CHANCELLOR’S GENEROUS OFFER.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 2848, 19 February 1925, Page 3

CHANCELLOR’S GENEROUS OFFER.

£2,000 FOR AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH. Wellington, Yesterday. Tbe opening address of the Chancellor of the University of New Zealand was upon the subject of Agriculture, the importance of which he stressed last. year. In order to encourage University study in agriculture and attract students from the other professional courses, which lie felt were being overdone, he offered to the Senate a gift of £2,000, which with the Government subsidy, would permit of the establishment of a handsome postgraduate agricultural research course. The Chancellor said lie considered Agriculture one of the most essential subjects for the Senate to discuss. In the old days of the colony, agriculture was the whole life of the community. He referred to the early controversy in regard to the establishment of University courses in New Zealand, and pointed out how the outlook upon university education had altered since then. He thought it very important to concentrate upon professional training and make it stronger. The only disadvantage was that students would have to travel to the centre which specialised in their particular subject .or profession. Tbe difficulty would not be surmounted by duplicating the professional schools. The only logical attitude to adopt on this point would be to have a fully equipped University in every town and village. Hitherto he had given a silent vote on the motion to duplicate the professional schools, as they were extremely costly in equipment and administration. He feared that too much wasteful energy and talent was being withdrawn from our most important industry and directed to professional careers