LINCOLN COLLEGE

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22135, 3 July 1937, Page 11

LINCOLN COLLEGE

FACILITIES FOR RESEARCH

FUTURE POSSIBILITIES

(Concluded.)

The needs of the college building and of the farm were covered in two previous articles. The concluding article to-day will touch on the facilities for research provided by the institution.

In 1928 a special Government grant l enabled the college to erect a fine modern laboratory block. The building contains a large chemical and an equally spacious biological laboratory, with several smaller rooms suitable for research workers. Offices for members of the lecturing staff and a library and lecture-room occupy the rest of the space. With the exception of the library the facilities are ample for the present indoor needs of the college for both teaching and research, but the library falls far short of the present-day conception of what is necessary in order to keep the staff and students abreast of modern advancements in science. The building presents a pleasant contrast to most of the older buildings, and its good condition is being jealously preserved. Although its possession has been a great advantage to the college, it has also proven something of an embarrassment. As previously stated, the laboratories were built out of a special Government grant, but while funds were provided for the construction of the building none were provided for its care, cleaning, and maintenance. Ihese charges have had to be met from the general finances, and. as has been v-hown in previous articles, these were not in a position to bear the additional burden.

Research Achievements

For many years the college has conducted research on various problems confronting the 'primary producers and some notable achievements stand to the credit of the institution. The first improved strains of wheat and oats were produced prior to the war years; and additional strains of still greater utility have been released at intervals 'since then. More recently the work on wheat assumed such importance that this branch of the work was entrusted to the Wheat Research Institute—a lusty offspring from the loins of the older institution, where excellent work is being done in the interest of this practically South Island mdustry i Improvement of cocksfoot was also at/ important activity, and at present the selected C. 23 strain is on the eye of being released for commercial utiH On° n the animal side the researches conducted at the college resulted in the widespread use of meatmeal as a protein concentrate for stock feeding, and recently the work on dopiness or milk fever in ewes has done much to reduce stock losses. These instances suffice to show that the college has established an enviable reputation in the research as well as the educational field. ... , . i Research results are likely to play an ever-increasing part on individual farms and in our national economy. In,, common with most other newly-de-veloped countries, New Zealand has been relatively free from serious pests and disease troubles in both plants and animals, but now that we have emerged from the pioneering stage of our development, we are liable to be confronted with an increasing array of problems which only an active research programme will enable us to overcome. Particularly is this liable to be the case in connexion with animal husbandry, and it would be greatly to the interests of all South Island farmers to see that at Lincoln there is established sufficient research workers properly equipped to undertake the investigation of problems as they arise. That this should prove a highly profitable step is apparent to anyone familiar with the facts. Recently Dr. H. G. Denham, chairman of the De-

partment of Scientific and Industrial Research, directed attention to the authoritative statement that in New Zealand our annual losses of sheep amounted to 2,000,000. A certain loss from natural causes must be anticipated, but this number is greatly in excess of what the losses need, or would, be if there was a better understanding of many of the diseases responsible.

Province's Hogget Mortality

Competent observers have expressed the opinion that during the current season hogget mortality in Canterbury has resulted in a loss to farmers of probably £250,000. The trouble this year admittedly has been much worse than is normally the case, but every year large numbers of young sheep are lost from causes which we are only just beginning to understand. The cost of maintaining a fully-qualified animal research staff at such a centre as Lincoln would be repaid manifold if only one of the numerous causes of losses among our stock was solved.

Co-ordination of Effort

To-day there are several organisations concerned with the solution of the technical problems confronting the rural industries. The Department of Agriculture, the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, and the Agricultural Colleges are all in the field. These are now working in close co-operation. Two committees consisting of the principal officers of the institutions concerned are charged with the responsibility of co-ordinating the work of research designed to assist the agricultural and pastoral industry. One committee handles all matters pertaining to plants and the other devotes its attention to the problems of animal husbandry. At Lincoln on part of the college farm is located the plant research station controlled by the Plant Bureau—an organisation separate from the college, but working in close contact and with common aims. The organisation of the animal work is not so far advanced, and it is desirable that in this sphere the college itself should have the staff and income augmented to enable it to undertake approved work of a nature vital to the well-being of the country's flocks and herds. In the past there has been a tendency to localise animal research work at such centres as Wallaceville veterinary laboratory. What is most desirable is that the work should be conducted where laboratories, land and animals are all available. The college presents a splendid centre at which all these are combined and research workers can be brought into the closest contact with difficulties experienced under actual farming conditions. f

The Future

Lincoln College is an institution established by the people of Canterbury in the days before the formation of a central Government of New Zealand. It has a record of which New Zealand can be justly proud, and has an enviable reputation which extends far beyond the boundaries of the Dominion. There is scarcely a day that some person interested in farming does not make a call at the college, and there certainly is not a week in which visitors from some other part of the Dominion or from overseas do not pay a visit. These visitors find much to admire and those from abroad are invariably impressed with the facilities existing for teaching practical farming and carrying on research work, even if, in recent years, they have been surprised at the antiquity of some of the equipment. On a number of occasions in the year bodies of farmers and their wives from various parts of the province, numbering up to 400 head, and groups from neighbouring provinces make a comprehensive inspection of the college and the work being carried out in the various branches of plant and stock husbandry. This is not the least important of the many activities of the institution. The college staff, from the director down to the latest recruit, is comprised of keen workers, with a sound academic background, anxious to do their best, and approachable at all times to farmers in quest of information. Given the necessary financial help and moral backing, the college is capable of carrying out still more important work than that briefly touched on, and in their own interests the people of this province -'.uuld take steps to ensure that the necessary facilities for a full programme of research and education are made available.