TWO UNIVERSITY BRANCHES

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28889, 8 May 1959, Page 15

TWO UNIVERSITY BRANCHES

Teachers Welcome Decision

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, May 7. The Government’s decision to establish branches of Victoria University and Auckland University at Palmerston North and Hamilton respectively gave great satisfaction to the New Zealand Educational Institute, said the institute’s president (Mr D. R. Blyth, of Alexandra) today. Mr Blyth is in Wellington for the opening on Monday of the institute’s annual meeting and a meeting tomorrow of the institute’s executive committee.

“The fact that the university branches are being established in towns containing teachers’ colleges is especially gratifying,” Mr Blyth said, ‘‘because it will afford student teachers in these towns much improved opportunities of advancing themselves academically. “In addition, the beginning of an extra-mural department in Palmerston North is something we greatly applaud, coming as it does as the culmination to many years of effort by the institute and the Post-primary Teachers’ Association to better the lot of the extra-mural student. ‘‘lt is becoming increasingly necessary for teachers to make their academic qualifications as high as possible,” Mr Blyth added. ‘‘We welcome the new facilities being offered to teachers and teacher trainees away from the Main university centres.”