VICTORIA COLLEGE CAPPING CEREMONY.

Colonist, Volume LIV, Issue 13456, 29 June 1912, Page 6

VICTORIA COLLEGE CAPPING CEREMONY.

SPEECH BY RT. HON. J. BRYCE

[United Pjrkss Association.]

Wellington, Juno 28. The Rt. Hon. J. Bryco delivered an address at the Victoria College capping ceremony to-day o:i I. uirortfity topics, .which waa lisLunod to by the students without the customary interruption, and greeted at the end by their getting U p an< s cheering the speaker. Ho spoke of the difficulties encountered in University work in a country like New Zealand, and strongly advocated, each of the four colleges concontrnting itself on some special field of activity as was done now to a-certain-dogree. He thought it was a pity that men like Professors Rutherford and McLaurin should be lost to the country, and allowed to bo drawn away by greater opportunities of advancement elsewhere. He counselled the youths of the universities.to-fit themselves for Parliamentary work, and bring to the Legislature the knowledge and habit of careful and accurate thought ■go much needed in the work of'legislation. Ho urged very strongly the creation of an agricultural college of supreme excellence. There was no better service the Legislature could render the country than niaking most liboral grants to such an institution.

This was an opinion which : drew "hear, hear," from the Governor, who u:ns present.

Mr Bryec, continuing, urirod that this had boi-u dove both in the United States and Canada, and the result was that the, values of stock nnd produce had been., doubled'in 20 years by scientific methods'.'-" After urging the importance of having the. best possible colleges, getting the best teachers, and retaining here men of talent, the speaker concluded by expressing great' admiration forth,** scenery' and resources of New Zealand, and returning thanks for tlie kindness ho had received in his month's sojoivm, which ended with his departure for Australia to-day. '.