THE MASSEY COLLEGE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 72, Issue 288, 4 December 1929, Page 6

THE MASSEY COLLEGE

LAYING FOUNDATION STONE CEREMONY TO-DAY To-day, His Excellency the Governor* General, Sir Charles Fcrgusson, will lay the foundation stone of the Massey Agricultural College at Palmerston North. A representative gathering of agricultural bodies will be present and th® function will mark the taking of < further step forward in agricultural education. Back in 1923, the late Sir Walter Buchanan donated £lO,OOO for the founding of a Chair of Agriculture at Victoria University College, Wellington. Towards the end of 1924, th® Sir John Logan Campbell bequest for the founding of a Chair of Agriculture was paid over to the Auckland University. Both Universities established a school of Agriculture and it was realised immediately after they commenced to function that a better result would accrue from an amalgamation. To be brief Massey College is an outcome of a move in that direction and its name was chosen in memory of the late Rt, lion. W. F. Massey. Tho college is situated on the Riverbank Road, Fitzherbert, Palmerston North, this being a portion of the Mail North Road which runs through Shan* non, Levin and Palmerston. The site is approximately two miles distant from Tho Square in Palmerston and the property was originally owned by the late Mr J. Batchelar, a well-known Manawatu breeder. The date of purchase by the Government was December 9, 1926.

Pending the erection of permanent buildings classes have been conducted in the old homestead, a large ten-room-ed house. The farm itself comprises 865 acres. The College Principal is Professor G. S. Peren, Croix* de Guerre, B.S.A. (Toronto) Walter Clark Buchanan, Professor of Agriculture. The Hon. Sir George Fowldfl, or Auckland i* chairman of the council.

Among those who will attend to-day’s ceremony from this district are Mr [Donald Ross (president) and Mr F. G. Seddon (secretary) of the Wanganui Agricultural Association together with other members of that body, arql representatives of the Farmers* Union.