MASSEY COLLEGE WORK

Taranaki Daily News, 31 January 1933, Page 12

MASSEY COLLEGE WORK

WIDE FIELD OF EDUCATION FARMING COURSES AND RESEARCH PRINCIPAL ADDRESSES ROTARY. The wide field of education covered by the Massey Agricultural College was outlined by the principal, Professor S. Peren, when he addressed members of the New Plymouth Rotary Club yesterday at the first luncheon of the year. Dr. Peren was welcomed by Chie Rotarian T. C. List and, at the conclusion of the talk, Rotarian E. Griffiths moved a hearty vote of thanks w ic was carried with acclamation. Dr. Peren explained that he was at New Plymouth on holiday and that Rotarian. V. Davies had invited him to address the members only a short time before lunch. It was important, that people should have some idea of tne work at the college but he was afraid few were conversant with the courses of study and research. Owing to P r ®®" sure of work and lack of money, the men in charge of the different depar - ments were unable to travel and explain college work to the many interested people. Last winter there were at the college 196 men engaged in the different courses. In addition there were research work in dairy and sheep matters to be done and problems of a difficult nature connected with those branches of farming to be solved. The college farming area comprised 835 acres and the breeding of stud stock and experimental work or different kinds meant that the professors and men in charge had to spend considerable time on actual farm work, so it could be seen that little time remained for travel. LITTLE SCOPE FOR GRADUATES. Dr. Peren said he was always pleased to see visitors for it meant that people were interested in the college and its work, but there, again time was involved in showing them round. The ideal would be enough assistants for each man in cnarge of the different branches of the college to permit him to visit districts and explain the work in progress at the college but Dr. Peren acknowledged that the times were against such an idea coming into operation at present. The four-year university course proper was bemg taken by about 20 men, which meant that five or fewer graduated each year. “Frankly, I do not encourage students to take this course,” said Dr. Peren. “Just as for the graduates of other university schools, there does not appear to be opportunities sufficient to absorb the graduate in agriculture. The small number working for the degree is due, no doubt, to the present economic position. The dairy diploma course had been designed to assist trained and efficient factory workers, continued Dr. Peren. The number averaged about 70 each year and the college was attended for 11 winter weeks, the course covering three years. VALUE, OF' COURSE. While it had its critics there was no doubt that the course had already made its mark. Numbers were increasing yearly and Dr. Peren felt that the support of the manufacturing side of the dairy business was being gained. The men were better factory workers when they finished for, bn top of the practical work they had learned in the course of their employment, they had the technical knowledge gained through their attendance at the college. A conference and course for factory managers had been initiated,- about 60 men from all parts of the Dominion and of all ages attending last year. Expressions of enthusiasm and satisfaction had been made by different men, some of whom had admitted that, prior to visiting the college for the course, they had been sceptical concerning the value of Massey College training. A distinct demand for the two different classes of farming courses, continued br. Peren. The courses were two-year ones and the 40 men concerned worked on the farm in the summer, when apart from demonstrations, there were no lectures; during the winter, lectures, the more important branches of that type of farming under winter conditions, demonstrations and visits to neighbouring stock breeders occupied the time of the students. The men were all accommodated at the college. Other courses included herd-testing and wool-classing. Satisfaction with the tuition and the results of each had been expressed on several occasions. Instruction in pig breeding-and poultry was included in the college curriculum. VALUABLE WOOL TEST. Touching upon reSearch work, Dr. Peren said the dairy research institute had been established in conjunction with the Departments of Agriculture and Scientific and Indiustrial Research and the Marketing Board. Wool research was another of the college’s main works, and a contribution towards the industry of a test that would make a great difference to the class of wool from stud flocks had gone a long way towards compensation for the money spent on the institute. The test evolved would be first applied to stud flocks from, which the benefit would be later passed on. In flax research, breeding and cross-breeding were being tried in an endeavour to produce in one type of plant the good qualities of many. A good idea of the scope of education provided by Massey College had been given members, said Rotarian Griffiths in moving the vote of thanks. No such institution could be effective unless first-class men were in charge and he believed that Sir Walter Buchanan and the Rt. Hon. W. F. Massey would have been delighted had they lived to see the manner in which the work they had conceived was being carried out. The efficiency ’ o ’ Massey College in connection with dairy research was especially well known in Taranaki.