THE AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19302, 15 April 1926, Page 8

THE AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE.

Marlon's resentment at Palmerston North's effort to capture the Agricultural College has reason in it. There is no need to discuss the merits of these rival locations. The matter is, in a sense, sub judice, pending the report to be made to Cabinet by the investigators. It had been well for Palmerston's Mayor, whatever the ardour of .his local loyalty, to have refrained from committing his town's ratepayers to a gift of £IO,OOO on condition that the college was built near Palmerston. Such action is difficult to describe with moderation. The promised donation was meant, of course, to offset the extravagant expense of purchasing land close to the town. But there is no call to have the college close to any town, nor can the benefit that any town may reap from it be reasonably allowed to enter into the question. The Palmerston offer de grades the issue. What is desired pre-eminently is a settlement of it on national considerations, not by public tender. Palmerston might at least have waited until tenders had been invited—supposing so preposterous an invitation could be issued. Part of the blame for this regrettable occurrence must be laid at the doors of those who named the Marton-Palmcrston region as desirable. It was probably named by way of compromise between the representatives of the Auckland and Wellington College Councils. No doubt the Auckland representatives agreed to it in a natural desire to placate Wellington. It would have been infinitely better, however, not to have indicated any particular region and to have given the investigators an entirely free hand. There is nothing against the region named ; broadly viewed, it provides excellent rural conditions. Rut its naming gave Palmerston a peg 011 which to hang its hat, and Marton's must perforce be thrown into the ring. Cabinet will do well to give no heed to this squabble, but to proceed with all reasonable speed to a choice in the interests of the. college and the Dominion.