STUDENTS’ UNION IN BRISBANE

Press, Volume C, Issue 29604, 29 August 1961, Page 17

STUDENTS’ UNION IN BRISBANE

These two were among many pictures of the students’ union at the University of Queensland, Brisbane, shown to the Canterbury University Council yesterday. The top close-up photograph is of the Students' Association administration centre. This block is in the middle of the lower lay-out sketch of all the student union buildings. Behind the administration block is the refectory. Recreation buildings are on the left. To the right is the auditorium with a curved roof. Governments and communities in New Zealand would have* to be educated on the importance of student union buildings, said the Vice-

Chancellor jDr. L. L. Pownall) when he reported on his recent visit to Australia. He said he was gratified to find that most new students’ unions had been built with Federal and State government funds. The Brisbane students’ union could take up to 4000 out of the total roll of 10,000 students at one time. Besides big lounges it had common rooms, meeting rooms, club rooms, and offices for all student officers. The refectory had three divisions a self-service cafeteria, waitress - served dining room, and a de luxe dining room for special functions. More than 600 diners could be seated at one time and meal service was given from 8.30 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Dr. Pownall said the quality of food and service matched any Australian hotel he knew. The students’ union has its own shop offering anything from stationery to clothing, and there were also laundry, same-day dry-cleaning, and shoe-repair services. Folding doors between the common rooms opened to provide 5000 square feet for dancing and 800 persons had been accommodated in this part alone. “The universities in Australia are all far ahead of New Zealand in , their recognition of the importance of students’ unions,” Dr. Pownall said. “This reflects the attitude of the Federal and State governments and of the people. This outlook

also extends to halls of residence, which are also very fine.” The Chancellor (Mr C. H. Perkins) said the people of Canterbury would be interested in Dr. Pownall’s report because of the present students’ union appeal in Christchurch. Whereas Australian universities gained their students’ unions almost entirely from Government funds. Canterbury students themselves were pledged to raise £75,000 and the public were being asked for £25,000. The public appeal had so far produced between £13,000 and £14,000. Two major contributions recently were £5OO from New Zealand Newspapers, Ltd., and £5OO from A. M. Satterthwaite, Ltd.