LINCOLN COLLEGE JUBILEE TO-DAY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19134, 29 July 1930, Page 9

LINCOLN COLLEGE JUBILEE TO-DAY.

LARGE CROWD ATTENDS DESPITE BAD WEATHER

The Canterbury Agricultural College at Lincoln celebrated its jubilee to-day. Despite the weather, there was a large attendance of ex-pupils, farmers and others interested in the college and its work. When they arrived they were conducted on a short tour of the farm by Professor Alexander, Dr Hilgendorf and other members of the staff, later assembling in the hall to be welcomed by the chairman.

Speaking of the work of the college, the director. Professor R. E. Alexander, said that with the settling down of the world and the start of industrialism an increased demand arose for primary producers and agriculturists. The demand brought about an awakening to the necessity for a study of methods. Less than 100 years ago the first school of agriculture was started in Britain by private enterprise. The first trainings were mainly practical atid very elementary.

“ New Zealand has been in no way behind in the matter of higher agricultural education,” said the director, “ and this college can claim full credit. Over forty graduates have received their training, and not one has failed to make his mark. High positions in New Zealand, Tasmania and the L T nited States are held by Lincoln graduates. Dr Hilgendorf’s work on cereal breeding is so well known that one need only refer to it, and its value to the Dominion cannot be estimated.

“ An impartial review of the progress and work of the college from the date of its establishment will be altogether favourable. Its educational work has been on sound lines,” continued the Professor, “ and can be compared with that of any institution in the world. The research work is equally good, and if accumulative results were measured in cash the college has proved a valuable asset to New Zealand. Its chief fault is its modesty. At no time has the board or the directors indulged in advertisement. Their policy has always been to do the work and let it do the advertising. In research, our aim is to work on economical and practical lines, to do something that can be applied and which is useful to the farmers, and which will increase their wealth, and, in working on these lines, we have adopted a policy that could well be followed in every* part of the world.

44 One can speak with confidence of the future. The affairs of the college are in the hands of a board who are thoroughly alive to the country's requirements and who, with the staff they employ, are ambitious for the college and zealous for its interests. They will see to it that both education and research are on sound lines and in the best interests of the country as a whole.”