PORTOBELLO FISH HATCHERIES

Evening Star, Issue 25770, 17 April 1946, Page 12

PORTOBELLO FISH HATCHERIES

SUPPORT FROM UNIVERSITY The importance of the retention of the Portobello fish hatcheries for the benefit of science students was emphasised at a meeting of .the Otago University Council yesterday. The council received a request that it should contribute £2OO annually to the maintenance of the hatcheries. . A letter from Mr G. S. Thomson, on behalf of the board controlling the hatcheries, asked for the support of the council. !He said the hatcheries had a replacement value of £IO,OOO, hut were 40 years old and in need of repairs. The hatcheries were much used by the students of the Otago University and Canterbury College. Professor R. J. Marples wrote that repairs to the hatcheries would cost about £1 ; 000. It was the only marine station in New Zealand and was specially valuable to ,science students. He asked that the council support the board's representations; that bunks for the use of students be erected in the house attached to the hatcheries; that the council make an annual grant of £200; that the board he reconstituted to give representation to the council. After Mr J v C. H. Somerville and Dr C. E. Hercifs had strongly supported the recommendations the council referred the matter to the Finance and associated committees for favourable consideration. It was agreed that arraneements be. made for the council to visit the hatcheries.