“N.Z. LAGGING BEHIND”

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29182, 18 April 1960, Page 13

“N.Z. LAGGING BEHIND”

Student Halls Of Residence

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, April 17.

In establishing halls of residence, New Zealand universities are increasingly lagging behind the universities of other countries, many of which are usually described as “underdeveloped,” according to a report which was presented to the council meeting of the New Zealand Universities’ Students’. Association during the week-end’. The council was told that the committee of inquiry into New Zealand universities had recommended that the whole question of the development of halls of residence at the six universities and colleges should be investigated by the University Grants Committee.

A motion that the National Students’ Association should indicate its desire to participate in this work was adopted by the council.

At Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch there has been no development of residential facilities since the 1930’s and the emphasis given to halls of residence in the educational process and life of the* student and of the university itself has been greatly neglected. In preparing its submissions to the committee of inquiry the National Students’ Association formulated and processed a questionnaire on student accommodation in New Zealand. The questionnaire revealed that the percentage of students for whom places can be provided in halls of residence (Auckland, 7 per cent.; Wellington, 5 per cent.; Canterbury, 11 per cent.; and Otago, 28 per cent.) is far below that considered acceptable overseas. In Australia, about 25 per cent, of all students are able to live in halls, while in the United Kingdom the general trend rises from about 25 per cent, to about 55 per cent, at Oxford and Cambridge. Some of the adverse effects of the neglect of this aspect of university development in New Zealand were noted by the committee of inquiry. These included: the number of students living away from home has outgrown the living accommodation within local transport distance from the universities; too many students are living in sub-standard conditions which results in undue sickness, privation, undesirable behaviour patterns in some cases, and inadequate conditions for study.