AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE

Waikato Times, Volume 100, Issue 16780, 24 April 1926, Page 8

AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE

CLAIMS OF RUAKURA. THE ONLY SITE READY. It is indeed gratifying to note that the Hamilton Borough Council is taking steps in have I lie. claims of the Ruakura State Farm recognised as a suitable institution for ihe establishment of Ihe agricultural college for the North Island. When the whole position is analysed it will be found that all that is required to convert Ruakura Farm into an agricultural college is merely in change the name. The. Farm is. al the present time, virtually a college minus certain higher equipment. Sound argument is contained in the resolution moved by Cr. J. Gilbert for making Ruakura the site of the college, and the movement to this end deserves (he, whole-hearted support, or the united district, for nowhere in New Zealand has interest in agricultural education been so keen as in the Auckland province.

It may not be generally known that when the Board of Agriculture met in Auckland about twelve months ago to receive evidence in connection with agricultural education, the Hon. J. A. Young, Minister of Health, and Mr A. W. Green, Ihen manager of the Ruakura Farm of Instruction, jefurncyod to Auckland, and placed valuable evidence before that Board, elaborating fully the many reasons why Ruakura should be selected for the agricultural college and the. training ground for students in practical agriculture. To those who have studied this question of an agricultural college, many difficulties must have presenlpd themselves, and that is why, probably, nothing definite has yet been accomplished. Finance Problem Reduced.

By accepting Ruakura in ils present stage of development, (lie greatest difficulties arc immediately overcome. The great problem of finance is reduced to one of minor importance, for in Ruakura wo have a property highly developed, already laid out and well equipped, and fully stocked "with some of the best pedigree animals in the Dominion. Further, ihe Farm is appointed to deal with not only agriculture, but witli horticulture, and live-stock breeding in practically all their branches, and there would seem to be little argument against the fact that to establish another institution in any oilier part of the Island would only mean a duplication of this work and expenditure. And who will deny that the present is a lime for economy? The value of Ruakura is assessed at £IOO,OOO, and it would seem idle and wasteful to pass over Ibis valuable and well established institution merely to satisfy some parochial demand. Another sound reason why Ruakura should bo selected for Ihe purpose is that 150 acres there is already set aside as an agricultural college reserve, which lias been developed witli the purchased area of Ruakura.

Recent reports relative to the curtailment of many activities at Ruakura by ihe Agricultural Department arc not altogether unfounded. The valuable courses of instruction held annually ibcre for teachers, training college students, district, high school boys, tcciinical college pupils .and instructors have been discontinued, and it is felt that the Farm is not now functioning as it should do in this respect. We understand that the Farmers' Farm School held annually at Ruakura for some years past, is this year lo be held in the town of Hamilton and not on the Farm. It would thus seem that there is a disposition on the part of the Department lo reduce the functions of the Farm as much as possible, instead of utilising its splendid buildings and equipment to the full. Homestead Practically Empty.

A visit io the Farm at the present time reveals the fact that Ihe largest building there, the Homestead-, built and designed by Mr E. C. Clifton, late Director of Experimental Farms, for the accommodation of students, is now empty. This extensive building, costing several Ibousands of pounds, beautifully designed and arranged for the housing of students, and containing upwards of 35 rooms, including a, large lecture room, writing room, dining and silting rooms, bedrooms and bathrooms, all well furnished, is occupied by merely two persons, the Manager and his wife. This has been the position now for well over four years, for what reason it is difficult; to understand. Why, therefore, spend money on new buildings when this fine empty building, eminently suited to the purpose, is available?

It is to be hoped that Ihe resolution passed by Ihe Hamilton Borough Council will awaken a new interest among local bodies in the Auckland province in this very important subject.