Educational Rate Relief Might End Shortly

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30452, 28 May 1964, Page 7

Educational Rate Relief Might End Shortly

Rate exemptions on land set aside for educational purposes are likely to end soon, the Minister of Transport (Mr McAlpine) told members of the Lincoln College council at its meeting on Tuesday. Mr McAlpine said this after the principal (Dr. M. M. Bums) had reported on the college development programme. He advised the council that the time might not be far away when rates would have to be paid. Mr McAlpine s'aid that in keeping with party policy outlined at the election last November the Government had undertaken to review payment of rates on Government property.

It was quite likely that the Government would accept the responsibility .for rating in gradual stages. He mentioned that by its very existence the college caused a deal of traffic on county-roads leading to and from the area and that the burden for maintaining these fell on rate and. taxpayers in the district. Dr. Burns said that earlier this month the assistant Government architect (Mr Blake ; Kelly) made a special visit to Lincoln to give preliminary consideration to the development and layout of the col- ; lege. Dr. Burns said Mr Kelly looked at the broad problems involved and made certain initial suggestions regarding layout of .buildings and playing areas. Mr McAlpine urged the council to think in terms of having the most suitable layout for the college. Governor-General Dr. Burns tbld the council that the Governor-General (Sir Bernard Fergusson) would visit Lincoln College on the morning of June 9. Although no definite programme had been prepared it was intended to show his Excellency over the research farm, the agricultural engineering and wool science departments and to give him an opportunity to meet members of the economics department staff. Tent At Show On the subject of college participation at the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association’s annual show it was decided, on the recommendation of the professorial board, that the college will continue to take part, but that there will be no elaborate comprehensive display. It was agreed that the tent at the show was largely a public relations effort although its value as such was undetermined. Dr. Burns said it was not as effective a means of public relations as were talks to farmers and interested bodies and participation at conferences. He declared the college to have the best public relations of any academic organisation in the Dominion without exception. On the suggestion of Mr McAlpine it was decided that in future the college tent would feature a static display featuring photographic displays of college activities. Dr. Burns commended the Hawke's Bay Farmers’ Cooperative Association, Ltd., for its.provision of an annual bursary of £l5O to assist students taking the course for bachelor of agricultural science or the diploma in valuation and farm management. He described it as a far-sighted policy on the company’s part