SHOULD IT BE AT LINCOLN COLLEGE?

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17863, 3 June 1926, Page 11

SHOULD IT BE AT LINCOLN COLLEGE?

NEW AGRICULTURAL CENTRE DISCUSSED BY PROGRESS LEAGUE. That the Canterbury Progress League ask the Government that reasonable time be given for Canterbury organisations to make representations regarding the position of Lincoln College as the site for the new College of Agricultural Research. This motion was carried unanimously by the Canterbury Progress League last night. The executive decided to bring the matter before the South Island members of Parliament, local bodies, and other institutions with which it was in the habit of co-operat-ing. Statements were made at the meeting that Lincoln College was starved financially; that Canterbury, which was the chief contributor to the upkeep of Lincoln, would have to support it as well as contribute to the establishment of a new college in the North Island, should such be established: that it was pufe commonsense properly to equip the Canterbury institution before another was established; and that justice to Canterburv, with no thought of the north v. south issue, was the spirit in which the motion was carried. The subject came up through a letter from the president of the North « 'anterbury branch of the Farmers’ Union (Mr J. D. Hall), who attended as a deputation. The letter stressed the value of Lincoln College, and gave reasons to show that Canterbury was the natural centre for an agricultural college. Mr Hall said that the requirements of New Zealand had been met in the past by the Lincoln College, which was the only one of its class in the Dominion. It was maintained by Canterbury. There were 52 scholars there, of whom 20 were from the North Island. Some were from England. “ Lincoln has been starved.” continued Mr Hall, “ and has to pay its way out of its endowments and farming operations. The first commission set up recommended help for Lincoln, the second, headed by Mr Frank Tate. Director of Education in Victoria, urged the establishment of one large college, preferably in the North Island; and the recommendations of the Heath Commission for institutes of agriculture. dairying and pastoral work, all to be included under one big Government department, have not yet been adopted, though it looks as if thev will ba.” The chairs of Agriculture at the University Colleges of Auckland and Wellington had apparently decided to get Mr Tate’s report carried into effect, said Mr Hall, and had decided that the most suitable site for an agricultural college was between Palmerston North and Marton. Such an institution would cost i‘250.000, and while * anterbury would have to subscribe towards this sum, the province would be saddled with Lincoln and have to put hand into pocket to keep it going. “ Lincoln has onb* one tractor,” he continued, “ for it cannot afford any more, even though the tractor is quickly replacing the horse. Ninety per cent of New Zealand’s exports come lrom grass, and Canterbury is the place to experiment with such. I am not raisinc the north v. south issue, but merely want justice for Canterbury.” A BIG QUESTION. Mr W. K. M’Alpinc said the question was the biggest brought before the League since he had been a member, and it should be taken up whole heartedly. Farmers would have to get away; from the old rule-of-thumb methods if the country were to progress. The colleges should not be called ‘•Agricultural Colleges,” but •‘Agricultural and Pastoral Producing Educational Institutes.” Lincoln was booked up with students for the next three years, which showed the necessitv for more institutions. ‘*lt is not a question of what price butter-fat will bring on the London market,” said Mr 11. T. Armstrong M.P.. “but a matter that concerns the populating of this country, which cannot progress without science being applied to its primary industries. Canterbury can advocate its claims without being jealous of the progress of other pro\ inces. It is pure commonsense that the established college should be proper!v equipped before another one is instituted. Canterbury established a college long before anv other province thought of it, and Lincoln has done yeoman service in spreading up-to-date methods of farm ing.” The value of agricultural colleges for the better education of farmers was pointed out bv Messrs G. H Tudd and G. Shipley. ' J