THE HON. J. BRYCE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 312, 29 June 1912, Page 5

THE HON. J. BRYCE

URGES AGRICULTURAL TRAINING. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The Hon. J. Bryce delivered an address at the Victoria College capping teremony to-day on university topics, Which was listened to by the students without the customary interruptions, and greeted at the end by their getting up and cheering. The speaker spoke of the difficulties encounter'- 1 in university work in a country like X,.\,- /.' ;;'and, and strongly advocated each of the four colleges concentrating itself on some special lield of activity, as was done now to a certain degree. He thought it .was a pitythat men like Rutherford and McLaurin should be lost to .the country and allowed to be drawn away by greater opportunities of advancement elsewhere. He counselled .the youth of the universities to fit themselves for Parliamentary work, and bring to the legislature knowledge and the habit of careful and accurate thought so much needed in the work of legislation. He urged very strongly the creation of an agricultural college of supreme excellence. There was no bettor service the. legislature could render the country than making the most liberal grants to such an.institution (an opinion which drew "Hear, hear" from the Governor, who was present). Mr. Bryce urged that this had been done both in the United States'.and in Canada, and the result was that the values of stock and produce had been doubled in twenty years by scientific methods. After urging the importance of having the-best colleges and getting the best teachers, and retaining here men of talent, the speaker concluded by expressing great admiration for the scenery and resources of New Zealand, and returning thanks for the kindness he had received in his month's sojourn, which ended with his departure for Australia to-day.