AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE MAY COME TO WERAROA.

Shannon News, 13 April 1926, Page 3

AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE MAY COME TO WERAROA.

Professors Favour Palmers, ton. BUT MINISTERS SAY TOO GOSTLY. DECISION WILL BE GIVEN SHORTLY* The Manawateu. Times of yesterday features the following telegram:— (From Our Political Observer.) WELLINGTON, Last Night. •The moment is very near at hand when a Ministerial statement can he expected on the location of the proposed Agricultural College, and the chances are that the Central Development Farm at Weraroa will be the choice of the authorities. Both the Minister of Lands (Hon. A. D. McLeod) - and the Minister of Agriculture (Hon. O. J. Haw-ken) have visited a number of the sites submitted by Professors Riddett and Peren, who have been spying out the land, and it is expected that the special committee dealing with the matter will prepare its report very shortly. Naturally Palmerston North is intimately concerned, especially as one of the mast favoured sites is at its very doors. The property farmed for so many years by the late Mr J. O. Batcbelar, at Fitzherbert, has been carefully inspected both by the professors and the Ministers. I am given to understand that the professors strongly favour both the site and the farm, which contains about 800 acres, but the Minister contend that it is too expensive, and have turned it down. First cost appears to be the paramount consideration with the Ministers, and if they have the final say in the matter, then Weraroa will be their choice. The land owned by the Government at Levin is said to be worth about £70,000, and, in the. opinion of the Ministers, possesses all the requirements for an Agricultural College.