“A DIFFICULT TASK"

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 208, 29 May 1926, Page 21

“A DIFFICULT TASK"

LOCATING AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. By Telegbaph.—Fuess Association Napier, May 21. Speaking at the annual meeting of the Hawke's Bay branch of the Farmers’ Union to-day, Mr. W. B. Mathewson, acting-Dominion president, said: “In introducing the subject of an agricultural college, that he hoped that the subject of economics would be part of its curriculum. In order to see fair play,” continued Mr Mathewson, “Sir James Wilson devoted himself to the purpose of having a chair of agriculture established in one college so tha. it might be recognised as one of the learned professions Auckland went one better and doubled the money raised in the first case, but the chair ot agriculture consisted of a Wooden chair, a table, a few books, an empty roon? and one professor. Now the Government has realised that anotne. unit of the university, namely, the unit for agricultural education has lx come a vital necessity. It has a tremendously difficult task. If it does what is right it will shut up the two places already established and bring the two men together in a new place. “We are turning out doctors and lawyers in such numbers that there is tio employment for them. It is to Lnhoped that the Government will establish a fifth unit of the university of New Zealand. I don't know where it will be situated, but one thing I have been doing and that is to try to stop ■>eople from begging to have it in any •we place. It will be for our farmers •md we will send them there, wherever it may be. I hope the time will soon come when farming will be recognised, not as a calling best suited for the stupid member of the familv, but as O”e of tne most learned of all profs sions.”