LAKE LOGAN. AREA

Evening Star, Issue 18048, 16 August 1922, Page 10

LAKE LOGAN. AREA

UNIVERSITY CLAIM PRESSED. TWENTY ACRES WANTED. The claim of .the University of Otago for twenty acres of the Lake Logan reclamation area and iho recent opposition to such claim caused some discussion at the meeting 'of the University Council yesterday afternoon. The matter was raised by the presentation to the meeting of the report of a conference of members of the Council with members of the Professorial Board. The report was as follows .

After full discussion of the position it was resolved that the council and the Professorial Board bo asked to cooperate with the Students’ Association in raising a "University Park Fund,” and for this purpose tW each body appoint three representatives. It was the unanimous wish of the meeting that the project bo pushed forward without delay, with a view to the playing grounds being available at the earliest possible date. Dr Bonham submitted this report, and moved its adoption. The motion was carried.

The Chancellor (Dr Cameron), Mr J. C. Stephens, and Dr Fitzgerald were nominated to represent the council to co-operate in regard to raising the funds. Mr Bennie drew attention to what had occurred at the public meeting at which the matter was discussed. It appeared that the University might "fall in." As {ar as the Albany Street School site was concerned, it was intended to adhere to the arrangements which had been made for a site on the reclamation area. He thought it should be dearly understood that the University Council was going for the twenty acres, and would not waive its claim. Ho would like to point out that it would taka a considerable sum of money to keep twenty acres in order each year. Ho had been told by someone who ought to know that it would cost £I.OOO per annum. There were two points : That they were definitely going for twenty acres, and that they required finance to keep it in order. dents’ Association had already raised several hundred pounds, and was asking the council to farther assist it in the matter. He thought it was quite recognised that the University was going to stand firm for the twenty acres. {Hear, hear.) Dr Marshall Macdonald advised the council to go ahead in the matter. The recreation ground was an absolute neceseity. He thought .they would find that the students would be only too pleased to contribute about half the yearly upkeep of the ground. la reply to Mr Douglas, the Registrar said the Harbor Board had given the council a promise that it could rent twenty acres for fifty year’s at a rental of £IOO a year for the first ten years and aE £2OO a year for the balance of the term. _ Mr Douglas said that when the reclamation was. commenced the • Harbor Board had promised to hand over the whole area to the City Council.' They should make quite sure of their position with tho Harnor Board in view of the strong opposition in eoroo places. Dr Fitzgerald was also in favor of the University pressing its daim. The City Council had not done a great deal for the University, and he thought it should be asked to assist them. Were it not for the University and the Medical School Dunedin would _be a poor place indeed, and might be in the same category as towns like Camara or Baidutha. (Laughter.) The University and the students meant something like £70,000 or £IOO,OOO & year. The motion nominating tho three council representatives was carried.