MINISTER EXPLAINS COURSE

Evening Star, Issue 19351, 10 September 1926, Page 9

MINISTER EXPLAINS COURSE

Mr Hawken, afc tho outset of the debate gave details of the course. Ho said that the college would be a residential one for a number of students, and would also provide a summer course in farming on similar lines to that at Lincoln College. It was expected these students would form the bulk of those attending tho institution. In addition there would be a short course of perhaps ten weeks’ duration for dairy factory managers and workers who desired it. Teaching this class was very necessary, and it was very surprising how well up to now dairy factories had got on without this teaching. It was necessary that these workers should have the opportunity to learn the technical side of their business and the finer points of their work. There would also be a course for the degree of bachelor of agricultural science. There might not bo many such students, but possibly some rich farmers would send their sons to take that course. Another of the college activities would bo research work in much the same'way as Lincoln College had been doing. Jt would not supplant the laboratories at Hawora and Hamilton, but would establish a. central station

which would co-ordinate all research work done in the dominion. Those activities were important, and would cost a considerable sum of money. He knew that economy was in the air, but he saw no reason why farmers should not have the benefit of higher education. It would benefit the farming industry, and necessarily would do good to the State. We were going to meet greater competition in the near future," and unless wo met it successfully we would go to the wall. It had been said that we could import experts cheaper than we could train them, but he saw no reason why we should not give our young farmers this higher training. It would take some time to prepare these students, but it became necessary to have them to train our farmers. It was proposed to unite the forces at present existing in Wellington and Auckland, and the Bill provided an annual expenditure of £15,000 and possibly assistance' would be derived from certain bequests which; had been made in the Wellington province.