TARANAKI ENDOWMENT

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 12, 14 July 1930, Page 10

TARANAKI ENDOWMENT

A STATE OF TENSION

VICTORIA COLLEGE CLAIM

(By Telegraph.)

(Special to "The Evening Post.")

NEW PLYMOUTH, This Day.

The wits and diplomacy of two rival factions are -being exercised to sway the appropriation of the funds of tho Opaku Beservo education endowment. The issues lie between the Taranaki education authorities and Victoria University College. The former have adduced evidence before the Minister of Education showing that the establishment of the Opaku Reserve as au endowment for education was made with the original object of compensating future students in Taranaki for the setback the province had received by the unsettling influence upon social progress and industry of the Maori rebellions. The claim of Taranaki is that the fund must be kept intact as a provision for posterity and the establishment of a Taranaki University College when the need arises. The reserve is, of course, situated in Taranaki. The Victoria University College secured reinforcement from sister colleges and also waited upon the Minister, who stated that he would place the issue before Cabinet. The crisis was quickened through the movement made by Taranaki education institutions to secure an appropriation of part of the income from tho fund for the purpose of enabling Taranaki students to pursue their studies at Massey Agricultural College. The question then was raised whether Taranaki possessed a. particular and protected claim or whether, as Victoria (Jollego maintained, the scholarship fund was available equally for general purposes. The universities already constituted quoted records and merit lists apparently placing Taranaki students in unfavourable positions so far as marks have been concerned. The need for vigilance by Taranaki was emphasised on Friday night by Mr. H. Trimble, chairman, when the subject was discussed again by the Stratford High School Board. Mr. Trimble had reviewed the position. Mr. W. J. Polson, M.P., expressed the opinion that, assuming that the Press reports did justice to the universities' case, there suroly nover was a weaker argument. The Taranaki people, said Mr. Trimble, would need to be in a position at any time to oppose any movement for the diversion of the fund from the purpose originally accompanying its establishment. There was no doubt that such an attempt would be made. Mr. Poison said that a good deal of weight would be exerted if Taranaki's case were circulated amongst members of the House. Tho matter might come up on the floor of the House, although he could not imagine that happening, as Taranaki's claim was so strong. Several emphatic protests have been made by branches of the Farmers' Union in regard to the University's, claim, and a tense calm and prepareclness for unusual developments meanwhile prevails amongst the ardent supjiorters of Taranaki's viewpoint.