Another Australian State Considered

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31247, 20 December 1966, Page 22

Another Australian State Considered

Armidale, New South Wales, has a population of 16,000, Anglican and Roman Catholic Cathedrals, a university, a teachers’ college, a picture theatre and a main street, and the idea still lingers that it may be capital of a new state of Australia, according tc Mr H. A. Montgomery, a lecturer in philosophy at the University of Canterbury.

But, in Mr Montgomery’s words: “Armidale is 300 miles from nowhere and 350 miles from anywhere (meaning Sydney) so the suggested development does not seem like-

ly.” In an interview yesterday, Mr Montgomery said that on a short visit he could see how the concept of a capital might have begun. The Teachers’ College was on the brow of a hill and it might have become the new state’s parliament. The two cathedrals were unexpected in a small community. The university had unusual characteristics. It was said by some that the chief businesses of Armidale were religion and education but there was a vast hinterland of pastoral country.. Tamworth, not far away, had outstripped Armidale in

development, Mr Montgomery said.

The University of New England at Armidale had about 1500 students, Mr Montgomery said. Because of its location, it was largely residential which had some advantages. Because of the small roll, the teaching load was not heavy and staff could engage in research which was flourishing. Also because of the town’s isolation, there was a big demand on the university for extra-mural and extension courses. For these reasons, said Mr Montgomery, the university had the opportunity of developing special schools.

One of these was the strong department of philosophy in which he worked with Professor R. Routley on problems of causation (physical necessity as distinct from logical necessity) and some of the foundations of mathematical thought. Professor Routley and Mr Montgomery have exchanged visits and prepared a number of joint papers.