FORESTRY SCHOOL

Hokitika Guardian, 4 May 1934, Page 6

FORESTRY SCHOOL

CLOSING AT CHRISTCHURCH

MINISTER’S STATEMENT

‘(Per Pre S s Association, Copyright)

WELLINGTON, May 3

;“Tf the school were- continued it would mean that the cost pe r student to the taxpayer would be about £l2O per annum over arid above the fees paid,” remarked the Minister of Education (the Hiori. R. Masters) when invited this evening to comrrient on the recent announcement regarding the closing of the School of Forestry at; Canterbury College. Mr Masters pointed out that it had been necessary for the Government- to provide considerable additional financial assistance to' Canterbury College to enable it to con-, tiriue the ordinary functions of the col-' lege.

“Canterbury College,” said Mr Masters, “has suffered a loss of nearly £6OOO per annum from the fall in rents from endowments due to the depression and, as a result, it has been necessary to increase the Government grant ■for arts and general purposes. The Government .grant of £IOOO per annum, to the School- of Forestry Was withdrawn from April 1, 1932. The loss to the college on the school in 1932 Was £653 a nd the loss last year was £766. estimated loss in 1934 is £959 and by the end of this year, the estimated deficit in the' School of Forestry account will foe over £3OOO.

“I n 1931 o there Were twenty-six forestry students,” continued the ter, “in 1932 the number bad fallen to iiiteen, in 1933 to nine and foi' the fiisC term of this year only eight students are in attendance, two of whom ate first year students. If the school were continued, it would mean that the cost per student to the taxpayer would be about £l2O per annum over and above the fees paid by the student. “It has to be remembered also that there is* a surplus of trained foresters in New Zealand and a number of exstudentg of' the School of Forestry can* not/obtain professional work and are employed i11..a number of cases as forest laboureis. There is, therefore, no justification a ' continuance of the; school at the nresent time.®’