The Chronicle PUBLISHED DAILY. LEVIN. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28. THE AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 28 January 1914, Page 2

The Chronicle PUBLISHED DAILY. LEVIN. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28. THE AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE.

Tin-; establishment of an Agriculiural College for the .North Island of \ew Zealand seems to be indeiiuitelv postponed. Eighteen moilihs ago the establishment of this college was reg'ai'ded as essential to the best interests of the dominion. Both parties in the House of .Representatives were agreed on this point, and the only ground for difference was based on the rival claims of Alarton, L'almerston Xortli and Levin amongst the towns, with Hawke's Bay .and Auckland provinces as general claimants, to be made the location oi : the college. Finally, I'or insufficient reasons, it was anJ nounced that to a Board of AgriI cultural Experts (to be set it]) sub- ! sequently) would be delegated the i duly of saying (or recommending to the Minister of Agriculture) I which town or district offered the best facilities for an agricultural college. The board then spoken j of is still in the growing timber state, so to speak, and consequently the Agricultural College is as far from establishment to-day as it was a year ago and more. The constitution of the board should I be completed without further dej lay. and the fixing of a site for the college be made the board's ! (irst subject for consideration, j On intrinsic merit, Levin should be their selection. But. there is a further reason for fixing upon Levin. That consists in the fact that a college could be set tip in Levin at an expense of £2000 or so; whereas to purchase a farm at Marton or elsewhere, and fit it with suitable buildings and accessories, a sum of from €40,000 upwards would be needed. That point, however, is by the way. . New Zealand's need is "the col- ' lege"': the questions of location and finance are of subsidiary importance only.