MASSEY COLLEGE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LI, Issue 94, 21 March 1931, Page 5

MASSEY COLLEGE

f,;. REVIEW OF YEAR. . THE PRINCIPAL’S REPORT; “The outstanding feature of the past year has been the erection of the main science building and the, refectory: The provision of this accommodation is more than welcome and occurs just in time to' prevent a serious set back,due to congestion , and' the complete ; absence of certain facilities,” states the Principal ■of,Massey Agricultural College, Professor Pereri, in the course of his report on the past year’s operations. . ■ “Miss E. Baillie, formerly librarian in the State Forest Service, has been appointed librarian-. -- ,• . • “The number of studerits'in attendance again shows an increa-se. The' figures for the, past .three, years are as follow: B. Agr.' Sc. 1928, 9/ 1929, 9, 1930, 14; M. Agr. Sc., James Gunson Scholar (Research), —, 1, ' 1; Dairy Manufactures -(lst yeat), 32, 32,. 30; (2nd year), —, 22, 24; (3rd year), —, —,'.21; dairy farming, 11, 16, 13; sheep farming, —, 15, 22; wool classing, —, —, 9; herd testing, 33, 78, 70; part course, ,1,1. ■ Totals, 86, 175,-208. At the same time many parents have - declined to enrol their sons on account of the lack of. a hostel. The provision of . temporary dormitories for the opening of term in 1931 will reduce the loss in students which we have suffered in the past but not until the permanent dormitory building is completed will the handicap be eliminated. “The organisation of the lectures and demonstrations has been difficult owing to the temporary accommodation being scattered over such a large area. Such an unsatisfactory state of affairs has been a continual worry to the staff and to myself and it is a great relief to know that with the occupation of the main building this phase of our early days is past. “An Old Boys’ Association was formed last year. This organisation will help to maintain an interest in the college among past students as well as keeping them in close touch with research and should thus prove a most valuable link between the college and the farming community. “The research in hand has made very satisfactory progress. The amount of work achieved and the results attained reflect very great credit on the staff. Further, the necessary assistance to the architect in planning the accommodation in the new buildings and in working out the details of the laboratory fittings has made a very big demand on the time available for research.

“Research in problems co»nected with wool and flax has been carried out in conjunction with the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. Unfortunately, the department has been recently forced to withdraw its financial assistance and it "will be neoessary to curtail the programme of research very considerably until such time as help is again forthcoming. “Wool research has also suffered in the same way. Thanks however to a donation from the Romney Marsh Breeders’ Association, and a Government subsidy thereon and to the help of the Southdown and Ryeland Sheep Breeders’ Associations, it has not yet been necessary to reduce the programme of work. ‘ ‘The tendency of the past year has

been to concentrate still more on problems connected with sheep and ..dairy farming the comparatively small forces available,- leaving pasture work to the Plant Research Station of the Department of Scientific arid Industrial Research,, and grain growing to Canterbury Agricultural College. The results of this policy have been very satisfactory and the college is becoming increasingly recognised, not only in New Zealand, but also abroad, as an important ■ centre of work on these branches of farming. -■“A nuifiber of donations have been received in. the course, of the year, this generous: form of support being very much appreciated and most encouraging. Details of these are as follow: Mr A. de B. Brandon, complete set (3'vols.) of the “Manual of Infusoria” ; Mr- H. Winterburn, ope fibre cement: trough: 130 gal. capacity; National Mortgage and Agency Co. of New Zealnad, Ltd., one wool chart; Mr A. Wood,-two purebred White Runner drakes; Mr E._ Humphries, one purbred Black Orpington pullet; Mr D. S. Wylie, F.R.C.S. (Eng.) complete set of the Encyclopaedia Britannic a (lLth edition) with supplementary volumes; Mr J. A. Pond, volumes 1892 -1928 of the Journal of the Chemical Society” p anonymous, one : purebred Large, White boar; Southdown Sheep Society . of New Zealand, £2O for wool research; Ryeland Sheep Society of New Zealand, £2 2s for wool research; the late' Mr John Balsillie, eighteen volumes for the college library: Mr G. C. Thornton, one purebred Black Minorca cockerel, two purebred Black Minorca pullets; Mr E. P. Nielsen, one purebred Large Black sow.

“His Excellency the Governor-Gen-eral visited the .college on June 17 when he addressed the student body and inspected. the buildings and property, and again on August 2 when he systematically inspected the research work in hand. The number of visitors who were shown round the college buildings and farm in the course of the year was very great, and indicates the interest which the public is taking in the institution. The total includes a number of important visitors from overseas and it is gratifying to note that those of the latter who are interested in agriculture are making a point of including the college in their itinerary. The period under review has seen very encouraging progress in all branches of the college’s activities and all concerned, teaching, office and farm staffs, deserve to be complimented on the excellent results of their work. I wish to express my keen appreciation of their most effective support and fine esprit de corps.”