UNIVERSITY AT RICCARTON Science Building “Not

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28541, 21 March 1958, Page 7

UNIVERSITY AT RICCARTON Science Building “Not

Before 1966” Although it was possible that the new science building at Riccarton tor the University of Canterbury would be begun soon after the new engineering school was completed in 1961, “I can’t see it opening before 1966.” said the Minister of Education (Mr Skoglund) last evening. Once the decision was made to build it would take six years before the block would be ready for occupation, he said. The Minister was asked to comment on the opinion of the University Council that unless the science building could be completed by 1964 there would be serious restrictions on admissions, even if expensive additional temporary accommodation were provided on the central site. The Chancellor of the University (Mr D. W. Bain) said at the last meeting of the council that if the science building was not opened by 1964 the present school or engineering would have to be converted at a cost of at least £BO,OOO. and that would be only temporary On this question the Minister said that if the alternative was the exclusion of some science students, "it might be that the temporary alterations should be made.” A temporary building recently erected at the University of Auckland had cost £lBO.OOO. he said. Auckland Claims The Minister said that the whole question of university building was bound up with the recommendations of the University Grants Committee. Its last fiveyear programme was just about up, and he had not yet seen its programme for the next five years. The matter of priorities tor university buildings was at present complicated by the plans of tne University of Auckland. No decision has yet been made on whether it should remain at toe present site or begin building on a new one While Canterbury. Wellington and Otago universities had each had new permanent buildings erected in recent years, Auckland had not, and it felt that it should be given ureter ence. .. In the ’second round the priority would be decided by the grants committee on the ground if the urgency of the need in each centre If there was a request for two university buildings. each costing about £600.000 the Government would then have to decide how much money coulo be set aside for this purpose, said the Minister.