HIGHER EDUCATION IN AGRICULTURE

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 65, 9 December 1937, Page 6

HIGHER EDUCATION IN AGRICULTURE

-Press asBociation.)

Co-ordination of Two Colleges SCHOOL ESTABLISHED

tBj Telegraph-

WELLINGTON, Last Night. The development of higher agricul-' tural education in. New Zealand was traced by the Minister of Agriculture, the Hon. W. Lee Martin, when moving the second reading of the Schpol of Agriculture Bill in the House of Representatives to-night. The Minister said that from 1S8Q UBjjiii. the early twenties the Canterbury Agricultural College, better known as Lincoln College, had been the ouly institution teaching agriculture to the degree req.uirements of the New Zealand University, and during that time it had been entirely selt-supporting. The posfcion of agricultural education had been profoundly influenced, however, by notable bequests made by the late Sir John Logan Campbell and Sir Walter Buchanan, who had been responsible for the endowment of chairs of agriculture at Auckland University College and Victoria University College respectively. "It was recognised that without some amalgamation two North Island schools could not function satisfactorilv." Mr. Mn.vti n nontinued "anrl after

— u j — — — , — protracted negotiation a New Zealand College of Agriculture was established at Palmerston North in 1926, combi.ning tlie two North Island chairs of agriculture. The Canterbury Agricultural College remained aloof from these proceedings, but when the University of New Zealand recognised the northern college as the only one accredited to teach up to the vdegree standard it demanded a restitution of its rights, and this was done in. 1927, when Canterbury College was also granted an annual sum of £3700 for researck. The northern college was re-named Massey Agricultural College." The Minister refered to financial difficulties suffered by Canterbury Agricultural College during the depression years and assistance that had been extended to it, and stated that since he had been Minister of Agriculture he had been dissatisfied with the position of two agricultural colleges, not cor ordinated, coming to him for assis-

tance. Th« Bill, provided for complete co-ordination. between the colleges, and he paid a tribute to the work of the committee that had' been worbing on the question. The Bill had the full approval of the governing bodies of the two institutions and also of the teaching staffs. Mr. H. S. S. Kyle (Opposition, Riccarton) said that the establishment of a Council of Agriculture to exercise jurisdiction over th» two colleges would result in unanimity of control. Overlapping was undesirable and unnecessary. "While Massey College could specialise in dairylng) Lincoln College could specialise in crop-growing. The elimination of overlapping would place agricultural education on a standard equal to anything in the British Empire. New Zealand would have a sehool of. agriculture more than comparable t0 any similar institution in the Old Country. Canterbury people were proud of Lincoln College, which was really an endowment from the old provincial days. The Bill was passed without amendment.