AGRICULTURAL STUDY

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 796, 17 October 1929, Page 7

AGRICULTURAL STUDY

GROWTH OF MASSEY COLLEGE MORE ACCOMMODATION THE SEX’S Parliamentary Reporter PARLIAMENT BLDGS., Wed. Very considerable development took place during the past year at the Massey Agricultural College, according to the annual report tabled in the House of Representatives today. The college has grown at a phenomenal rate, and has outstripped the provision of accommodation. ‘‘The past year has been a period of very considerable development,” states the principal. Professor G. S. Peren. "The college has now emerged from the state of hurried improvisation which characterised the earlier months of its life, and the machinery of the organisation is now running in comparative smoothness. It i 3 plain, however, that the rate of development, more particularly of research work and the proper establishment of student life, will receive a check in the near future through the lack of accommodation. A period of serious congestion, imposing limitations in various directions, is certain to occur before the main science building and hostel can be erected. The college has grown at a phenomenal rate and the provision of suitable accommodation has seriously lagged behind the otherwise excellent progress. The enrolment of students far exceeded expectations, the total number being 85, which taxed the available accommodation to its fullest extent. The year saw a considerable expansion in the programme of research relating to dairying, pigfarming, wool, flax and the top-dress-ing of pastures. The development of the farm has progressed steadily. The total area under crops was 110 acres and the following stock was wintered: 129 dairy cattle, SO bullocks, 1,191 sheep, 25 pigs and seven horses.” Discussing the 19 months” operations the principal said that sufficient temporary accommodation had been arranged to meet the needs of administration, teaching, and research for the past and present academic years. The staff was well balanced and fully capable of giving first-class instruction in important sciences and all applied subjects concerning the raising of crops and stock. Without adequate permanent accommodation the various branches of the work could not expand, and under those conditions there was a damaging blank in the life of the college. While that state of affairs might be unavoidable up to r. point, the principal hoped that it would not continue too long. Early years were of vital importance as regards reputation, and the prospect of not getting the accommodation required in time for March, 1931, as had recently been suggested, was very worrying.