Student at Lincoln in 1908

Press, 4 May 1978, Page 22

Student at Lincoln in 1908

Specially written for

“the Press” by

RAY COCKFIELD.

Now in his 88th year, Mr Arthur Briscoe Moore is one of the oldest if not the oldest — former students of Lincoln College still living. He was at the college from 1908 to 1910.

Winner in 1946 of the college’s coveted Bledisloe medal, he is shown in the accompanying photograph in 1947 (fourth from left) after receiving the award from the hand of the form e r Governor-General Lord Bledisloe (with stick) himself. The medal is awarded annually to an old student, who in the opinion of the college council, has as a result of his training at the college. materially assisted farming in New Zealand or has otherwise advanced the country’s interests.

Other medals winners in the photograph are, from left, Professor E. R. Hudson and Mr W. O. Rennie, and on the other side of Lord Bledisloe and Mr Briscoe Moore, Mr L. W. McCaskill and Mr R. J. Low.

Mr Briscoe Moore is still living on the 768 ha farm, which on his return from World War I he carved from virgin rain forests of Northland. The property is now managed by his son.

In “From Forest to Farm,” one of the two books which he has had published and in which he mainly tells the story of the development of his farm, he describes his three years at Lincoln as the best investment of effort he has ever made. On the occasion of the centennial of the college, he says that all those should be remembered who had over the years maintained Lincoln as “a splendid teaching institution.” The students that they had persevered with had played a leading part in farming and land development in New Zealand. The present staff could derive satisfaction in knowing how worthwhile their work was in following such a fine tradition. “To the students I would say: you are fortunate to have the opportunity of gaining knowledge and experience with the facilities that there are at Lincoln. They did not just sprout out of the. earth. They were and still are provided by the taxpayer in the hope that you will utilise them to the ultimate benefit of your own country. “Make the most of your time at Lincoln. It could and should be one of the most rewarding periods of your lives. “In my day the college was purely one for training farmers and the only one of its kind in the country. The course was for three years and the complement of students 52.

“We were given a thorough training. The students ran the farm under a small farm staff. They did all the work with horse teams, as well as milking, gorse cutting and orchard work. “Half of each day was spent working and the other half was devoted to lectures and study. “The college owned its own steam traction engine, grain thrashing mill and chaff cutter.” He remembers some “enthralling and hilarious times” driving the steam giant along the roads at a full 20km an hour.

‘‘My generation was of just the age to be committed to World War I, which was even then brewing in the international cauldron,” he remembers. “Almost half of my contemporaries at Lincoln lost their lives a few years later.” In those far off days at Lincoln he recalls that the general means of locomotion was the bicycle, with the odd few affluent students owning motor bicycles. “We rode the bicycles into Christchurch at week-ends to attend dances or whatever else was on in the way of entertainment. I have vivid memories of pedalling hard against a vicious north-west wind over the 14 miles of metalled roads into Christchurch.” In his time there was always a winter dance at Lincoln. It was popular with young people from the city who travelled out by drag — a five-horse coach.

“There was very little drinking on such social occasions. The standard .tinple was ‘claret cut,’ which, however, could be quite potent. Students went to a lot of trouble to ■decorate the place and the studies we occupied mad? convenient ‘sitting out’ places for the dancers and their partners."

He remembers a lecturer in chemistry — a fine old man nicknamed “Paddler” Gray, because of his short stature and rather large feet. On one occasion, when acting as director, Paddler took it upon himself to ascend the stairs in the front hailway to check on affairs after lights out. He received an unexpected bath from a bucket of water which showered down on him from above. Next time he was equal to the occasion —

he made his inspection complete with unbrella. Mr Briscoe Moore, who was a member of the Wool Board for 20 years and is a life member of Federated Farmers of New Zealand, has a message — he thinks that the young farmer being trained at Lincoln should be made aware of the problem that the industry faces beyond the farm gate and should be looking into how the situation can be rectified. “We hear a lot of talk

about the necessity of giving farming a boost and of concern at static or failing productivity, “Technically there is not much wrong with farming in New Zealand. The farmers’ record over the last 25 years in land development and increased production is one to be proud of. The New Zealand farmer and farm worker still have one of the highest outputs per man hour anywhere in the world. This is in marked

contrast to their industrial counterparts. The troubles about farm production have to be looked for beyond the farm gate. The restrictions on production lie in the ever increasing load of costs that are deducted by other sections from farmers’ production. This has progressively cut down his net income to the point where he lacks the funds for maintenance and development, so that increases in production must com to a hall.