AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVII, Issue 10, 9 December 1926, Page 7

AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE.

NO SYMPATHY FOR LEAGUE. FROM MANAWATU COUNTY t COUNCIL. “I don’t think that the matter is one that interests local bodies,” stated Cr T. Boyce at the monthly meeting yesterday of the Manawatu County Council on the reading of a letter from Messrs J. A. Nash, M.P., and W. McKenzie, chairman and secretary respectively of the North Island Agricultural College League, advising of the objects for which their body had been set up, and soliciting a donation towards the funds of the league. The writers added that, in the near future, it was hoped that a North Island conference would be held to further, the aims of the league. Cr Pearce: I have not much sympathy with this movement. If Palmerston North is the right place for the agricultural college, it should get the institution. This move will create friction between the two islands. The chairman (Cr Barber), who is the council’s delegate on the league, mentioned that the land at Palmerston North had already been procured by the Government. Cr Boyoe: If the matter is a national one, the Government should do the subsidising. After further brief .discussion, it was decided that the council should not commit itself by way of a donation, and the chairman undertook to attend the conference and to report later. OROUA COUNCIL HOLDS MATTER OVER. “It is certain that the league cannot function properly without funds.” remarked the chairman (Cr Campbell) at yesterday’s meeting of the Oroua County Council when a letter was received from the North Island Agricultural League asking for financial assistance. “Whether we are entitled to give the movement any financial help is another matter,” the chairman went on to say, “for I am firmly of the opinion that the country does not want two colleges and I would rather the question of the site was decided definitely by the Government.” Following a discussion upon the matter the council decided to hold the question over till next meting in order to find out what view other local bodies were taking upon the subject.