University Building Programmes

Press, Volume C, Issue 29702, 21 December 1961, Page 14

University Building Programmes

Two recent items of news illustrated the continuing problems of the New Zealand universities and the ways in which they are being attacked. The first was a reminder by Professor J. C. Garrett, on his return to Christchurch from refresher leave overseas. of the “ phenomenal “ demand ” for university education and of the need to provide progressively increased facilities. The second item was an outline of the new system for planning the universities’ building programmes. The establishment of a university works committee under the chairmanship of Dr. F. J. Llewellyn, chairman of the Grants Committee, will facilitate orderly progress in coping with some of the universities’ most important requirements. Because the principal government departments concerned will be represented directly on the committee, works pro-

grammes should be coordinated better both for the universities’ own benefit and to ease the Government’s financial burdens. The proposed procedure is likely to expedite the approval and completion of new buildings; and it includes a welcome degree of flexibility. In its first annual report to Parliament the Grants Committee referred briefly to its review of university accommodation, and stated that preliminary discussions with government departments had “ taken place in an “ atmosphere of co-opera- “ tion and a ready understanding of the important “ place of the universities “ in New Zealand ”. Already the effects of overhauling university administration are becoming apparent through the Grants Committee’s initiative, for which future generations of New Zealanders should have good cause to be grateful.