MASSEY COLLEGE

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVII, Issue 221, 16 August 1927, Page 6

MASSEY COLLEGE

THE McHARDY PROPERTY. EXERCISING OF OPTION. MATTER HELD OVER BY BOROUGH COUNCIL. Advice that the Massey Agricultural College, which is to be established at Palmerston North, will have the full status of an agricultural college as originally proposed, no departure in that respect having been made in the Act passed last session, was received at last night's meeting of the Borough Council from the Prime Minister, and, following a statement by the Mayor and a discussion thereon, it was decided to hold over until next Monday night the matter of exercising the option over the McHardy property at Fitzherbert. “It seems to me from the information wo have at hand,” stated the Mayor, “that the time is ripe to exercise the option which we have over the McHardy property and which expires at the end of the month. I think we must agree that matters have progressed to such an extent that now we are definitely assured that an agricultural college with the full status of a university is to be established at Palmerston North in the immediate future. The Prime Minister’s letter clearly says so, and the Act passed during the present session makes it apparent that the college has the right to confer degrees. The fact that two of the professors’ have already been appointed and are about to take up their residence in Palmerston North makes it conclusive that the Universities of Auckland and Wellington are closely, co-operating Math the Massey Agricultural College. Indeed, Professor Peren to-day informed me that he has purchased a house in Palmerston North, so that we have a definite assurance that he is going to take up his residence here. “The authorities,” proceeded the Mayor, “are going to spend during the next 18 months or, at the most, two years the sum of £117,000 on the buildings, and almost the whole of these buildings are to be erected on the McHardy property. They expect to be in a position in March next to commence with 14 full-time university students and also expect to have approximately 50 part-time students also taking courses extending from three to six months. According to the option, Mr McHardy is to give possession in March, and as far as the council is concerned our procedure should be to notify him that it is our intention to exercise the option. _ “No one can conceive the possibilities that lie ahead for Palmerston North as far as university education is concerned. In discussing the question with Professor Peren and Hon. Mr, Fowlds I expressed the opinion that what they are contemplating will not come in our time, but Mr Fowlds unhesitatingly said that Palmerston North would see in 10 years’ time what might be equivalent to Cambridge University—in other words, that Palmerston North would become the Cambridge of New Zealand.” Mr Graham then moved that the council proceed to acquire the McHardy property and to raise a loan for the purpose as authorised by. the ratepayers. Of the 42 acres comprising the property, the council was to donate to tne authorities an area not exceeding 25 acres for the purposes of the oolite go pfiopier, together with the whole of the buildings. Possibly, they might not require the whole of tire 25 acres, but it seemed as if _ thero might be some little difficulty in adjusting the boundary. A suggestion had been made to him that day that Auckland and Wellington were _ not satisfied with the position as it existed at the present time, and, accordingly, he had wired the chairmen of the two college councils concerned inquiring whether their bodies were thoroughly satisfied with the legislation affecting the Massey Agricultural College. The chairman of the Victoria College Council had advised that he was satisfied that the Agricultural College now had unrestricted powers, and that he thought it highly important that the land should be vested in the college under the provisions of the Act. Mr Fowlds, chairman of the Auckland University College Council, and also of the Agricultural College Council, had replied that he was satisfied with the Act, with the exception of a number of minor amendments. IMPORTANCE OF COLLEGE.

Mr Graham’s motion was then seconded by Cr. Eliott, who, in so doing, stated that the matter of the boundary was one that oould be got over without difficulty. Possibly, the council could meet Mr McHardy on the property and ascertain his wishes. One of his desires was that Palmerston North should get as suitable a portion of the land that it oould for the purpose of a reserve. “I don’t think that the people of Palmerston North really realise what an enormous benefit the college is going to be to Palmerston North,” stated Cr. Fitzherbert. “There is no doubt that it is going to be one of the most important undertakings coming within our midst.” “[ oppose your proposal,” Cr. Milverton told the Mayor. “It was distinctly stated when authority for the loan was obtained that, unless full university status was forthcoming, the loan would not be purchased and handed over, and now we have no guarantee that a university is coming. We can’t break, faith with the ratepayers of Palmerston North. All we are going to get is a glorified dairy school.” The Mayor and Cr. Fitzherbert: Rubbish.

Cr. Milverton (to the Mayor): Do you say that there is room in New Zealand for two agricultural colleges? Mr Graham: There is room for one hero.

Cr. Milverton: I hope we live to see it. I think the whole thing will fizzle out.

The Mayor: If there is any more obstruction it will. “I am not obstructing the proposal,” replied Cr. Milverton. “It is nothing but subterfuge the way things are at present. Matters won’t end whore they, are to-night.” Cr. Eliott said that the borough, could purchase the property and hand it over—not to the Government, but to the College Council. Cr. Fitzherbert: The Government paid for the Batchelar property, and it should have the ri"ht to vest the land in whomever it thinks fit. We can exercise the option and negotiate afterwards as to whom the McHardy property shall go to. Following further brief comment, the council decided to hold the matter over until next week when it will decide the question at a special meeting. GENEROUS GIFT. MONEY FOR SCHOLARSHIP. Per Pi ■ess Association. AUCKLAND, Aug. 15. A generous gift of £IOOO for the establishment of a scholarsmp at the

Massey Agricultural College at Palmerston North has been made to the Auckland University College by Mr John Court. . At a meeting of the University Council, the president, Hon. G. Fowlds, read a letter from Mr Court’s . solicitors suggesting a number of conditions upon which the gift might be accepted. Among these it was proposed that the scholarship should be awarded by the Auckland College Council to candidates who had been resident for two years in the Auckland province and whose parents were unable to provide them with the benefits it offered. Mr Fowlds said that under the new University Act the income from the Government subsidy of 10s in the £1 on the gift could not be earmarked for supplementing the latter as Mr Court had hoped, but the subsidy would have to bo added to the general endowment of the college. In moving that the donor be sincerely thanked, Mr Fowlds said that Mr Court was the principal proprietor of Hobson Farm, which had already given a valuable pedigree Friesian bull to the new Agricultural College.