Threat to institute

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33580, 8 July 1974, Page 14

Threat to institute

“For the first time for several years, the future of the Tussock Grasslands and Mountain Lands Institute now seems secure,” Mr M. R Murchison (North Canterbury) told the annual conference of the Dominion meat and wool section of Federated Farmers at Rotorua last week.

He made this comment in presenting a report from the chairman of the South Island High Country Committee (Mr I. Innes). Mr Innes said that in a report commissioned by the National Water and Soil Conservation Organisation, Mr E. G. Dunford, of the United States Department of Agriculture, had said that the institute should be “terminated” as an autonomous research institute. Subsequently, in discussions in which he (Mr Innes) had taken part with representatives of Lincoln College, where the institute is situated, it had been agreed that the institute had a very important role to play in the South Island high country and also served a verv useful purpose at Lincoln College. Mr Innes said that he had also written to the Minister of Lands (Mr Rata) seeking his help to retain the institute. “I am pleased to report that the Soil Conservation Organisation now recognises that the institute does play a vital role in the high country.” Mr Innes said.