COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19804, 1 June 1926, Page 10

COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE.

A CANTERBURY RESOLUTION. ONE INSTITUTION FAVOURED. CLAIMS OF LINCOLN COLLEGE. (Per United Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, May 31. The following resolution In connection with the Agricultural College was adopted by the Canterbury College Board of Governors to-day:— 1. That in accordance with the strong recommendation of the Royal Commission on University Education in New Zealand the Dominion’s agricultural requirements will best be met by the concentration of all available funds in the establishment of single, fully-staffed, and equipped college capable of producing leaders of the highest standing and efficiency”. 2. That the Canterbury Agricultural College, establish in ISSO, with its land of 1850 acres, situated as it is in the centre of the largest agricultural district of New Zealand, and being more accessible for the Dominion as a whole than even Palmerston North, offers the most suitable and economical nucleus for such a college. 3. That there is adequate scope for most valuable work for the recentlyappointed professors of agriculture at the Victoria and the Auckland University Colleges, and they would best serve thy agricultural and pastoral interests of the Dominion as organising heads of the local agricultural research stations and post graduate specialised courses.

In moving the resolution Colonel J. Studholme said it was Important to have one such college to turn out well-trained students instead of dissipating funds on the upkeep of two colleges. New Zealand was chiefly dependent on its exports to outside countries, and could not afford any but the best of leaders, because the new Zealand producers were in competition with the best brains of other countries. A lot was said about bequests left for agricultural research work in the North Island, but it must not be forgotten that altogether those sums represented only about £30,000. This was infinitesimal when compared wth what had been spent in Canterbury on such work. Lincoln College was only a short taxi ride from and was a more suitable centre for North Island students than was Palmerston North or Marton for South Island students Another point in favour of Lincoln College was that Canterbury, in addition to being such a large agricultural province, was in dose proximity to North Otago. Canterbury had the largest chemical manure works in the Dominion, and was the largest manufacturer of agricultural implements. With regard to bequests left to Auckland and Wellington he would suggest that they be spent on special research work, such as the study of the soil in the North Island, but not for the purpose of setting up another agricultural college. In seconding the motion, Mr W. A. Banks deplored the apathy of the South Island farmers towards Lincoln College, especially since Auckland and Wellington had sunk their local differences in order to press for the establishment of an agrtcultural college in the North Island. He hoped that the Farmers’ Union would cir cularise its branches asking for co-opera-tion in pressing the claims of the South Island in respect of Lincoln College. Mr J. Doupall, while supporting the scheme generally, expressed the opinion that it would be a mistake for the branch to commit itself to only one college in the Dominion. „ . , ~ ~ The Chairman (Mr H. D. Acland) said that his own opinion was that there should be two colleges, one in the North Island, where pastoral farming was practised, and one in the South Island for the study of agricultural scientific research. Dr C. Chilton, recton of Lincoln College. said that it would require a good deal more than £30,000 to set up an agricultural college. He drew attention to the large amount involved in the college at Lincoln, which also had the benefit of many years of experience in training agricultural students. The Hon. L. M. Isitt said that it would be a mistake to insist on only one such college in the Dominion. Suppose, for instance, there should be a College of Agriculture set up in the North Island, would not the board still insist on Lincoln College being maintained? Mr C. T. Aschman said that if the board did not proceed cautiously it would find itself in a cleft stick. The board should not forget its attitude regarding an engineering school. colonel Studholme said that he would rather see one strong college than two weak ones. He hoped that Otago would take up the matter and bring pressure to bear on the Government in the direction indicated by him.