NEW AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19760, 10 April 1926, Page 12

NEW AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE.

SITE AT LEVIN SUGGESTED MINISTER’S DECISION AWAITED. (Per United Press Association.) LEVIN, April 9. The Ministers of Lands and Agriculture, the Hons. U. J. Ilawken and tlio Hon. A. D. M'Leod, to-day inspected the Central Development, Eann, one of the sites suggested for an agricultural college. A deputation representing _ llie Levin Borough Council, the Farmers' Union, and other local bodies stressed the suitability of the site, in that it had easy access by the Main Trunk line, and comprised land of all ihe classes suitable for dairying, fattening, and cereal growing. While good flax swamp, sandhill country was ad jacent. The Government owns 803 acres of land with many buildings, which would enable a university to be established without spending a large sum for land and buildings. In replying, the lion. O. J. Hawken assured the deputation that no decision had yet been made in regard to the site, and it would onlv be chosen with regard to suitability for the purpose. He stressed the point that something would have to be done for the instruction of men already on the land. The Hon. A. D. M'Leod said that New Zealand was at least 20 years behind other countries in agricultural development, the reason for which retardation had been 90 per cent. parochialism. Therefore he would welcome rapprochement between Wellington and Auckland "= to the location of an agricultural university. He would express pn opinion as to where the actual site would ho.