WHEELBARROW RIDE

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 52, 17 March 1937, Page 14

WHEELBARROW RIDE

Students Welcome Mr Savage at Massey College SCIENCE THE CHEAPEST )• Mr. Savage ha« had many novel experienoes • during the North Island jtour which eoncluded at Palmerston North yesterday, but it xemained for the students of Massey College to provide him with the experience of riding in a wheelbarrow. Bumour had gone before that some revel waited the Prime Minister 's party at the college/ and at the gates Mr. Savage waa asked to abandon his car for a gaily caparisoned wheelbarrow in which he was trundled aeross the cattlestopB ■ at iheentrance to the college grounds. ■ "Savage Students" was the warning 1 on the gate, and the bodyguard of bizarrely-dressed students bore pitch* forks, yardbrooms and other .tokens of ■ their agricultural bias. Inside the gates Mr, Savage was assisted J5y stepladder ' into a dray which conveyed him along the college driveway. His progress was soon halted by a uniformed "fraffie cop," who presented the followihg: "On this sixteenth day of March, lh the year of our Lord 1937, 1, the under* signed, do admit my horse and earxiage to ha-ve been driven along the drive.of Massey College at a speed estimated at over 3i miles per hour." The signature of M. J. Savage was willingly given. The document was countersigned by "Bob Semple, .Trafec Cop. ' ' Welcoming the Prime Minister to the college, Mr. P. Levi, vice-president of the College Council, reminded Mr. Savage on his first visit on the import* ance of the college to the Dominion. It ' was concerned with the scientific im* provement of farming, and its research on various probleme was of great signifieance to the ecohomic welfare of the country. In addition to research, the , college conducted a farrn of 900 acres iand its own dairy |actory. Expressing his delight at the visit and at the hgarty spirit with which hewas welcomed, Mr. Savage said ,that some of the implements brandished by those who received him at the gates reminded bim of his own early acquaint' ance with farming. .The burlesque welcoqje had been a xeality to him. How ever, science was advancing over the more primitive ways of farming, and so lobg as Wo allowed science to lead us, we would not go far astray. He as Prime Minister was anxious to play his part iu developing in New Zealand a knowledge of Bcientific farming. " Wliat was good enough for my I'athei' is not good enough for me, and what ia good enough for me is not good euougU for those who are coming on, ' ' said Mr. Savage, who assured Professor Peren and those working with him that they would have every asBistance possibld in what they were doing. The Government realised that the scientific way was the cheapest in the long run. Mr. Savage again asked his hearers to accept his pledge of personal friend* ship." Priendship meant more then* words; it ineant action.. i "In conclusion, let me .thank once more my special friends for the delight* ful way in which they welcomed me at the gate. It reminded me of my. ehild* hood daysy" said Mr. Savage amid laughter. "But that was a period oi my life I would not have exchanged for all the gold in New Zealand. fot