University Dilemma

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31981, 7 May 1969, Page 32

University Dilemma

(N.Z. Press Association)

AUCKLAND, May 6.

The University Grants Committee is reported to have recommended to Auckland University that it is considering excluding students south of Pukekohe when its roll reaches a maximum of, it is believed, 10,000. The roll is now 8600.

The committee is understood to have said that it would not, on an academic basis, approve exclusions on the ground of overcrowding, but has suggested that they might be applied on a geographic basis, and that Pukekohe might be a good dividing line. The vice-chancellor of the university (Mr K. J. Maidment) said today, that he

could not comment on this, but it was obvious that the university would have to find ways of diverting and reducing pressures. Its buildings and accommodation could not be allowed to be taxed by increasing student numbers to the extent that they became unworkable. Once the most sensible way to do this had been decided, Mr Maidment said, the university would announce a concrete scheme; this could be in the next few months.

University representatives would meet others tomorrow to prepare a case for the urgency of the Government’s making finance available for a second university development in South Auckland. Since the Government’s suggestion of an overflow site at Oakley had proved unacceptable, the university council had reverted to its earlier case for development at Manurewa.