SCIENCE BLOCK

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 182, 1 May 1931, Page 10

SCIENCE BLOCK

Massey College OFFICIAL OPENING Governor-General Speaks. IMPORTANCE OF RESEARCH Dominion Special Service. Palmerston North. April 30. The new science building at the Massey Agricultural College was officially opened this afternoon by his Excellency the Governor-General, , Lord Bledisloe, in the presence of a distinguished gathering. Among those present at the ceremony were the Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. G. W Forbes; the Minister,of Lands, Hon. E A. Ransom; the Director-General of Agriculture, Dr. C. J. Reakes;. the British Trade Commissioner, Mr. L. A. Paish; the mayor of Palmerston North, Mr. A. J. Graham; the chairman of the college council, Sir George Fowlds; members of the college council and a number of members of the Legislature. , The Prime Minister said that during his recent visit to England he had found a strong movement in favour of the application of science to agriculture, and in this connection he had discovered that one of the most famous names was that of his Excellency. There were very few farmers at present who did not recognise the value of agricultural research. Trouble was being experienced in regard to the quality of the country’s cheese and it was to Massey College and Professor Riddet that the country looked for a ■ remedy. The Coping Stone. “No task since I entered this Dominion more than a year 1 ago has afforded me more entire satisfaction than that which you have entrusted to me this afternoon, namely, the formal opening of your new science building,” said his Excellency. During its short life the college had fully justified its inauguration by the ste.ady growth in the number of its students and the practical character and appropriate scope of its curriculum. That day they were placing the coping stone on its establishment both structurally and institutionally. Lord Bledisloe said that to indicate the wide variety of problems which merited the attention of the agricultural research worker, economist, and student in New Zealand he would mention four only, viz.:— (1) The precise value of arboriculture and bush preservation as factors in augmenting or conserving' rainfall moisture, in areas subject to drought. (2) Increased cleanliness and sterilisation of all milking machines as. possible factors in enhancing the commercial value of New Zealand butter when in competition with Danish butter on the British market.

(3) Acceleration of the process of large-scale production of rye-grass and cocksfoot of perennial and leafy type with a view to establishing for the Dominion without undue delay a valuable export trade in certificated seed of these muchneeded pasture plants. (4) The practicability of making all solids and not butter-fat only the basis of payment for milk, and the effect of such a course if practicable upon the cheese-making industry, and the more general utility, of dairy cattle. Other portions of his Excellency’s speech are reported ; elsewhere. i Work under Difficulties. “This is certainly a red letter day in the history of our .college,” said Sir George Fowlds. “My pride in taking part in the. opening of this fine building for the. work of .the college is mingled with my admiration for the wonderful work which has been done during the past three and a half years by the students. Considering the primitive and unsatisfactory conditions under i which they have been compelled to carry on that work, it speaks volumes for the enthusiastic desire of the young ueople of this country to acquire a scientific knowledge of .agriculture that the number of our students should have kept on increasing year by year. “On the farm are represented the principal breeds of sheep, cattle, pigs, ancl poultry found in the Dominion. The dairy herd consists of approximately 100 milking cows and young stock made up of purebred and grade Jersey, Friesian, and Ayrshire cattle. The flocks include purebred Romney Marsh, Southdowns, and Ryland sheep, the main flock being crossbred Romney Marsh. The beef cattle are purebred Aberdeen Angus. The necessary number of store bullocks and herds of purebred Berkshires, Tamworth, Large Black, and Large White pigs are maintained. Women Students Next, “So far t we have ouly herd men and students, but the college with all its activities is equally available for women, and we hope that soon they will be attending in large numbers. I hope the day is not far ’distant when we shall have a school of domestic science operating as part of the college to provide well-educat-ed helpmates for the future farmers of New Zealand, trained in an institution breathing an agricultural atmosphere such as I am sure Massey Agricultural College will always do.” “I think that I can confidently claim that the college is justifying its existence, not only in the teaching and training it is giving, but in the research work that is being carried out by the staff and the Dairy Research Institute, which is also housed in the building. I am sure no one would deny the value of agricultural education and research. The present slump in the prices of our cheese and wool, coupled with complaints about the quality of both, only emphasises that We believe that our research results to date, fully justify our policy and the monetary outlay involved. If r we compare the relative expenditure up to date on agricultural education and on other professional schools and think of the p.oponderant influence of agriculture in our national life and well-beJng, we may well wonder that so little has hitherto been done for agricultural education and research.” Sir George Fowlds also said that the present financial depression emphasised the need for substantial endowments to enable the college to carry on its work, which was even more important in a time of depression than when everybody was prosperous. He expressed n hope that some of those who had profited by agriculture would remember Massey Agricultural College in. their wills, and so enable the college to go on to greater and greater service. The New Building. ■Massey Agricultural College lias been in existence for less than three years, and the occupation of the new science block last month was the culmination of the steady efforts made to establish in the Dominion a recognised sent of agricultural learning. The main science block is situated on a commanding site overlooking the city. The exterior is finished with a surface of coarse texture, which is a mixture of crushed Whnngarei and Nelson marble and Coromandel granite. The building has numerous laboratories and a large library. There is too a fine assembly hall with a polished heart of matai floor. Flanked with heavy beams, nine foot corridors make complete squares on both the ground and first floors. Solid marble blocks are used for the steps leading to the main entrance hall. Maori art has been drawn upon in the execution of the mural design. Lintels, balcony faces, panels, mid pillnrs have ; been executed in such a manner as to : represent intricate native carvings. I