THE COLLEGE SITE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 201, 22 August 1912, Page 4

THE COLLEGE SITE.

, There appears in our correspoirdflnco columns to-day a Ictiter from Mr. W. J. Ralph, tiho pTcsidenit of the Citizens' League, protesting against the selection of the ■Sletro.politttn Ground as a site for the University College. There is cortainly nothing in the letter in <the form of argument that merits any serious consideration; but "we take strong objection to the tone and manner of it. Apparently Che writer is of the opinion that the only people competent to decide this question are the members of the Citizens' League, and more particularly its president. We may suggest m reply that on such a subject ac university education and the facilities required "or it the members of the University College Councii and th« professorial staff, net to mention numerous other educational experts, arc certainly entitled to some little consideration; and as a large number of people exceedingly well qualified to express an opinion on (this maicter have stated that the Metropolitan Ground is wot only a highly suitable site but practically the only site available fox a new College, it seems to us that Mx. Ralph ie arrogating to his own views an importance and weight that nobody else ifl at all likely to a/ttaoh to them.

As to the Citizens' 'League, iwiak"! Mr. Ralph appears to mistake for a responsible public body holding a mandate from the people of Auckland to speak in their name and voice their opinions, wo would very much like to know why anyone should assume tltat it is in any sense representative of Auckland or its citizens. Certainly in the deputation tram the . Citizens' League that waited on the Hon. Jas. Allen the other day ■to warn him off the Metropolitan! Ground, there iras> -jot one- man who! ■has held any important official position i in this city or can claim to stand forth as the mouthpiece of public sentiment here. On the other hand, even if -we were io adopt Mt. Ralph's rather supercilious point of view, and ignore the University College Council altogether, we couW, 'hardly overlook •the fact thai the Metropolitan Ground has been formally approved as a College site by an influential public moating called in this city to discuss the question: it 'has been formally approved by the City Council, which is surely an infinitely more representative and' public-spirited 'body than the Citizens' League; and when the present ■member for Auckland East during his deletion catnrpajgn announced himself in favour of the •Metropolitan site, .hie d<wision "was confirmed, 'by the -many ttouaamiß off citizens who voted for him and reifcurned him by a large majority at the head of the pall.

It is *hcretore simply futile -to protend that the selection of the Metropolitan site hae not been sanctioned by public opinion here. Wo may add that it is equally puerile to take exception, as Mr. Ralph does, to the manner in which Hhe University Ooliege Council is now endeavouring to press its claims. In regard to Mir. Ralph's claptrap about a "secret conclave" and his insinuation that underhand metboda are being employed by his opponent*, wo may point out thai ttc disctrssron between the College Council and the Hon. Jas. Allen took place in private at the Minister's own enggestaon, because the Rites mentioned included several properties still in private hands; Mr. Alien also was not in a position to speak on behalf of the other members of the Cabinet. The members of the College Council have never made any secret regarding their views on iMs question. JTheir desire has been to maintain the present democratic character of tho college. Mr. Ralph seems ratlreT inclined to impute unworthy motives to his opponents; tout we may suggest to ihim i'hat the opinion of a property holder in Prirrors Street, who may feel pardonably anxious to keep open spaces round his private residence, is, perhaps, oat wholly free from prejudice. A* for tho cry that 'tfhe Metropolitan Ground should be le£t open as a "breathing a pace" for the city, t)he answer, of course, is «hait the eastern half of Auckland is already lavishly supplied with public reserves, and that even now it is possible to walk almost tile whole way from j Aihert Pto-k to Nieroniarleet Wrrongto! pubJte domains. As a University College sito tie Metropolitan Ground would be aocessibie to the public! in a sense in •wiiich it never bae been open to them, and never can be -while it is a grazing paddock for Govermirent Ho'jee. Aβ to Mr. Ralph's indignation with the College Council (or not choosing some other site, | we need only repeat that there is no alternative site available on which a Coßege can be built within practicable reach of the men and women who now form ninr-tentbs of the whole body of students. Mr. Ralph and the Citizens' T-*ftgue "would put up the new College at fienruera or some equally inaccessible spot, co as to keep it outside the city bounds. Do these gentlemen realise that

the only way in •whidb. out TJnrreraiifcy College can be made to serve its purpose for the 'benefit of the people as a whole is by keeping it within easy reach of the great majority elf students ■who are occupied during the day elsewhere? A college on Mt. Hobson or at One-tree Hill might serve the purposes of the 1 propertied classes, whom Mr. Balph so well represents. But the selection of mich a site would debar from regular attendance at lectures all but about 40 or 50 oft the 400 students- who are new pursuing their studies there, and therefore we 'hold that it would be in the last degree antagonistic to the public interest and to the democratic principles on •whSoh. our edticaitaonaJ system is founded to suit the convenience of Mr. Ralph and) the prejudices of the Citizens' League 'by banishing the College to a remote and inaccessible suburb.