STUDY OF AGRICULTURE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19133, 26 September 1925, Page 13

STUDY OF AGRICULTURE.

THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY. FARMERS REQUEST STATEMENT PROFESSOR PEREN'S ; POSITION. [by telegraph.—own* correspondent.] FEILDING. Friday. Speaking at a meeting of the Wellington Provincial Executive of the Farmerss Union yesterday, Mr. G. L. Marshall, of Turakina, who was a member of the commission that took evidence on the question of the establishment of an agricultural college, stated that Professor Peren came to New Zealand on the understanding that an agricultural college would be established and he would be appointed the principal. He bad been in the country for some months now and nothing had been done. The evidence obtained by the commission, Mr. Marshall said, did not support the idea of an academical institution, but strongly supported the creation of an institution for training in practical farm work. The commission was not disposed to recommend an expenditure of £200,000 on a college, but favoured a training school with provision for research work. The question of a site was skirted. The speaker had been struck by Professor Peren's suggestion that Marton was a good site but since" that suggestion was made Professor Peren had stated a preference for Penrose, Masterton, owing to the gift of £IO,OOO by the late Sir Walter Buchanan. In the opinion of Mr. Marshall Wairarapa was an. out-of-the-way place for such an institution. It should be located somewhere adjacent to the Main Trunk line. That summed up the position to date. He hoped the Government, would give serious consideration to the recommendations of the commission. If nothing was done soon he felt that Professor Peren would resign. One matter the commission had recommended was that accommodation for students should be provided at the Wallaceville Laboratory, where work could be carried on until an agricultural college Was built. The chairman, Mr. K. W. Dalrymple, Bulls, moved that the Government be asked definitely to state its policy on agricultural education. Mr. W. L. Grice, Feilding, seconded the motion. 1 Mr. Marshall said the Government had gone so far as to obtain a report by a commission and he thoughl the executive should ask the Government to carry out the commission's recommendations, which was that the number of agricultural instructors should be increased. These instructors were doing good work and the demand for their services was very great. He moved an amendment that the Government be asked to carry out the commission's recommendation. Mr. W. D. Carson, Marton, seconded the amendment, which was lost on a division. The motion was then carried.