W. L. Harbord

William Leslie Harbord, Dip.Agr. (1934-35)

The death occurred on January 28, 1960 of Mr W. L. Harbord, Superintendent Flock House Farm of Instruction, Department of Agriculture, Bulls. He was aged 46.

After leaving Lincoln he began his career in the Department of Agriculture in 1986 as an assistant meat inspector in Invercargill, later Fields Instructor, and his work over some years in Southland was highly appreciated.

In 1949 he resigned and went into a business of his own. He rejoined the Department in 1951 as Fields Instructor at Flock House and became Superintendent there in 1958. He was well known in the Marton district and before being promoted to Superintendent was the Flock House delegate on the Rangitikei Rugby Union.

He was esteemed by the members of the Young Farmers' Clubs who received much assistance and consideration from him at various field days and stock judging competitions held at Flock House from time to time. The farming community and machinery firms found him at all times willing to co-operate in fields days staged at Flock House in the interests of the farming industry.

The boys undergoing their agricultural training at Flock House could count themselves fortunate in being under the guidance of a man of the calibre of Mr Harbord. He had the happy knack of being a disciplinarian, was sound in both theory and practice, and a man of easy approach. He acted as a father, counsellor, friend and tutor to a group of boys who will someday be the better for knowing him.

He is survived by his wife, Mrs K. M. Harbord, and two children.