The Proposed Agricultural College.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 26 August 1913, Page 4

The Proposed Agricultural College.

LEVIN'S CLAIMS.

A STRONG CASE

Asked by a Chronicle reporter as to his,opinion regarding the establishment of ,an Agricultural College, the Mayor of Levin (Mr B. It. Gardener) said that he had paid particular attention and had made notes of the remarks that the different'deputations had given utterance to iii tlieir interviews with the Prime Minister. In his opinion very little sense had been talked, and certainly no convincing arguments in:favour of the establishment of a college either at Mosterton, Marton or Palnierston North had been forthcoming. One of the arguments used by Mr Johneon regarding Palmerston North waa that 191,000 persons could visit the college in one day if the location were in Palmerston. He brought that forward as a convincing proof of the suitability of Palmorston for the site. That argument alone showed how very weak a case they had. If the site of a college was to be decided on such a matter, Levin could use exactly the same argument, for without doubt 200,000 persons could visit the Experimental Farm in one day provided train arrangements were made. Referring to Wairarapa's claims, the Mayor said that boiled derrn they came to a bribe of ; 000. Mr Brick had kindly sug- | geeted that the State Farm ihould be ibid to oblige Palmerston North. To all these arguments the Prime Minister had so far been very guarded in replying. He did certainly say that he thought all tilings being equal Palmerston would be a suitable locality. Mr Massey'B sympathy with agricultural colleges was well-known, and other members of the Ministry rrere in accord with regard to the erection l of such institutions. In a speech on the subject in the Houee on August 3rd, 1911, Mr Maeeey said he would like to see an agricultural college established in each: provincial district. The Hon. ]tfr Fisher on the same day expressed his opinion to this effect. We ought to have one agricultural college at least in each district. Therefore, proceeded the flavor, it could be soen thatwithin a short time colleges would be an accomplished fact.

SUITABLE SITE. Ouo of tho most important matten to consider was a suitable syta, and there political and parochial considerations should not be allowed to in any way influence a decision, and the best locality ahould be chosen. It was admitted that least (iUO or 800 acres of good land was necessary, aud also that the college should be erected near the main railway line. A suitable manager's house and other dwellings for the heads of the department of the college would be required, as milking sheds and shelter beds and orchards. Good climate and good water were essentials. The total cost of such a farm as he had indicated would no tbe less than between £80,000 and £100,000 at the present price of dairying land. Could Masterton, Palmerston North, Marton or Wanganui supply land for a farm at a cost of £50 to £G0 per acre, independent of the necessary buildings in connection with tho college ? The location of tlie college was of secondary importance •o long as the land and site chosen were good ones. Extra distances of a fow miles for students and others to travel should notHe taken into consideration.

• CLAIMS OF W-EHABOA-LEVIN. *'I say unhesitatingly," declared Mr Gardener, "the claims of the Experimental Farm at Weraroa etand far above any other site in the whole of the Dominion. No Better place could be found for the folowing reasons:— (1). It contains 800 acres of the very best land, dead level and all etumped and subdivided into suitable paddocks. (2). It contains 20 acres of orohards which have taken years to grow and come into perfection. (3). It is within five minutes' drive of the railway station, and within a few chains of-the boundary of the Borough of Levin. (4). It has the best milking shed in the Dominion and will accommodate over one hundred cows. (5) The manager's house and other dwellings for those employed are erected; also stables and other necessary buildings. (()). Sheltor belts have been planted in different parts of the 3?armr (7). The quality of the land is proved beyond all dispute, and has produced 80 tons of mangolds and ninittc tof'the acre, and 87 tons of turnips t'd the acre. (8). The Borough high-pressure water supply can bo taken to the Farm, and an electric plant could be driven by water; or, if preferred, gas could be laid on. (9). Tlie district is free from drought, and the climate is one of the finest in sew Zenbuid.

.(10). The Farm in its present condition would be self-support-ing. (11). The head offices of the department are situated in AA relliugton, the laboratory is established at Wallaceville, and the different professors who arc engaged co"uld return to Wellington in one clay after spending six or seven hours at the College.

THE SOCIAL LIFE of the students, continued the Mayor, would be well catered for —far better than in larger towns. The Borough of Levin possesses a high-pressure water supply, public baths and ~a free public library. The State Farm is bounded on one side by the Horowhenua Lake, which comprised over 1500 acres of water, and on the other by the beautiful Papaitonga Lake. The sea beach was within three miles of the Farm, and good fishing and other pastimes were obtainable. Now, with v those qualifications, could any .unbiased person, putting aside local parochialism, place a stronger case before the Government than that of the Experimental Farm? A better site could not be found, and it would be sheer waste of money to look to any other locality for an agricultural college. Mr Massey had said : "AA r e have too many experimental faring," and he must consider, if that was his opinion, that by adding the college to the AVeraroa Farm he would be killing two birds with one stone —by disposing of one farm and at the same time establishing the agricultural college. Of .course, remarked the Mayor, the disposal of experimental farms was not approved of by many people. In the Commonwealth of Australia there were no less that thirty-nine of these institutions and five agricultural colleges. Therefore the governments there must be satisfied with the results.

"I think I am quite safe in saying that only about two members of the present Ministry have visited the Earm, and when the others ay a visit, one need have little fear of their impressions. They will see, as stated,-that all the necessary buildings are erected with the exception of the college, if they are enough to resist political influences.that may be brought to bear. It must not be forgotten that it would take from fifteen to twenty years before any other land couhf be got into the same state of perfection as what the Levin and Weraroa State l<'arm is today* He took that opportunity on behalf of the town and district of giving members of the House of llepresentatives a very cordial invitation to visit Levin, to see the Farm and tlie places of interest. He trusted, with the co-operation of Mr Robertson, M~.l'. for the electorate, that the locality would have the pleasure of seeing a large party of members visiting the town. Placing aside entirely the pleasure of their visit, he candidly thought when such a largo question involving expenditure of .£IOO,OOO was under consideration, it was the duty of each member to make himself acquainted with the reasons why the college should be erected on a site so admirably adapted for it. Many of them were farmers and men of ripe experience and would be able to judge by personal observation if the statements he had made and the arguments he had used were not true in every detail. Students should not go to a district where social life predominated. _ They should go to devoie their time and attention to the study of agriculture and kindred subjects. The town had many educational advantages as he had pointed out, and for the usual hours of relaxation the district was an excellent one for pastimes. BOYS' TRAINING FAIIM.It must not be forgotten that the Boys' Training Farm, consisting of nearly (300 boys, was located .within a mile of the boundary of the Experimental Farm. Thoee boys were receiving an agricultural training, and the usefulness of a college being established in this locality should be of an immense advantage to the education of those youths. Taking into consideration that the institution named wholly and solely belonged to the Government which was responsible for the future of those lads, Mr Gardener had no hesitation in saying that the college should be set up here. Too much knowledge and information regarding agriculture could not but prove most beneficial to their future welfare.