Decision Soon On Engineering School

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29843, 8 June 1962, Page 12

Decision Soon On Engineering School

(from Our Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, June 7. Accommodation problems of the school of engineering of Canterbury University were being considered by the University Grants Committee, and that a decision could be expected in a week or so, the Minister of Education (Mr Tennent) told the Hous6 of Representatives today.

He was replying to Mr M. A. Connelly (Opposition, Riccarton), who had asked whether the Minister’s attention has been drawn to a proposal that entries for the first professional engineering year to the school be limited as from 1963. Mr Tennent said that it was embarrassing that such a question had been asked, . particularly as Mr Connelly knew a deputation from Cani terbury University Council . would see him next week. Mr Tennent said that in , 1951 it was agreed that there ; should be provision for 300 students at the schooL In 1957 the National Government expanded accommoda- . tion to 550. In 1960. the Uni- [ versify Grants Committee had written to the then Minister (Mr Skoglund, saying it was necessary to increase the accommodation to 700. Mr Skoglund had replied

that he was not convinced of the need for further accommodation. When Mr Tennent proceeded to explain the situation at the Auckland engineering school, the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Nash) intervened.

“If this Is an example of the new procedure. I am not happy with it. We would want to debate an answer like this,” he said. After some Opposition interactions had commented on the “provocative” nature of his reply, Mr Tennent concluded by saying: "The Grants Committee really requires an indication from the Canterbury University Council before it can make a decision as to the urgency of the accommodation problem. But 1 am informed that the council has placed the matter of engineering school accommodation eighth in its list of things that are required.”