AGRICULTURAL SCHOOL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19418, 28 August 1926, Page 14

AGRICULTURAL SCHOOL.

SOUTH ISLAND GRIEVANCE. * . ESTABLISHMENT CRITICISED. RANGITIKEI'S COMPLAINT. JEALOUS OF PALMERSTON NORTH [nv TELEGRAPH.-—SPECIAL REPORTER.] WELLINGTON. Friday. When tho bill providing for an agricultural college was introduced in tho House of Representatives to-day. Mr. W, Forbes, Leader of the National Party, took the opportunity of referring to tho position of Lincoln College. A lively discussion, ensued. Mr. Forbes said the reward of thrift had been against Lincoln in that it had now been considered insufficient for supplying the needs of New Zealand. Ho thought tho duplication was an unnecessary extravagance. Tho establishment of a new college was not wanted at all. There also been a mistake made in putting the collegot on rich land at Palmerston North. Lincoln was capable of turning out all tho instructors needed in New Zealand for years to come. The people of tho country were better judges than a gentleman who had come from overseas as to what was needed. The Hon. A. I>. McLeod: To whom do you refer? Mr. Forbes: Sir Frank Heath. The Hon. W. Nosworthy: But wo had decided to have a college before Sir Frank Heath came here. Mr. W. S. Glenn (Rangitikei) said he appreciated the step taken by the Government in regard to tho establishment of the college. It had; however, bought tho wrong class of land. The Government had stuck tho college down on tho richest land in New Zealand and a portion of it had heen flooded. Tho Prime Minister apparently did not know the. land. "No Fimily Quarrel." Mr. Coates: I know as much about it as you and perhaps a little more. Mr. Glenn: lam now putting my ability as a farmer against that of thePrime Minister and I will stand by tho result. (Laughter). Mr, Coates; You make more money than I do. I am only on poor land. Mr. Glenn (turning on his chief): The Prime Minister dfaws a pretty fat salary now. (Laughter). He is not making it out of his farm; he is farming the public. (Laughter). A Labour Member: An interesting family quarrel. Mr. Glenn: There is no family quarrel. The Government has put up a very good case for tho mart who wants assistance. Mr.' J. A. Nash (Palmerston) said he could not allow the statements of Mr. Glenn to go unchallenged. Sir. Glenn: I have not finished yet. Mr. 'Nash said the member for Rangh tikei had said it was the wrong soil. As a matter of fact there were three qualities of soil, and Mr. Glenn's statement that the land had been flooded was an absurd .statement. There were only seven acres of land that had surface water on it when the flood was at its height. Statement by Prime Minister. The Prime. Minister said this w as only a squabble between Rangitikei and Palmorston—(hear, hear)—ana the House was not' interested in \t. The'question • was where the college was to he and those who had made the decision in selecting the Palmerston North site had decided that it was more suitable than the Rangitikei site. Personally. he did not care in whose electorate it was placed. "Wo do not care whether the Palmerston North peopk carry the loan or not," Mr. Coates went on. "If they don't, wall, we don't get it, that is all I do not believe that it is necessary to place an agricultural college on poor country if you want t6 improve poor country as a result, because the first duty of the college is to train lads so that they' can carry out survey and experimental work and be placed' at the disposal of farmers in different parts of the country. "It is important that we should get a start, for the thing is going to take some time to build up. The Government cannot waste much time on this bill, however. The House must take the responsibility. The Government cannot do so and if the hill is going to be held up it will not be passed. We shall throw it aside." Position of Lincoln College. Continuing, Mr. Coates said that so, far as Lincoln College was concerned, a state- ■ mcnt would be made by the Minister of Agriculture on the second reading of the bill, which he hoped and thought would saoisfy tho Board of Governors of the Lincoln College. Mr. Glenn said he would support the college wherever it was and claimed credit for having expressed appreciation that the Government had made a start on the scheme. The Minister of Agriculture, Hon. 0. J. Hawken, said great care had been taken in the selection of Palmerston North as the site and eight or nine different sites had been examined to see. if a better one could be discovered. The experts who had investigated were unanimous that this was the most suitable of those available, irrespective of the gift from the people of Palmerston North. " I want to put up my little scrap," said Mr, Glenn, amid laughter, " on behalf of my own constituents." As to the late Minister of Education he had certainly,told a public meeting at Rangitikei to get busy because there would bo a great chance for a site for the college there. No Chance to Make Sid. Mr. Nash: That is so, but it is not a promise. Mr, G|enn: Why was I not given a chance to bid ? *The>re aro wealthy people in my district also. They were prepared to 'bid but Palmerston North bids £IO,OOO and gets it. (Laughter). Finally Mr. Glenn said now that the site of. the college was fixod he would take just as much interest in it as jf it were in his own district. Mr. Nash: Hear, hear. That is the spirit. Mr. Hawken explained that there were different classes of land on the site agreed to and Mr. Glenn's statement that it was all rich land was not correct. The Palmerston North site was the best of all, not only in his opinion but in the opinion of everyone who had to do with the selection. " ; THE FINANCE BILL. AUTHORITY FOR LOANS. £7,000,000 FOR PUBLIC WORKS. [BY TELEGRAPH.—SPECIAL REPORTER.] WELLINGTON. Friday. The Finance Bill introduced in tho House at a late hour provides authority to borrow £5,000,000, for public works, including rolling stock for open lines, ' and £2,000,000 for expenditure under the Railways Improvement Authorisation Act, 1914, including tho electrification of the Christchurch-Lyttelton line. i The following loans are also authorised : —£16,000 to the Samoa Treasury, £2OO, OCX) for the purposes of the Deteriorated Lands Act, 1925, £500,000 for afforestation, and £IOO,OOO for the W aihou-Ohinemuri Rivers improvement scheme.