—J. S. Bowker. Southdown Sheep Society's Challenge Shield (for sheep judging competition)—B. A. Nicholls. Canterbury Agricultural College Ploughman Challenge Cup—L. R. Morris. Lincoln Ploughing Match Association's Prize—L. R. Morris, 1; J. S. Bowker, 2. Colonel Stafford's Prize (for best management of team)—L. R. Morris. Special Prize (for most improved ploughman)— H. B. Hay. W. B. Cunningham Memorial Cup (for practical dairying)—P. B. Pavletich. Bledisloe Medal—A. W. Hudson. B.Agr., B.Sc. (Dip. C.A.C.), Massey Agricultural College. Class Prizes Second Year—Farm economics and farm management: R. F. Fryer 1, G. H. Nelson and J. S. Maclean (equal) 2. Field husbandry: G. H. Nelson 1, R. F. Fryer and A. G. Wilson (equal) 2. Livestock: R. F. Fryer 1, P. B. Pavletich 2. Animal nutrition: R. F. Fryer 1, A. G. Wilson 2. Agricultural

zoology: R. F. Fryer 1, G. H. Nelson 2. Veterinary science: R. F. Fryer 1, G. E. Rennie 2. Surveying and building: R. F. Fryer 1, R. S. Hayes and L. R. Morris (equal) 2. Practical agriculture: J. S. Bowker 1, J. S. McLean 2. First Year—Animal husbandry: A. M. Lee 1, R. D. Hudson 2. Animal nutrition: A. M. Lee 1, N. M. Peryman 2. Agriculture: A. M. Lee 1, D. M. Deans 2. Agricultural botany: N. M. Peryman and D. M. Deans (equal) 1. Soils and manures: A. M. Lee 1, J. A. Lethbridge and N. M. Peryman (equal) 2. Anatomy and physiology: D. M. Deans 1, C. H. B. Hjelmstrom 2. Parasitology: A. M. Lee 1, C. N. Watts 2. Farm engineering: C. N. Watts 1, A. M. Lee 2. Farm economics and bookkeeping: A. M. Lee 1, R. D. Hudson 2. Practical agriculture: G. B. Giller 1. C. N. Watts 2. Addington competitions: G. B. Giller 1, D. M. Deans 2. After the presentation ceremony afternoon tea was provided in the gardens.