1960 Lewis Morrison

A photo of Lewis Morrison, C.A.C. Staff, 1931-60. Mr Morrison will be leaving the College at the end of this year after 30 years' service, and with his departure another identity, greatly esteemed by Old Students, will have to be replaced in new form. Born in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, he was educated at Keith Grammar Public School and at the University of Aberdeen, where incidentally he was also a colleague of Sir George Currie, who became Vice-Chancellor, University of New Zealand. Mr Morrison's studies were interrupted by the Great War during which he served in France with the Royal Engineers attached to the 61st Highland Division. After three years' war service be resumed at Aberdeen and completed his degree. In 1922 he became assistant lecturer in agricultural zoology at Aberdeen, but in 1924 transferred to the then Armstrong College, Newcastle-on-Tyne (University of Durham). He remained there seven years as lecturer in Agricultural Zoology. In 1931 he and Mrs Morrison came to New Zealand and for a few years his lecture work in entomology was shared by Canterbury College (Zoology and Forest departments) and Lincoln. For a period also he was employed in part by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research but in 1937 he became full-time lecturer at Canterbury Agricultural College and ultimately Head of the Department of Agricultural Zoology. Since 1968, when the teaching of the basic science subjects in the B.Agr.Sc. degree was transferred to the Agricultural College, Mr Morrison has also supervised the Zoology work. During his service Mr Morrison has played a full part on the typical College programmes embracing teaching, research and extension. As a teacher his lectures were characterised by meticulous preparation and clear presentation. Many listeners were intrigued by the North of Scotland accent which has remained with him naturally throughout, although some students occasionally found this difficult. As Bill Hadfield remarked at the last Timaru reunion where Mr Morrison was the guest, he was never clear in insect anatomy "as to which were actually the ‘moothputs’.” Mr Morrison's research work dealt with problems of insect pests of crops and grain and also some original work on derris in sheep dips. In addition he guided the Masterate courses of young men who have made a mark elsewhere including .D: .A. McBurney (deceased), West Africa; J. H. Hoy, Entomology Division, D.S.I.R.; B. K. Sinha, Bihar, India; K. M. Doull, Waite Agric. Research Institute, Adelaide; B. B. Watts, Shell Oil Co.; R. P. Pottinger, C.A.C. His wife also retained an interest in College affairs and her bright personality has given much _pleasure at the College gatherings. Their son Gordon took the B.Agr.Sc. degree at the College (49-53) and he then became Biologist, Plant Quarantine section, Dept. of Agriculture, Wellington--at present on leave to study for the Diploma in Public Administration. Mr and Mrs Morrison expect to leave in February 1961 for at least a two-year stay in Britain but Old Students will be pleased to know that it is the intention of the Morrisons to return to Christchurch and to live there in retirement. (Source: 1960 Canterbury Agricultural College Magazine, p78-80).