AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE

Otago Witness, Issue 3775, 20 July 1926, Page 7

AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE

THE FATE OF LINCOLN. DISCUSSED BY EXPANSION LEAGUE. RURAL HOME ECONOMICS. The proposed national agricultural college to be established in the North Island, and the importance of conserving die resources cf Lincoln College, were the subjects of discussion at a meeting of the Otago Expansion League on July 13, over which Mr S. B. Macdonald presided. The following delegates were present from the various local bodies.—Mr W. J. Morrell (University Council), Mr F. M. Shortt • (Chamber of Commerce), Messrs S. P. Cameron and J. Preston (Farmers’ Union), Mr W. J Sheat (Bruce County Council), Mr A. Smith (West Harbour Borough Council), Messrs C. Findley and J. Logan (Taieri County Council), Messrs T. Anderlon and D. F. H. Sharpe (Otago Harbour Board), Mr R. W. Hall (St Hilda Council), Messrs J. Wright and J. Henderson (Mosgiel Borough Council). CHAIRMAN’S ADDRESS. The Chairman introduced the business of the evening. He said that when the report of the commission which investigated the problem of agricultural education was submitted it was found that it recommended one college of university status. The first thought, naturally, was that Lincoln College, being already in existence and meeting, to a considerable extent, a felt want, would be improved and extended to auch an extent as to meet all requirements. • This, of course, was assuming that agriculture or, more particularly, wheat-grow-ing was the primary industry which would first receive consideration. In this, however, they were wrong, for the daily bread production did not now constitute one of the great exportable assets, and one more closely related to the Dominion's economic needs was selected in dairying. This •election, cf course, materially affected the situation, and as the North Island was preeminently the dairying island, the erection by the State of a research and training college in that branch of agriculture was a foregone conclusion. To this no valid objection could be taken, but when it was stated that all agricultural education was to take place at the new college it was felt that a grave injustice was being done to the south, which after all was the agricultural island, and that steps should be taken to impress upon the Government the utilisation of the present sources, and if possible the bringing of them up to such a standard *-1 would provide for a fuller and more modern training. As Lincoln College was a Canterbury institution, the initial movement was left to that province to bring before the authorities the claims of th.ir local establishment, which, being in the centre of the great cereal growing country, could be easiest handled. This movement met with warm approbation and support, and it was with the view of supporting this claim that the league called a meeting of delegates of the people most interested, that was the farmer and country settler, to hear its views and to support whatever action they deemed wisest and best in regard to what must bo to them a question of vital importance. Since thon, however, both the Prime Minister and the Minister of Agriculture had made statements in the House of Representatives in explanation of the policy proposed, which clearly indicated that they were alive to the educative value of Lincoln College, and proposed to use that institution for such branches of agricultural education as it was most fitted to impart th.e league would like the opinion of delegates as to ihe course most satisfactory to them. When the meeting was called, said the chairman, the country was given to understand that the national institution would be situated somewhere in the centre of the North Island, and that Lincoln College would be done away with. The whole of the Dominion’s agricultural education was to be a feature of North Island expansion. Hie claims of the south appeared to be ignored. It seemed to him that all the plums were going to the North Island. When the south wanted anything it meant An uphill struggle before anything was done. He instanced the case of educational and publio buildings in the South Island. This should not be so, even though the North Island had a much stronger representation in the House, and if Canterbury had moved two months earlier they could have rested assured of a much more satisfactory outcome to their The question of heavy endow*

merits in the north had been used as a telling weight against the south’s claims. They appeared to have forgot n the £220,000 already spent at Lincoln College However, it appeared that Lincoln College was not to go by the board. He would leave the matter to the delegates. He then moved the following resolution: That this conference of representatives of Otago local bodies and others interested in agricultural education respectfully requests the Government to make ample provision for the fuller training of students in the higher branches of this science, and while approving of the announced nolicy of an agricultural college in the North Island : trusts that the facilities of Lincoln College will be utilised by the Government to the utmost to give instruction in those branches of agricultural training for which it is specially suited. OTHER SPEAKERS. Air T. Anderson seconded the motion. He said that because the South Island had a population minority it should not necessarily be lacking in push and fight in such a matter as this. ;or should its educational facilities be curtailed on that account. Mr R. W. Hall spoke in support of the resolution. He said that as far as he knew Lincoln College had always acted as an important link between the farmer and his markets. Research and agricultural education had been carried out successfully and the college had fulfilled an important function. Canterbury was the centre of a large section of the Dominion’s agricultural operations, and the importance of its maintenance should not be lost sight of. M S. P. Cameron (secretary of the Otago Provincial Council of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union said that the body he represented had always considered that if there were to be only one college then it should be situated in the North ’lsland, or at least in a central position. However, it had been hoped that Lincoln College would have been considered more seriously than had been the case. But since it had been found that the college was rested in a board of trustees, and that the choosing of Lincoln as the national site would involve the setting up of a national board of trustees, it had been realised how impossible it would be make Lincoln the national college. The Union, however, was gratified to know that the Government purposed keeping the college going and providing extra resources and facilities. Mr W. J. Morrel (Otago University Council) said he attacked the subject with a good deal of diffidence as he had supposed that the Chancellor (Mr T. K. Sidey, M.P.) would be present, as well as another colleague. He was of the opinion that the resolution met the needs of the case. He thought it fitting that they should seek to urge upon the Government the need of continuing at Lincoln, and allowing the college to carry on with such work and functions as it was best qualified to undertake. He supposed coln would be retained as a training ground for farmers along the lines which had been adopted in the past. He understood that Lincoln had neither the staff nor the resources to undertake the work of higher agricultural education, which was at present such a vital need in the countrv. as would be seen from the reports of Sir Harry Reichel and Mr Tate on the one hand and Sir Frank Heath on the other. It seemed obvious that there should be one central national institution, but that did not prevent the utilisation of Lincoln - College with increased resources and facilities for better experimental and research work. It would be unfortunate to renresent the matter as anything in the nature of a conflict t eiween North and South Island. The thing was a natioual problem, and they wore concerned as to how best the monev to be spent might be used. The resolution moved by the chairman was calculated to strengthen the hands of members of Parliament. He had much pleasure in supoorting it. The Chairman said the greater need was for praotica] farming rather than theoretical or scientific operations. If too many wore trained to the higher they would be wandering around the cSuntry in white shirts and stiff collars, and would be no asset to New Zealand. Mr J. Preston (president of the Farmers* Union) said he agreed with the resolution as it concerned the status of Lincoln College, which had already proved its worth in tne Dominion. lie himself had on several occasions employed boys and men from the college, and from these he had been able to judge the calibre of the men turned out. There were operations at Linooln at present in progress, such as wheat breeding, which were of great importance to the oountry. Ha urged a combination of the practical and the theoretical as the best means to success. Meears G. F. Findlay and J. Logan .(Taieri County), Mr H. 8, Shcat (Pal*

merßton), and Mr F. M. Shortt (Chamber of Commerce) also spoke in support of the motion, it being agreed that the resolution was, after all, only an endorsement of the Prime Minister’s attitude. It was stated that all they wanted was an assurance that the status of Lincoln College would not be lowered in any way. The motion was carried unanimously. HOME ECONOMICS EXTENSION. In speaking to the chairman’s motion, Mr Cameron raised the question of home economics extension work in rural districts and suggested this as a function of the national college. He said the Farmers’ Union had already taken the matter up vigorously, and had approached the Minister of Agriculture (the Hon. O. J. Ilawken) with a view to securing a grant or subsidy for the .work in Otago through the medium of the home science depart* ment of the Otago University. He gave some particulars of the work already done throughout Otago by Professor Strong, of Studholme House, and remarked on the eagerness with which rural housewives accepted any such assistance. With an adequate subsidy, he said, the Otago University Home Science School could easily supply the needs of the district in this respect for many years. The extension work, however, should be a part of the functions of the national agricultural institution. Mr Cameron therefore moved: — That the Dominion college, to fulfil its purpose, should cater for home economics extension in rural districts. This work in respect of Otago could be done effectively by means of an extension scheme worked from the home science department of the Otago University, and to this end full facilities should be provided. The Chairman said that Air Cameron had made a valuable suggestion. The Government at presert saw to it that the cows and general farm stock were well fed, and it would be as well to see that the man who attended to the stock was also well fed. NO PROVINCIAL SCHEME. Mr Hall said he objected to the Otago University being brought, into the business of the meeting at all. They were discussing a national agricultural college. Mr Cameron explained that the reference to Otago University was in no way provincial or parochial. It was merely in respect to its connection with the Home Science work he wished to see included in the college functions. The work in Otago University would merely be a branch of the general extension work of the national college. RESOLUTION ALTERED. Mr Morrell said.he did not think there there would be any difficulty about training people to undertake the work in the rural districts at the Home Science School, but he was afraid they could not carry out the actual extension work from Studholme house. He thought they would encounter n hitch there. Messrs Cameron and Morrell then collaborated in drawing up another resolution which was moved by Mr Cameron as follow# That this meeting would, in connection with Home Science Extension, urge upon the Government the value of extension work in Home Economics in rural districts on the lines of the work already undertaken in Otago by Professor Strong and Dr Storms, and it would also like to stress the need for providing for the training of persons at the Home Science Department of the Otago University for carrying out the instruction work in the province. A GREAT NESD. The motion was seconded by Mr J. ‘ Preston, v ho said most emphatically that the farming community not only desired •uch a s-cheme, but needed it urgently. Even if the scheme provided nothing better than opportunities for farm women to meet their fellow human being 3 in elasses and lectures it would be worth while. In town there were pictures and play 3 and diversions of all kinds but the country woman had nothing. Her life consisted of working the whole day for 12 months out of 12. He was convinced, however, that the work would do more than that It would relieve the monotony, and drudgery of present conditions and make the women in the country—the nation’s greatest assets —a little less like the seares of 150 to 200 years ago. A FARMER’S PROPOSAL. Mr Anderson suggested that the resolution should be sent on to the University Council If that body took the matter up their recommendation would oarry a good bit more weight with the Government than that of the present meeting. Mr Morrell* said that would never do. Comjnf, Is it did. from the Farmers’ Union, who knew how greatly thq rural

districts needed the scheme, he considered that it would carry more weight than if it were sent on by his council. Moreover, the University Council had had occasion to make a great many requests to the Government recently, and there was just a chance that headquarters might be getting a liWe impatient over these matters. During the past two or three days he had spoken with Dr 11. L. Russell, of Wisconsin Agricultural College U.S.A.), who had assured him of the great advantage to be gained from the adoption of such a scheme. The motion was carried unanimously.