Australian Hall At Lincoln Proposed

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31502, 17 October 1967, Page 7

Australian Hall At Lincoln Proposed

“It is unlikely that any university institution outside Australia has contributed so much and in so many ways to the development of Australian agriculture,” says the chairman of the council of Lincoln College, Mr T. D. J. Holderness, in a submission to the Prime Minister of Australia, Mr Holt, for the establishment of an Australian hall of residence at Lincoln College by the Australian Government

It is suggested that the project be an alternative to the abandoned retracing of the voyage of discovery of Australia by a replica of the Endeavour to mark Australia’s 200th anniversary in 1970. “A gesture by Australia in this event is not thought of as a one-way gesture, but more of an acknowledgement and recognition by both countries of mutual aid of the past, and of a determination to extend it in the future,” Mr Holderness says. Mr Holderness said that since 1995,194 Australian students had graduated from

Lincoln and returned to Australia to give their country the benefit of their knowledge. Today more than 40 Lincoln-trained advisers are working with farm management groups in Australia, the growth of which in the last decade, based in Lincoln experience, has been spectacular. A number of Lincoln graduates also occupy leading posts in agricultural science in Australia and are serving in New Guinea and

_ Papua. I “All of this means a conj siderable contribution to agri- ' culture in Australia and a . gesture of recognition, . through Lincoln College, of ’ New Zealand’s part in the development of Australian ■ agriculture would be conf sidered here as being most t worthy and appropriate,” he ; says. ; Because of the great up- ' surge in enrolments at the ; college, Mr Holderness said, residential accommodation could not be provided for Australian students. A residential hall could meet that need and be a source of continuing benefit to Australian students. It is suggested that the hall be called “Australia Hall,” “Anzac Hall," Cook Hall” or “Endeavour Hall.” Its provision by, say, April 25, 1970, and its official opening then would seem to be appropriate, said Mr Holderness. It would be hoped to make an Australia-New Zealand event of the occasion. The kind of hall residence needed would cost SNZ3OO,OOO. Mr Holderness said that as part of New Zealand's contribution to Australian agriculture the New Zealand Government, in the period 1948-1966, had made grants exceeding £56,000 to the Universities of Sydney and Queensland in recognition of the extra cost to them of training New Zealand students in veterinary science.