AGRICULTURAL COLLEGES

Evening Star, Issue 19521, 31 March 1927, Page 13

AGRICULTURAL COLLEGES

THE STATUS OF LINCOLN [Pbr United Press 'Association.] CHRISTCHURCH, March 80. The future status of the Lincoln Agricultural College was discussed witn the Right Hon. J. G. Coates and the Hon. 0. J. Hawken (Minister of Agriculture) to-day by a deputation comprising Canterbury members of rariiament, Lincoln College Board of Governors, and representatives o *,*®F me r ß organisations. The request of the deputation was that Lincoln College, should be included in any new scheme of agricultural education in the dominion. If such an undertaking could bo given the college authorities, it was stated, would hand over the property with the endowments to the control of the Government. . Mr.Hawken, in his reply, said that if Lincoln College was to extend its usefulness, more money would be required, and he was afraid of a duplication of effort. He agreed that Lincoln should have more money for research, but he felt that the larger amount being asked for was for the training of graduates. The qiiestion was mainly one of expense, for “ Lincoln was to be an integral part or the New Zealand Agricultural College it would need to lie improved considerably. Mr Coates offered the suggestion that a committee of three from the Lincoln College Board of Governors should meet Dr Eeakcs and Dr Marsden to discuss the suggestions or the hoard. If a decision were reached he (Mr Coates) could meet the University Council and have something definite brought down before Parliament met. He understood that Canterbury was afraid of having Lincoln’s status reduced to one not worth having. The question could not be considered without relation to the _ cost. The offer from Canterbury might, and might not, be possible. A college in the North Island was unavoidable, as„endowments were being offered from every university college to have the agricultural college attached to it, thus putting the country in a dangerous position. This had forced the Government to act.