MASSEY COLLEGE

New Zealand Herald, Volume 82, Issue 25396, 28 December 1945, Page 6

MASSEY COLLEGE

PEACETIME ACTIVITIES COURSES TO BE EXPANDED No. 11. Although the war years had a considerable effect on the work of the Massey Agricultural College at Palmerston North, Iho institution lias already shown its resilience, and indications are that the next few years will show a marked development in its activities. Homo of the post-war activities aro already iu hand, plans for others are now being considered and particular attention is being given to the expansion of some of the courses. The first big post-war development at the college has been the purchase of an area of 12 acres adjoining the college property. Jt has a large homestead, with well laid out grounds and about six acres of native bush, and the purchase was made possible by a bequest of £4200 by Mrs M. N. Moginie, of Auckland. Education of Women Mrs Moginie took an interest in tho education of women, particularly for horticulture, and the building and an annexe are now known as Moginie House, to perpetuate her name. They are used as a hostel to accommodate 25 women who study at the college, and it is intended to develop the native bush as a reserve. The principal of the college, Professor G. S. Peren, said recently that the purpose to which Mrs Moginie's gift was applied showed the value of leaving bequests free from restrictions. Apart from the trustees' approval of the expenditure, Ihe bequest was unencumbered and the purpose to which it had been put would result iu assistance being given to a large number of women.

"The demand by women for instruction is so big that we cannot even begin to meet it," said Professor Peren. "We hope that when building conditions become easier we will be able to build a bigger hostel and do more for women students tlinn is possible at present." Staff Fully Occupied

Although close attention is being paid to any agricultural progress made overseas, it is not considered likely that members of the staff will be sent abroad during the next year or two. The rapid growth of the college and the large number of ex-servicemen who are attending the courses are keeping the staff fully occupied, and, although additions have been made, the lecturers have as much work as they can handle. The number of graduates decreased during the war and it is felt that New Zealand will face a shortage of trained technical personnel for some years.

Professor Riddet, director of the Dairy Research Institute, who is also lecturer in dairying at the college, has spent a month studying dairy research in Australia and it is felt that the college will benefit considerably from his visit.

Among the courses which were to be expanded, training in horticulture had been marked for attention, said Professor Peren. Commercial fruit and vegetable growing, commercial nursery work and ornamental horticulture would be concentrated on to meet a demand which had grown considerably in the last few rears.

Agricultural Engineering Professor Peren said that progress had recently been made at the college with instruction in agricultural engineering. Mechanisation of farm work had made it necessary for the men to be fully conversant with the machines they were to handle, and the college was endeavouring to keep pace with the progress. Arrangements were also being made for the importation of a large ditchdigging and tile-laying machine, which was a wartime development in England, said Professor Peren. Until recently it was 011 the British secret list, but official reports and information received from New Zealanders who -had been in England indicated that it would be a great improvement on all existing models in New Zealand. If that were so, it would reduce the cost of drainage which was urgently needed on some classes of country, but which involved a cost that was almost prohibitive. (To be Concluded.)

HOSPITAL EMPLOYEES THE SICK BENEFIT CLUB Formed in 1937 to provide for cases of sickness and distress and to provide staff amenities at the institutions under the control of the Auckland Hospital Board, the Auckland Hospital Board Male Kmployees Health Club has been reopened. At a recent meeting it was decided to pay benefits as from January 1. The club lias been closed during the war, when over 50 per cent of its members were on active service.

The election of officers resulted:— Club patron, Mr Allan J. Moody; president, Dr J. W. Craven; treasurer, Mr Alex J. Bice; auditor, Mr H. Packer; committee (hospital section), Messrs R, Osborne; V. Darley, R. Beckett, D; Gibson, J. Prior and L. Goldsmith.

QUEUE FOR WEDDINGS LONDON HOLIDAY RUSH LONDON*. Dec. 25 Londoners during the war became used to queueing for anything and everything, and during the Christmas rush this year they lined up more than ever for turkeys, toys, trains and hundreds of other things. But the strangest queue of all was when 45 couples queued up at the Tottenham Registry Office for marriage. The superintendent registrar, Mr Walter Gnmaldi, used four rooms and rushed from one room to another to perform the ceremonies. Mr Grimaldi claims to have married more persons than anyone else in the world —30,000 couples in 32 years.