AGRICULTURAL SCHOOL

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 34, 9 February 1926, Page 12

AGRICULTURAL SCHOOL

CENTRAL NORTHERN SITE

COLLEGE COUNCILS UNANIMOUS

PEOVINCIALISM DISEEGAEDED.

The district for a thoroughly up-to-date School of Agriculture was selected by a conference of the Victoria College University and Auckland University Councils, the Marton-Palmerston North area being chosen, to be acquird by the Government. „

The sinking of parochialism and the establishment of one school for the North Island, said the chairman of the Victoria. College Council (Mr. P. Levi) was the object of both councils. Proiessor Perrin (Victoria College) and Professor Eiddet (Auckland University) had already discussed the question, and their reasons for the choice were unanimously accepted. WHOLE-HEARTED AGREEMENT. "I would like to say, said Professor Hunter, "that this is the first occasion in the history of New Zealand that a desire has been shown on the part of the colleges to look at it from the point of view of education in the .Dominion as a whole. In the past there has been a great deal, of provincial aaitagonism. As a result educational interests have suffered. Mr. Levi: "Sacrificed, you mean." ''■'More than sacrificed in some eases," continued Mr. Hunter. There is worn for only one properly equipped, thoiToujrhly up-to-date agricultural college in the North Island. The effect of these resolutions and the founding of this college will have a great effect on agricultural education, which has been sadly neglected in the past. It will have a great effect also on ,other branches of education. "It is an excellent thing," said Dr. Stout, "that the two universities have been able to agree in so whole-hearted a manner on the question of the site." Some of the reasons, said Professor Perrin, that had actuated them were that the area centred in sheep and dairying country, with a cereal area round Marton. Eailway systems met at Palmerston North. Statistics, including the number of schools, had been studied, and agricultural statistics had been studied. Provincial boundaries had been ignored, but neither Auckland nor Hawkes Bay would suffer, as they hoped to cover the whole field of agriculture. Mr. A. Fair, K.C., said that it seemed the conference had acted in a Dot minion spirit. If the Government were to spend large sums on. the project, it would expect representation on the board. That would be considered, said Mr. Levi. That the proposed Agricultural College was not to be a separate college, but part of the University of New Zealand, was stressed by Professor ; Hunter. The Government was already represented on the Victoria College : Council, and that representative might ' be the Government's in ■, connection with the Agricultural School. They owed the result, said the chairman, largely to Professor Perrin, who had been tireless in securing the best result obtainable. THE RESOLUTIONS. The following resolutions were put to the meeting, and as in tho case of the Council of the Auckland University, they were unanimously adopted :-^. (1) That they co-operate in the establishment of one University School of Agriculture in the' Niorth Island. (2) That the governing body sist or three -representatives of the Victoria University College Council, and three representatives of the' Auckland University College Coun- ' cil, and two representatives of agricultural interests. (3) That the selection of the site should be made with regard solely' to the interests of the Dominion asi a whole. ■] (4) That in accordance with the i recommendation of the two Profes-; sors of Agriculture the' school be.'| located somewhere ' iVi the MartonPalmerston North area. I (5) That the Government be asked, to acquire for the purposes of tbo school an area of not less than 151)0 acres at a site in the above district to be approved by the college covjneils. i (6) That the Government be asked to provide: — ' ]■ (a) A capital sum for buildings and equipment; (b) A statutory annual grant, to provide the salaries of the teoch- - .. ing and research staff and; tho. cost of general maintenance.