AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE

Evening Post, Volume XCIX, Issue 138, 11 June 1920, Page 8

AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE

ADVANTAGES AT WERAROA.

Tho attempt being made in Hawkes Bay to alter the Government's intention to establish an Agricultural College at Weraroa, and to have the college placed in Hawkes Bay instead, was the subject of a communication received at to-day's meeting of the Makara County Council from Mr. W. H. Field, M.P. ' "Strong efforts are being made," Mr. Field stated in his letter, "to influence the Government in the direction, and it therefore behoves public bodies and,men in our part of the island to secure the college for Weraroa, which undoubtedly is the most suitable place for it.". Mr. Field enclosed a copy of a letter he has forwarded to the Prime Minister, the text of which is as follows: —"For the past twenty years I have been urging upon Government after Government inside Parliament and out, the wisdom of establishing an agricultural college at the Weraroa Experimental Station. No better location for such is to be found in the North Island. The farm consists of 800 acres of the richest land in New Zealand, and is 'very centrally situated. Close beside it, towards the coast, is a large area of sand country, and I have frequently asked that some of this land be secured and treated experimentally by the Government. There is an enormous area of sand country practically lying waste in New Zealand, and beyond a number of experiments conducted by the Agricultural Department in the South Island and what little efforts private owners have put forth, there has been practically no attempt to utilise such land for the benefit of the Dominion, though with proper scientific treatment it can be rendered very productive. "This valuable State Farm h already, equipped with all necessary farm buildings, including the finest milking-shed in the Dominion, dwelling-houses, orchards, machinery, and appliances, and is in first-class working order. There is already accommodation for a number of students, and ail that is required is tho construction of a school or college to render' the farm . entirely suitable for the purpose in view. "After full deliberation, the Minister of Agriculture and his Department have decided to utilise the bequest of the late Mr. Josiah Howard in establishing the college at Levin, and much satisfaction has been expressed to me, not only by the Levin' people, but by numbers of farmer® and others, both inside and out-, side the provincial district of Wellington, at the decision arrived at. "I notice, however, that a protest has reached you from Hawkes Bay. and you are being ureed to establish the college in that province. I feel strongly that the Minister and the Department have come to a wise determination, and that ifc would be utterly wrong to upset same, no matter what pressure may be exerted upon the Government. I believe that if the Hawkes Bay people would carefully inspect the Weraroa Farm for themselves, they would recognise the wisdom of establishing the college upon it." In conclusion Mr. Field expressed, a desire that the Prime Minister should visit the property. The council decided to give its support to Mr. Field in the matter.