The Press MONDAY, MARCH 24? 1958. University Building Plans

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28543, 24 March 1958, Page 10

The Press MONDAY, MARCH 24? 1958. University Building Plans

The suggestion of the Minister of Education (Mr Skoglund) that Canterbury University’s new science block at Riccarton cannot be opened before 1966 is disturbing in the light of probable enrolments well before that year. As the Vice-Chan-cellor of the university (Dr. F. J. Llewellyn) has pointed out, the University Grants Committee last November recommended the Government to authorise the planning of the science block immediately. The Minister now apparently finds himself unable to accept the committee’s clear recommendation, and has confused the issue by referring to the problems of the University of Auckland. In a statement printed on Saturday, Dr. Llewellyn summarised the difficulties in which the University of Canterbury finds itself and the progress it has made in planning for their removal. While the University of Auckland has yet to decide on the site for its proposed buildings, the University of Canterbury is already developing its new campus at Riccarton and has laid a sound basis for its building programme. To depart from that programme and provide temporary accommodation would be shortsighted. The smooth transfer ' of the university to Riccarton depends on adherence to a long-

term plan, in which the university council should be able to count on Government support. The possibility that all further permanent building may be postponed till Auckland has made up its mind on a site and had its claims satisfied should be resisted. Canterbury’s claim for a new science block is based primarily on the prospect that, without considerable expansion of accommodation, the university’s intake of students will have to be restricted drastically. This year, the number of internal students rose to 2547; in 1962, it is expected to be between 3400 and 3900, and in 1967 between 4950 and 6050. There are about 280 new entrants in science this year, compared witn 213 in 1957; and the total number of science students has risen to about 600. It is undesirable that the teaching of science should be. handicapped by inadequate buildings. To limit educational opportunities by .the

exclusion of potential students is equally undesirable. Government recognition of this was implied by Mr Skoglund in a speech at Timaru last Wednesday when, after referring to the financial demands of education, he said: “ This Government “ believes that the two depart- “ ments that should never go “ short are Health and Educa- “ tion