AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION.

Hokitika Guardian, 3 February 1927, Page 4

AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION.

FIRST MEETING OF COUNCIL. j WELLINGTON. Feb. ]. j The first meeting of the New Zen- j land Agricultural College Council was , held at Parliament Buildings to-day. ! Present—Sir James Wilson, Hon G. j Fowlds, Messrs A. Morton, T. IT. Wells. : P. Levi, R. A. Rodger, H. 15. Stuckey, j N. Francis and Professor Hunter. | The Tlon O. J. Ha when, Minister of Agriculture, in welcoming members, said the Government realised that the . work before them would he of a difficult nature and would call for great , ability and energy in bringing the activities of the college to a successful i issue. Agricultural education had licen i talked of in New Zealand lor many years past, but it. was only in the last session of Parliament that the Government finally decided Lo set up an

Agricultural College. However, the ! delay which had occurred would enable the council to benefit from the ex- . perieiiiee of other countries. The farm- , or had always insisted that his parti- j eiilar type of education should lieeniin- j ontly practical, as distinct, from aca- i domic. The' Minister said he know j some of the difficulties the council ■ would moot with in combining the two systems. The Act under which the new college was constituted was made very wide in scope, and provision was made for technical and research work. There was also the question of co-ordinating the work of the college with that of other departments of Government, in order to avoid overlapping. Any reeomnieiidal ions w hich the council made (mi these and other questions would receive the earnest consideration of the Government. No half measures, said the Minister, were wanted by the Government in connection with agricultural education. They wanted education to he of a high class. He hoped that, such arrangements would he made with Lincoln College ns would be in Hie best interests of all. and especially of farming generally throughout Hie Dominion. If was admitted that a great deal of research work was needed in connection wilfi agriculture. Tie thought the council would find lhal Die farm and properly near Palmerston North would ho eminently suitable for the purposes of the college. He concluded by wishing every success to the college in ils great undertaking. On Die motion of S’ir .Tames Wilson, seconded by Air P. Levi. Die Hon. Coo. Fowlds was elected the firsl chairman of the council of the college.