PROPOSED AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10703, 26 August 1912, Page 5

PROPOSED AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE

j>Epr' r -vnox to prime minis^ TEH. STROMA OASEMADE OUT,"''" ". '• .A deputation, representative oi the local bodies, A. and P. Associations,; Trust Lands Trusts, Education B&ard ■•uul Farmers' Union waited upon the Prime Minister (Hon. W. F-. Massey) on Saturday afternoon, v:> urge the claims of the Wairarapa to the North Island Agricultural School. tation, which was introduced by Messrs W. O. Buchanan and ,G. R.Sykes, .M's.P., was composed as follows: Messrs'H. Morrison, C. J. Jury, J. .'Strang, W. H. Jackson, A. Henderson Q Donald, I). McGregor, run., W. H. Booth, D. Hobenton, A- J. Percy, ,P. L. Hollies and A. H. Vile, Mx Buchanan, M.P., in introducing -the deputation, spoko strongly in support of the claims of the great prim■ary industry to better educational lacilitdes. He pointed out what had "been done, in Victoria and Now South Wales in the way of Agricultural Colleges and Agricultural High Schools, and expressed the hope that New Zealand would not he backward, He did not wish to draw invidious comparisons between different parts of the Dominion, hut he asked for fair' play for the Wairarapa, which had advantages possessed by no other part of New Zealand. Owing to the confused efforts, ho considered that a great deal of money had been wasted on their experimental farms. Mr T. Moore (Wairarapa South County Council) referred to the devel-opment,.-of the dairy industry in the' Wairarapa, and claimed that by the scientific treatment of the land the output could be enormously increased. He urged that the claims of tho WaiVarapa to the Agricultural College should be taken seriously into consideration. Mr Hugh Morrison explained that tho deputation was representative of practically every local body in; the Wairarapa. The movement in favour, of an Agricultural College had been ■started in tho Wairarapa, and they claimed some consideration on this account. It was. pleasing to know that they had a practical farmer at the head of the Agricultural Department,' The Wairarapa felt tTiat it had a\ •claim to tho North Island College because it - liad been fighting for it for imonths even before, the list election., "Tho varied soil of the district and the mixed farming, together with the- ytiul stock available, made the Wairarapa eminently suitable for a College.' They 3iad freezing works in the district, -dairy farming, fruit farming, etc. The local bodies were willing to assist •with scholarships, and settlers had promised stock and other donations. Mr Morrison asked that the Minister would visit tho Wairarapa before arriving at a decifion. Mr Massey: I will promise to do that,

Mr W. H. Jackson stated that , he j represented the Masterton Tract Lands Trust, which had an income of a year. This Trust, he felt ■ sure, would liberally endow an Agricultural College with scholarships. The •District High Schools had rural •courses which at present led to .nowhere. Even the winners of rural course scholarships had not facilities for continuing their studios. The Inspectors of tho Wellington Education Board had strongly'urged the need rf a College • .for tile district. ' Student;? would be supplied from the large number of District High Schools and High Schools - within easy renrh of the Wairarapa. ' The Training College would bo provided with, an institution, in which •teachers of agriculture could be trained, as was thf ease at the Hawkcsbury College. The special rural scholarships of the Education Boards included in the Wellington Training College area, could bo made tenable at the ■proposed Agricultural College. In addition to tho Masterton Trusts Land Trust, there were eight County Councils, three A. and P. Associations, and the Grey town Trust, which would probably found scholarships if the College were established in. the Wairarapa. Wealthy land-owners would ■also probably establish foundation scholarships. Mr D. McGregor, jun., said tho wind had been taken cut of their sail? « little by the M'auawatu deputation. He pointed out, however, that the. Wairarapa had been the first to organise a movement in favour of a college. The settlers of the district, •which had a wide population, felt the need of such an institution. There were educational reserves throughout the district, tho proceeds from which •should be devoted to an Agricultural College. Mr McGregor referred to tho suitability of the Wairarapa for a, College. It had all kinds of stud stock mid a variety of farming. They offered facilities for practical as well as theortical instruction. He pointed out that the Wairarapa had not had the advantage of an experimental farm. An Agricultural College would draw students from Nelson and MarlImrough. Tho Wairarapa, therefore, was in a central position. More thin that, it was in close touch with the iWallaceville Laboratory, where vain-