THE UNIVERSITY

Evening Post, Volume XCVII, Issue 103, 3 May 1919, Page 5

THE UNIVERSITY

VICTORIA COLLEGE

EXTENSION

IMPORTANCE IN SCHEME OF

EDUCATION

A deputation from the Victoria College Council was informed by the Minister for Education (Hon. J. A. Hnnan) to-day that Cabinet had approved a substantial grant for the extension of the College buildings. The deputation and the Minister both emphasised tha importance of the University in the scheme of education, particularly in training the teachers, instructors, and lecturers of the future.

' Mr. Clement "Watson., chairman of the College Council, said they had 335 more students this . year than last.—which meant 300 to 400 more subjects. A\r ready they were very much cramped for room, and nert year they would b« quite blocked out unless they could get something done.. Next year they would have the school of economics, which would mean an access of students.

Professor Hunter said the policy of the country was to make the university free for all who had ability to take advantage of the training. This had already resulted in a great increase_ in the number of students. If the university work was not efficient, the work in the primary and secondary schools must suffer ; and similarly the university depended on the primary and secondary schools for students. There was a demand in primary schools for classes not to exceed 30 or 40, but at Victoria, College they had one class of 120. They were holding classes- in all sorts of corners, and their library and laboratory accommodation was most inadequate. The minimum extension was the erection of the northern wing. If they did not have this, the building, in his mind, would be in the position that it must refuse to take more students.

Sir Robert Stout said that the ideal of university education was that it should be as free :as in the primary schools. They had not reached that stage yet, but they were encouraging attendance at the university by bursarios. They had . not the same- gifts for university work in Wellington as in. other parts, though there had been some generous bequests, but he hoped citizens who wero able to do sp would realise the need for contributing towards this important work.

The Minister,' in replying, referred first to the fact that there was no possibility of obtaining .voluntary contributions toward the cost of a new building, particularly when very large sums must have been made by business and other men of this city in the last four years. He regretted that while' some men and women of wealth had made generous gifts, others did not realise their obligation to use a portion of that wealth for the promotion of objects such as education for.the welfare of the whole community. It might be said that they contributed indirectly by taxation, but in * other countries where there was direct taxation for education, men of wealth had given handsomely. It was un; fortunate that it should be necessary to exercise compulsion, to make some people realise their obligations in contributing to the cost of education and other objects of importance. If the liberty won with so much'life-bjood was to be used merely to continue in a money-grubbing .spirit, securing every pound they could for personal enjoyment, then those who looked for closer union and harmony in the -different classes of society would be somewhat, disappointed. There was considerable wealth in the hands of a few individuals, and while people had shown a generous spirit during the war, the same liberality was riecessajry in the period of reconstruction, if they were to push ahead with work, in order that the freedom they had won might be put to the highest use. He was pleased/ to inform them that Cabinet had approved' a very substantial grant for building this necessary wing, the urgency of which had) been convincingly shown by the speakers. He „ approved of what Professor Hunter had said regarding the importance- of university work, as some ' people considered1 that expenditure should be confined to the primary schools overlooking,'the fact that education was a sequence. They must have the university for equipping and training the teachers, lecturers, and instructors, who would be the main factor in. uplifting the race.- He would inform them of the amount of the vote when the plans had been completed and the tenders received; but in the meantime the preparations could be proceeded with.

Sir Robert Stout and Mr. Watson thanked the Minister for his favourable reply. Mr. Watson said the council had always recognised that in the Minister they had a good friend of education.