TRAINING IN FORESTRY

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25086, 18 January 1947, Page 10

TRAINING IN FORESTRY

PROPOSED SCHOOL AT ROTORUA UNIVERSITY SENATE APPROACHED To ask that the University of New Zealand should approve the proposed forestry training centre at Rotorua and grant it degrees, Mr A. R. Entrican, Director of the State Forest Service, appeared before the Senate in Christchurch yesterday. The matter was referred to the executive committee for inquiry and a report. The Chancellor (Mr Justice Smith) said it was an important matter, which warranted the most careful consideration. Mr Entrican traced the formation of the State Forest Service and its development. He said that when the need for a training scheme became approfessors at the university colleges were approached, but only in Christchurch was much enthusiasm shown. Later, when the college councils were approached. Auckland and Canterbury took up some instruction; but staff was inadequate. Only a smattering of the necessary knowledge could be given. Meanwhile, there was a growing need for trained staff, the depression caused upsets, and there was a period of dissension about alleged discriminations whereby professional officers were claimed to secure a monopoly of administrative posts. In 1939, with his senior officers, he formulated a plan to train clerical, general, and professional divisions of is staff at a forest training centre, with the best men to instruct them. The scheme was recognised by the Public Service Commissioner as the most comprehensive and efficient in the Public Servicd. “Forestry is an ’ art as well as a science, and that is why I believe training should be in a forest environment,” Mr Entrican said. A school separated from a university centre would have some disadvantages: but these would be outweighed by the advantages of a forest centre. Mr J. H. E. Schroder said Mr Entrican had suggested that the university colleges had not’ shown interest in forestry training: but Canterbury College had framed prooosals which in a measure anticipated the report now made by the Forestry Department. Why was the university nor approached as soon as the idea of university co-operatiori was brought into it? Why had the university not been approached at any stage until after the scheme had been completed and published? Why had several official statements been published that the university would recognise the course and diplomas or degrees of the Rotorua centre? These questions were pertinent, beepuse some present trainees might well be under the false impression that university approval Was certain. Mr Entrican replied that in 1939 it was purely a departmental training scheme. It was not found possible to begin a proper course till 1948. The university was now being asked to bring the proposed school under its supervision and to approve courses and examinations so that university degrees could be granted the first trainees. Concerning the newsnaper report this week that the university would recognise degrees of the school, he would deny knowledge of such a statement being issued from his department and express the belief that no officer of his department had made it. He could only suppose that people were occasionally misreported. When Mr W. Machin asked if the department would revise the constitution of the school’s board of managers to allow the university a controlling majority if it was to grant degrees, Mr Entrican agreed. After several more questions the subject was referred for inquiry.