OPAKU RESERVE

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 106, 7 May 1931, Page 10

OPAKU RESERVE

(To the Editor.)

Sii."j—The deputy chairman of the Tarauaki Education Board' attempts in your issue of Ist instant to reply to my letter appearing on the 18th April.

Mny I point out that Mr. Valentine evades the main points dealt with in my previous letter. It is true that the reserve in 1868 was set aside us a college endowment for University education, and that with other endowments in New Zealand one University was originally contemplated. When, however, University colleges were established in other districts the endowments so set aside were appropriated to the colleges in the respective districts. The middle district for which Victoria College was expressly established included, and still includes, the provincial district of Taranaki, but the course followed in regard to the other colleges was departed from in this ease. There .is no University college actually situate,in Taranaki, nor can it be suggested that there is likely to be. , ■ ' ; Tho unfair preference to Tarauakr students given by the existing legislation as undoubted. The competitors' lor Junior University Scholarships coiuc from all over Noiv Zealand, those gaining highest marks boing awarded the scholarships. There follows a list of competitors who have not succeeded in gaining a scholarship, but having gained a specified percentage of the total marks are listed as

having passed the matriculation examination with credit. From this list of those who have so failed the competitors who happen to reside in Tarnnnki are entitled to a Taranaki scholarship from the revenues of the Opaku reserve; others who are higher on the list receiving no such reward. If this is not an unfair preference I do not know what it is.

I certainly do not wish to detract from the merits of students from Turanaki. Many have done well. Some have gained Junior University Scholarships, and thus succeeded in competition with others from other parts of New Zealand, and they and no doubt others have made good as stated by Mr. Valentino. But it cannot be held that the unfair preference above noted carries out the purpose of this endowment. .....

As I pointed out' the appropriation to the Turanaki .scholarships has by no means absorbed the whole revenues from the reserve, aiul there is now in the hands of the Public Trustee a sum of over twentyeight thousand pounds which has accumulated iv years from the surpluses.

Mi" suggestion is that at this time when the Government of tho country islooking round for every possible source of revenue it should appropriate tliis accumulation, and the future revenues of the reserve not required for present commitments, and make them avail-able for the. two University Colleges in the Middle District, tlnis saving the Government, to some-extent, from providing the necessary requirements of those valuable institutions.—l am, etc., '■'■■*_ :: P. LEVI, ::■• Chairman of Council, Victoria University