RESEARCH WORKER

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 182, 3 July 1936, Page 11

RESEARCH WORKER

APPRECIATION OF SERVICES. MR McMEEKAN HONOURED. Appreciation of his services to the farming industry, not only in the Matiawalu district but ill New Zealand generally, was expressed in , a practical form last evening to Mr O. P. McMeekan, B. Agric. Sc., secretary of the Manawatu-Oroua Pig Recording Club and assistant-lecturer in dairy farming at Massey Agricultural College. It is Mr McMcekan’s intention to proceed to Edinburgh University to pursue his studies, and so valuable lias been his research work to the pig industry, iand so great his personal popularity, that it was felt an opportunity should be taken to wish him success. He was the guest of honour at. a dinner and social evening in the tearooms of Messrs Collinson and Ciyininghame. Ltd., Mr W- J. Croucher presiding in the unavoidable absence of the acting-president (Mr 1L E. Keiller). The toast of Massey College was proposed by Mr P. G. Stevens (Keildlng), who paid a tribute to the part that institution was playing in tlio agricultural and pastoral progress ot the Dominion.

Professor G. S. Peren (the principal of the college), in .replying, stated that it was nine years and olio month since the College Council took over the Batchelar property, and the foundations were now so well laid that it could go steadily ahead. Much had been accomplished in the nine yeais and some hundreds of pupils had passed through the institution in that time. As time went on he felt sure the country would appreciate more fully what the collego Was doing. “Farmers, ns a rule, do not appreciate the value of research,” Professor Peren added. “Mv appeal to you is not to harass these workers in order to get quick results. If you do vou are foolish and encouraging a. waste of public money and time. Research workers are all men keen on their particular work and will push on as rapidly as they can of their own volition. Please" remember that tlicr arc in competition one with the other and derive a considerable amount of pride in being first able to publish definite results.” Professor Peren stressed the fact that there were no short-cuts in research work. „ „ . Dr. 11. R. Whitehead, of the Dairy Research Institute, wished Mr ATcAleekun much profit from his trip abroad and declared the dairy farmer would benefit greatly from the new knowledge he would bring back with him. The value of research to the pig industry was emphasised by Mr 0. Monrad, a member of the Massey College Council. “Agriculture” was the toust proposed by Air J. F. Carter, who congratulated the department and .its officers on their efficiency, and directed attention to the fact that they were always ready to give help. Greater benefits would accrue from further co-op-eration, ho said. Air R. P. Connell, of the Fields Division of the Department of Agriculture, stated that a great deal of valuable knowledge came to the department from both the good and bad farmer, but their work was made effective by co-operation and that co-operation was never stronger than in the Alanawatu. To give advice to a farmer was not so easy a task as some imagined, he said. He illustrated lus contention by recounting how one farmer had addressed a question on potatoes to the speaker and at the same time had addressed the same question to Massey College and the head office of the department in Wellington. The three letters eventually found their way to his own correspondence basket and he had to reply on behalf of the three institutions. , , . “That farmer had been -shrewd.-but he must have been a very disappointed man when he got his reply, declared Mr Connell amidst laughter. He added that farming was, in some respects, more a mode of life than an occupation, and because of that fact u e P ! ’ l ’-- mental officers found that not only had they to convince the farmer himself, but also the whole of the family, and sometimes the womenfolk were not so easilv satisfied as the men. Air J E. Mclhvaine spoke of tne work of the Stock Division and its accomplishments in looking after tie health of the Dominions stock His experience was that the New Zealand farmer was a very self-reliant man. VALUED SERVICES. Proposing the toast, ‘The Guest,” the chairman pointed out that Mr AlcAleekan was leaving New Zealand in order to gain more knowledge in a branch of specialised work, the better to enable him to extend his usefulness ns a teacher. Mr McMekan was one of the first graduates ot Massey College and was soon afterwards appointed a lecturer in dairy husbandry at the collego. That position he had filled with credit. Now he was going to Edinburgh Umvers-, ity for a course of specialised training in scientific methods of stock improvement and would be working with two of the foremost authorities in that science. Air Croucher referred to the valued services Mr McMeekan had given to the pig industry of New Zealand. The assistance he had given had been inspiring and, not only had ho supplied original ideas, but had also done most of the work. Air Croucher said that through • his contact with their guest he had learned something of the intricacies and pitfalls that were encountered by research workers. However, the uppermost thought that would remain with the speaker of his association with Air AlcAleekan was his honesty of purpose and charm of personality. Although modest, ho was ambitious, and his courage and selfreliance called for admiration. It was pleasing to know’ that Mr McMeekan’s services were not to be lost to New Zealand. His many friends extended to him their lioartist good wishes in his venture and all would eagerly await his return. The chairman’s remarks were supplemented by Air E. P. Nielsen, the club’s recording officer, who said the department had Air McMeekan in mind ns the leader of the .pig industry in New Zealand. Air Croucher then presented the guest with a travelling rug and suitcase. In returning thanks, Air AlcAleekan declared that the tributes voiced'had hardly been deserved, for what he had achieved had been really the result of the co-operation of the pig farmers themselves and the help given him by the college, the Department of Agriculture, and the Meat Board. He urged that steps bo taken in the future for a greater degrees of travel for those . associated with farming development in the Dominion.- His present intention was to return to New Zealand. Mr AlcMeekan was accorded musical honours. “The Pig Industry,” was the toast proposed by Mr N. P. Nielsen, who commented upon the strides the industry had taken in the last few years. He hoped that the coming "decade -would see the advance continue. Air J. A. Russell, president of the

New Zealand Pig Breders’ Association, who replied, said tho recording work of tho club was showing the farmer the finer points of the pig. The New Zealand Association was ever ready to help in that work. Air C. Hansmann, for the Bacon Curers’ Association, said Air AlcAleekan had done' yeoman work in swine husbandry. His association realised the value of the industry ] nationally. It was stepping out wonderfully well and would continue to do so if attention was paid to the requirements of the Home markets, i The Recording Club was doing a j splendid work in that direction. Air H. E. Feildhouse (Rongotea), replying as a producer, asked that every effort bo continued to keep the industry progressing.