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1929. NEW ZEALAND.

MASSEY AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. REPORT ON THE PROGRESS OF THE COLLEGE DURING THE YEAR 1928, TOGETHER WITH STATEMENTS OF ACCOUNT.

Laid on the Table of the Bouse of Representatives in pursuance of Section 24 of the Massey Agricultural College Act, 1926.

MASSEY AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE.—ANNUAL REPORT FOR 1928. The Chairman, Massey Agricultural College Council. Sir, — I have pleasure in presenting the following report for the period Ist January, to 31st December, 1928. The past year has been a period of very considerable development, and I am pleased to be able to report that the various accomplishments when viewed as a whole show very considerable progress. The College has now emerged from the state of hurried improvization which characterized the earlier months of its life, and the machinery of its organization is now running with comparative smoothness. Each succeeding month sees further progress in the foundation work of the various units and a closer approach to a well-balanced and efficient institution. The appointment of the staff, referred to hereunder in detail, and the provision of further accommodation, both permanent and temporary, has made possible the institution of that specialization in the major branches of the work which alone can give the results, both in teaching and research, which the country expects. It is plain, however, that the rate of development, more particularly of the research work, and the proper establishment of student life, will receive a check in the near future owing to 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 importance of making up this leeway as soon as possible cannot be overstated. The present position of our development is briefly as follows :— Staff. During the year the following Lecturers and Assistant Lecturers have been appointed and have taken up their duties : Lecturers —S. A. Asdell (Animal Nutrition and Physiology of Farm-animals) ; F. W. Dry (Agricultural Zoology and Wool) ; J. M. McLinden (Veterinary Pathology and Animal Physiology) ; R. Waters (Bacteriology) ; D. 0. Williams (Agricultural Economics) ; J. S. Yeates (Agricultural Botany) ; F. L. C. Scrivener (Soil Chemistry). Assistant Lecturers—B. L. Elphick (Chemistry) ; W. A. Jacques (Field Husbandry). Dairy factory : G. M. Valentine (Superintendent). In the above the College has been fortunate in obtaining men of high academic qualifications who, coming from a number of old-established institutions, represent a wide range of experience in methods of both teaching and research. They have settled down to their work with a will, and show promise of developing rapidly their respective branches of work. During the summer all members of the staff did a considerable amount of travelling in connection with their subjects, which, in the case of those new to this country, has naturally strengthened their confidence in themselves. Owing, however, to the demands made on the time of the senior staff by development work the College is not as yet keeping in so close a contact with the general public as I should like to see. In time, one hopes, it will be possible to remedy this state of affairs,

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