MASSEY COLLEGE

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVIII, Issue 83, 20 March 1928, Page 3

MASSEY COLLEGE

TO BE OPENED TO-DAY.

HIGHER AGRICULTURAL INSTRUCTION. INSTITUTION FOR NORTH ISLAND. Wellington, March 19. “The opening of the Massey College to-morrow affords me i great pleasure and satisfaction, as the fruition of several years of endeavour to provide the North island with an institution of higher agricultural Instruction and research,” stated the Prime Minister to-day. “When o,ne views the efforts of other progressive countries, and the enormous post-war developments in agricultural science, the establishment of such an institution appears overdue. The essential differences between farming methods in the two islands make two institutions necessary, not superfluous. There is more than sufficient work for both institutions, and a good understanding between the controlling authorities of these institutions, the Research Council and the Department of Agriculture augurs well for a thorough, co-ordinated effort. Our agricultural industries are of paramount importance in New Zealand, and their numerous scientific problems call for full effort on both institutions, both in teaching and research. “Fundamental as is the work of the research stations centred round the college, I believe that the most important factor in farming of the future is the farmer himself. Farmers of the highest standing are leaders in the community, skilled in the art and practice of farming, and appreciative of and ready to take advantage of scientific assistance. I am glad to note that the teaching programme of the college aims at the production of what I believe the country needs—well qualified farmers, capable instructors and research workers, with full co-ordination between science and practice.

CO-OPERATION OF FARMERS SOUGHT.

“The young farmers of the future will have to compete with much fiercer world competition. Their standard of knowledge and attainment will require to be higher and their outlook broader, if we are to keep prosperous and make farming a more economic proposition for our rising generation and tend to keep our best youths in the country. The Government desires that no spirit of aloofness shall exist between the colleges and the farming community, and confidently asks our best farmers to rally round them in a spirit of helpful co-operation and sympathy with newer ideas more suited to the advancing times “We look to Massey College as to Lincoln College, to feel itself as entering vitally into the lives of our agricultural community, and I trust and believe that Massey College will emulate the spirit of service of the man whose honoured name it bears—a man w'”> liir.iseli a fanner, had ”n

ever-ready ear, and to whom the farmers always could lean for helpful advice and assistance, and whose influence reached out into the country spaces of this Dominion.”