MASSEY COLLEGE

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 135, 4 December 1929, Page 12

MASSEY COLLEGE

THE NEW BUILDING

FOUNDATION-STONE LAID

TO-DAY'S CEREMONY

(By Telegraph.) (From our Special Reporter.)

PALMERSTON N., This Day.

The beginning of a new era in agricultural education in New Zealand was marked to-day, when His Excellency the Governor-General (Sir Charles Fergusson) laid the foundation-stone of the new Massey Agricultural College at Palmerston North. The Massey College' was established two years ago, but so rapid was the progress made by the institution, and so keen was the desire of the farming community to take advantage of its facilities, that the need for a new building soon became apparent. The completion of the new building will see the realisatiru of a great ideal—the application of science to the greatest of all New Zealand industries—and in addition it will serve as a fitting memorial to one of the Dominion's greatest statesmen. The weather for the opening ceremony was ideal, and those present saw the imposing site of the new college under most favourable conditions. The attendance was a representative one, and included the Minister of Lands, the Hon. G. W. Forbes, and several members of Parliament. Professor T. A. Hunter represented the University Seriate in the unavoidable absence of Professor Macmillan Brown, chairman of the College Council. IMPORTANCE OF INSTITUTION. Sir George Fowlds described the ceremony as an epoch-making one in the history of the Dominion. He referred with satisfaction to the agreement which had been reached between the Auckland and Wellington Universities in regard to the establishment of tho college. He pictured the college as becoming one of the most important educational institutions in New Zealand, and remarked that Palmerston North in days to come would be the Oxford or Cambridge of the Dominion. When the building was completed, and when a hostel was provided by the Government, they would have the most completely equipped agricultural college in the British Empire south of the Equator. Mr. Forbes, who was warmly received, said that the erection of the college was a recognition of the fact that tha farming industry was in need of highly-trained men just as much as any other industry, r/d that as science was an aid to a greater extent to-day than ever before, as the difficulties and problems which the farmer had to face today were much greater than they were twenty years ago, specially-trained men were needed. Production in New Zealand was increasing, and with closer farming there were additional problems which they had to look to scientific men to solve. As a Canterbury farmer, he was particularly pleased to see tho development of agricultural education in the North Island. On behalf of the Department of Agriculture, he assured the officials of Massey College that they would at all times have the assistance of the officers of his Department. Professor G. S. Peren, principal of the college, said that ho and the members of the staff were looking forward very anxiously to the completion of the building, as during the past two and a half years they had been struggling along under cramped conditions. He was pleased to think that the people of New Zealand wore seriously behind agricultural education, as there had been a tendency in the past to regard the science of agriculture as something akin to black magic. FARMING- AND ECONOMY. There was one big handicap they were up against in regard to their work, and that was the fact that the farming industry could not carry heavy overhead expenses; consequently, if they were going to solve the problems facing farmers, they would have to be solved cheaply, as otherwise the farmers could not afford to take the advice. The scientist might be able to provide a solution, but the farmers could not adopt it because it was too expensive. Farming had to be made a reasonable paying proposition, returning a reasonable interest on the capital invested, otherwise they would not secure men to take it up or capital to invest in it. What they wanted was to see the best young men in the country take up farming.

On behalf of the contractors, Mr. A. Fletcher presented His Excellency with a Maori farming implement. Prior to laying the foundation-stone, His Excellency briefly addressed those present. There was an old saying, "Be as one who knoweth much and yet holdeth his tongue." He knew all about agriculture, all about farming, but he was going to keep it to himself. (Laughter.) It was a great satisfaction to him that one of the last public functions he would perform in New Zealand was going to mark the beginning of an institution which would be of enormous value to New Zealand. One of the most important problems which the Dominion had to face was that which might be summed up in the words, "Back to the land." He had questioned boys at various schools in the country, and only about two out of every hundred had told him they were going to be farmers. The others were going into the towns, which were already crowded. That was not right in a country like New Zealand. It was gratifying, then, to learn that the new Governor-General was a man who knew everything about land, both theoretically and practically. He was, without doubt, the greatest expert in the United Kingdom. There was an old cry that farming was hard work, and that was offered as a reason why boys did not go on the land. Of course, farming was hard work, but the boys of New Zealand should deem it an honour and privilege to take up a vocation which would add to the prosperity of their country. (Appjause.) His "Excellency then declared the foundation . stone well and truly laid.