A Display of Parochial Rivalry

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 109, 29 July 1927, Page 7

A Display of Parochial Rivalry

AGRICULTURAL COLLEGES POLITICIANS AIR VIEWS i (THE SUN'S Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Thursday. A LTHOUGH it would have appeared that little was left to be said on the subject of agricultural colleges, members of the House of Representatives reiterated the previously expressed views when the two Agricultural Colleges Bills came before the House for the second reading to-day. The Bills were put through all stages with minor amendments inserted by the Minister. With a full knowledge of the heavy work ahead, the South and North Island members engaged in the old dispute of parochial difference, Northern members condemning the Southerners for their change of attitude and Southern members smiling complacently at the North at having secured University status for Lincoln. The Hon. O. J. llawken, Minister of Agriculture, in moving the second reading, expressed the hope that the dispute of last year would be finally settled. Mr. G. W. Forbes: It was not a dispute, merely a friendly discussion. Air. D. Jones, Ellesmere, sought to dispel the idea that the two colleges would create added expense. The idea, he said, was for the North Island College to direct its educational and research work mainly to pastoral farming, while Lincoln attended chiefly to arable farming, really constituting one college with two branches. The Leader of the Opposition considered this by no means an attainment of finality, but a step toward some improvement in agricultural advancement. Mr. J. A. Lee, Auckland East, had something to say to Southern members. If members from the South had not raised the controversy last year the college might have been functioning now. He asked if Cabinet would be prepared to accept a report adopted by Auckland members gathered together. He was referring to the conference of South Island members last year. If so they would soon form a caucus and point out where the Department of Agriculture could expand its activities to the benefit of Auckland production, and New Zealand production as a whole. “I object,” he said, “to the South Island members getting up and saying, after they blocked the issue last session, ‘Don’t raise the North versus South question.’ We object to being placed in the parochial position that many of the Southerners would put us in.” RESEARCH WORK In reply, Air. Hawken said that agricultural research would be dealt with with headquarters at Palmerston North, though the Research Department would have charge of the whole research question. Insufficient had been spent in research and the grant of £3,700 would give the South Island a good start. Referring to the Agricultural College at Palmerston North, Mr. Hawken said that plans of the building were not yet complete, and it was not known how far the Government was going with the scheme this year. It was the intention of the board to go right on with the work, however, and when the dairy season began a start could be made with the work of the institution. An expenditure of £15,000 a year, and the capital cost of £IO,OOO for buildings, should ensure efficiency. Replying to an interjcctor, Mr. Hawken said that the Agricultural Department could absorb six or seven graduates every year, a£_d the Government did not anticipate there being too many.