College Praises Help Of D.S.I.R. In Research

Press, Volume C, Issue 29509, 10 May 1961, Page 9

College Praises Help Of D.S.I.R. In Research

Members of the Canterbury Agricultural College board of governors yesterday paid tribute to the Department of Scientific and Industrial Reesarch for the support which it had given to agricultural colleges over the years to enable them to undertake research programmes which they could not otherwise have carried out. Their references were made during discussion on the report of the college principal (Dr. M. M. Burns) in which he outlined the changed policy on, grants for the future. The present year, 1981-62, would be the last during which general , grants for research would be received from the departI ment, he said. ; After this year grants from j the denartment to university ' institutions will be made for: Sponsoring special research units in fields of study deemed essential in the national interest and in which an outstanding man is stationed in the universiyt; and/or entering into research contracts to undertake specific research projects which the department wants done. “These principles will almost certainly be adopted by other Government departments, and over the long term should lead to greater use being made of the university institutions in the national research programme,” Dr. Burns said. “As far as this college is concerned it will be necessary from next year onwards for additional funds to be provided through the regular teaching grants to cover the personal research of members of the staff which is necessary for ‘dynamic’ teaching and which is now funded from the department. “If an appropriate increase in the teaching grants is provided for this purpose there are very definite prospects of the college being given greater support for research than has been the case in the past. The position is satisfactory for this year, but every effort must be made to consolidate the nosition on the new basis from next year onwards,” D” Burns sa ; d. He said the department’s sunnort bad enabled agricultural colleges to undertake quite considerable programmes of research work—-“first-class work" which could not have been done (without outside support. | “It is honed that by the I adoption of the new prinI cioles universities will be (able to plav an increasins I role in the field of research.” I Dr Burns said. I Mr J. F. G. Blakely moved I that the board acknowledge ; the great assistance given by i the department over the ? years. The department’s financial assistance had been a tremendous help to the college in its work, he said. New Teaching Block j An assurance that the col- : lege’s annlication for a new i teaching block would be conj sidered in the near future ' 'vas given bv the Minister of I Education (Mr Tennent) in a ' letter received at the meet- ! ing. i Mr Tennent said he honed ! it would not be too long be- | fore he would have a decision I on the college's application. The matter would not be deI layed as far as he was conicerned. he said. I Dr. Bums said he would I be in touch with the Minister very soon. Dairy Production At the end of Anril 70 : cows were producing 225 gal- ; lons of milk da.ily. Milk sold i in March totalled 6834 gali Jons at the autumn price of i 2s 3d a gallon for finest ; grade, said the dairy farm l renort. I Over the 30-day test period i for April 60 cows averaged 90681 b milk. 411 b butterfat, and 42 per cent, fat test. These figures include the production of 21 cow’s which are being converted from spring to autumn calving dates and w-hich are now’ in advanced stages of lactation. Scholarships The following scholarships were approved by the board: Cooper, McDougall, and Robertson. A. H. Nordmeye-: W. D. and H. O. Wills, A H Nordmever; Shell Company, Ltd., C. T. Dougherty; Colonel Findlay. B T Robertson; Job Osborne. D. W. Taylor; National Mortgage. J. I. Cone: William S. MacGibbon, B. M. Armstrong;

Charles and Ella Elgar Trust, J. B. Murray, w’ith D. Wilson submitted as a special case; New Zealand Farmers’ Co-operative Association, Ltd.. G. A.' Ewing; Heaton Rhodes, C. M. Kelland; Board of Governors Entrance, z D. F. Hughes. Mr D. S. Max said it was most gratifying that scholarships were available in nearly all sections of the college's courses for students “prepared to have a go.” Dr. Burns said that with the coverage given by the scholarships virtually every good student who was in financial difficulties had an opportunity to gain a scholarship in his particular course. Lecturer's Award The board decided to send a congratulatory letter to Mr A. P. Mulcock, lecturer in microbiology at the college, who recently completed the requirements for the award of doctorate of philosophy. His thesis project was in the field of w’ool microbiology. Dr. Burns said Mr Mulcock was the first member of the staff to qualify for a higher award while serving on the college’s staff.