The Press FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 1964. School Of Forestry For Canterbury

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30543, 11 September 1964, Page 10

The Press FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 1964. School Of Forestry For Canterbury

The announcement by the Minister of Forests (Mr Gerard) of the Government’s approval of a school of forestry on the new Ham campus of the University of Canterbury will be welcomed by a much wider group of interests than those who fought so vigorously about 15 years ago to have the Canterbury school re-established. Since then the South Island’s forest potential has become much better recognised, and the need for its wise development has become better appreciated. It is the expansion of ancillary services with a close bearing on forestry which must have been the compelling argument in the University Grants Committee’s unanimous choice of Ilam. The South Island has always had a bigger range of forests than the North Island. That in itself is reason enough for locating a school here. In recent years soil science has become a separate department at Lincoln College. Lincoln is also the headquarters of the Botany Division of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. Both Lincoln College and Canterbury University have high reputations in botany. The university has other strong departments (notably chemical engineering) closely concerned with forestry; and the School of Art has lately developed a strong course in design. The claims of Canterbury as the site for a second school of architecture are firmly founded. All this points to the pre-eminent suitability of Canterbury for a forestry school. All the interests mentioned and all branches of the timber industry have expressed their support for the project. All will be gratified by the official decision. The crowning touch is Mr Gerard’s announcement that a Forest Service research centre for the South Island will be created near the school. This will ensure direct Government participation in the complex of teaching and research which the school will provide. The new school and its associated research centre should contribute vitally to the economic development of the province. No-one can doubt that they will grow both in academic and economic importance.