AUCKLAND RECOGNISED

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12074, 27 February 1925, Page 3

AUCKLAND RECOGNISED

SCHOOL OF AGRICULTURE SENATE PASSES PROPOSAL BY BIG MAJORITY. - ACTION JUSTIFIED. By an overwhelming majority yesterday the Senate of the University of New Zealand approved the motion .of the Hon. George Fowlds that Auckland University College be recognised as a school of agriculture. The decision followed a lengthy, though one-sided debate, in which the general principle of the establishment of special schools'and of schools of agriculture in particular was viewed from many angles. CAMPBELL BEQUEST. The Hon. G. Fowlds, in bringing down the motion, said that a bequest of £20.000 was made by the late Bir John Campbell fo v tho establishment of a Chair of Agriculture at Auckland. Applications had been invited for the position of a professor. -In the speaker’s opinion there was ample scope for several schools of agriculture, even apart from the larger development which might subsequently take place in regard to the establishment of h special College of Agriculture. Tho Hoi. J. A. Honan seconded the motion. Mr H. D. Acland, in supporting the motion, said he hold the view that it was very desirable that higher education in agriculture should be taught as widely as possible all through New Zealand. Those who had practical experience of agriculture knew .that there was absolute necessity for some scientific knowledge in regard to soils, etc. ARRANGEMENT NEEDED. Professor Hunter supported the motion. The Senate had shown that it could not possibly deal with the problems of special schools. He sincerely hoped that the Auckland and Wellington Schools of Agriculture would come to some arrangement in order that the work would be effectively done. It was perfectly obvious, said Mr F. A. de la Marc, from what Professor Peren had told them recently, that one School of Agriculture was Sufficient. They could not reverse' the whole of their policy because a college received an endowment. The present position was that whenever a colloge received -an endowment it desired to have a school. He had voted for Victoria College having a School of Agriculture, but he did not mind which district had the School of Agriculture, and he was certain that Victoria College would he prepared to pool its endowments to obtain the school in the right place. If they -were to have a second such institution it would mean six professors with salaries totalling at least £IOOO a year (besides buildings, grounds,and incidental expenses. "TOO EXPENSIVE."

Sir Robert Stout held that neither Auckland nor Wellington could afford a college of research at the moment, nor could even Canterbury with its present endowments afford it: They could have a? school which could hot afford to be a colloge of research; He was consulted by the late Sir John Logan Campbell in regard, to the terms of his will dealing with his bequest for agriculture, and also by the late Sir Walter Buchanan, so that he quite well knew . what, was in their inihds |in regard to'this matter. ‘ What was . asked in the motion before the Senate was the recognition of a School which would grant diplomas' in agriculture. Mr F. H. Bakewell supported the motion.' He felt that the ifietabers were looking upon the. School of , Agriculture as factories for turning put expert graduate*;: hut the far more important work of the institution would.be that of training men who were already practical formers- ahd not the turning, out of expert graduates for whom., there knight he no occupation after,-they had taken their degrees. * A member> Is that University work? Mr Bakewell: Well if it isn’t I don't know what univertisty work is. ■ MISUNDERSTOOD. -Professor Thomas thought that one schpol' would not solve all the problems which-were surrounding agricultural instruction. The word reScardh was apt to hypnotise many who' -had not been engaged dn actual research. He was of the opinion that the commencement of a school in Auckland would mean much to Unit province. There were 2do miles of Wuntry to the-north of Auckland city, and;.a great number of, students would be drawn to the school, . The 'establishment of. such an institution, in .Wellington would not satisfy Auckland at all. Touching on the question of whether the oounlry could afford it, heVhelcl that in a Dominion which’already drew so much from agriculture (exports last year 'had been over £50,000,000), and, which hoped to draw so much more, the question of expense was really beside the point. SHOULD BE AT AUCKLAND. Dr Anderson stated that he had always held that if a second school were established it should bo situated at Auckland, specialisation would- be possible in agricultural college*, situated in various districts, Grain might receive the special attention of a college at Canterbury, ami dairying might receive particular attention from a college ip Auckland. One important aspect of the establishment of any new chairs, said Mr J. Ciiughley, was the question of how r (any students of the kind ooficerned would be'required in the iiext 10 years. How many of these agricultural students would be wanted by the Dominion? There were a few experts required by the Agricultural Department; they could almost be counted on the fingers, and once the. men who 'entered these positions usually stayed there all his life, there were a few who might be Wanted by Uie farmers, the bjg meat .Companies, and woollen companies, -sky SO' at the outsid*. *' ~ , ■ THR-E MEN A YEAR. .That meant thab k‘ supply of two tr three men each year, would; meet (he case. Of course in *he medical school they placed no restriction on the number of entrants, and let them fight for appointments afterwards. . But thev should not adopt this atithde .in respect to- new scholars. He was enunciating JJhat-he thought should ,be. file policy in the establishment; of all ,new chairs. , far as the particular proposal lefore the Senate was Concerned, he might be accused of inconsistency, but he i.as going to vote for. it. (daughter.) A member : You're going to be a membar of the Senate, now. member: X Wrthy member. Mr Caughley continued to say that he could not see that. Victoria College had " n * of agnculture than Auckland or any other centre spiia™Tws. ViCtoria - C °' We 110 Mr Caughley: That’, beside the uoint. lae motion was carried by 22 rotes to