FORESTRY SCHOOL

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 77, 1 April 1931, Page 15

FORESTRY SCHOOL

QUESTION OF STAFF*

REPLY TO AUCKLAND

(By Telegraph.) (Special to "The Evenlnfl Post.") CHRISTCirURCH, 31st March. ' A refutation of statements made by Professor W. Anderson, chairman of the Auckland University College Professorial Board, concerning the actions of the Canterbury College Board of Governors in the matter of the establishment of the Canterbury College School of Forestry as a Dominion school, and the consequent closing of the Auckland school, was embodied in a resolution passed by a meeting of the Canterbury College Board of Governors. The chairman, the Hon., G. J. Smith, said it was a matter for regret that the change continued to be discussed in the newspapers, and that the. discussion centred about the position of Professor Corbin, Professor of Forestry, at Auckland, i ■.■ . ; ■ ' • In a recently-published . statement, said Mr. Smith, Professor ' Anderson had raised the question . of the bona fides of the Canterbury College Board of Govornors, and had made a charge of a distinct betrayal of .confidence of the. Auckland College on this matter. The Board of Governors passed the following resolution: "That this board resents the statement issued by Professor Anderson, chairman of the Professorial Bo"ard of Auckland University College, in connection with the establishment of the, Dominion School of Forestry. The statement is incorrect; while the charge of a 'distinct betrayal of confidence of the Auckland Col,lege' is without any foundation whatever." •■ STATEMENT BY CHAIRMAN. Mr. Smith made the following statement, reviewing the position: "The question of the amalgamation of the staffs of the two colleges was never mentioned or considered by this board. A conference was" held in Wellington between representatives of the two colleges and the Minister, when the whole question was discussed and the matter of the location of the • Dominion* school was left in the hands of the Minister. The question of any rearrangement of staffs was never mentioned at that conference by either college. The only question was the establishment of one school of forestry for the Dominion. "If amalgamation of the staffs was in the minds of the Auckland College, why was it not mentioned at the first conference with the Minister of Education and only casually mentioned at'the last conference, at which Professor Hunter presided?" said Mr. Smith. "One of the objects of the establishment of the Dominion school was'I'the saving of the expense of two staffs','so that more monoy -Should be available for research work. Had the two staffs been continued, how could any saving have been effected? We have not raised the question of the qualifications of Professor Corbin, but'we do know we have an efficient staff with, which we are satisfied. Our staff has built up and made a great success of our school of forestry. If the Dominion school is to be a success the controlling authority must' be trusted and must have a free "Hand to control and direct its energies. :; ' .. •■ "Professor Anderson says, 'We solemnly charge Canterbury College with concealment from the other party of a vital alteration in the scope of matters under negotiation as originally intended.' We just as solemnly repudiate the charge," said Mr. Smith. "I notice the statement is issued by the professor personally, and shall be glad to know whether it has the support of the Professorial Board and the Board of Governors of his college.*' Dr. H. Gr. Denkam said-that Canterbury College already had on its staff a member who had been "carrying on. the work for a number of years in a most satisfactory manner. If Professor Corbin were appointed here it would mean dispensing with the services of this lecturer. .... ■ .".. .•' -