THE UNIVERSITY SITE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15717, 18 September 1914, Page 3

THE UNIVERSITY SITE.

NOT YET SELECTED.

ST. JOHN'S SITE SUGGESTED.

[BY TELEGRAPH;—SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.]

Wellington-, Thursday. The long delay in the choice of a new kite for Auckland University College again camo up in the House this evening during the discussion on the Education Department's estimates.

Mr. Reed (Bay of Islands) specially stressed the argument in favour of a residential college at Auckland. He said that sufficient land should bo taken, when selecting a site, to provide not, only for the main college but also for a residential college and sports ground. The only site Adjacent to Queen Street that could be regarded as suitable was the Metropolitan Grounds and he understood that the Government had decided not to take that site. There waj no other site sufficiently near Queen Street to suit students who were engaged during the day and who wished to attend day lectures. Wherever the university buildings were erected it would be necessary to have lecture-rooms m Queen Street or adjacent to it. As a site for the university he suggested one, say, of 100 acres on the St. John's College property. When the new railway scheme was completed there would be a railway station on the property and also access by a foreshore, road by way ol Hobson Bay. The site would then be not more than about two and a-hall miles from Queen Street. Auckland was growing, and in a few years the area would be in the centre of the city. If the city people did not ask for what he proposed ho would a6k for it in the interests of the country people.

The Minister for Education, the Hon. J. Allen, said he was sorry that he could not give a definite answer to Mr. Reed. He was verv anxious to come to a decision as to Mr. Reed's suggestions. Ho admitted the force of some of his arguments, hut at the same time they had to consider the necessity for making provision for the needs of students who were engaged during the clay time, and who desired to take advantage of university education in the evenings. We were not in a position to do away with the present position, and to provide for onlv day students. Of course, as Mr. Reed had suggested, provision might be. made for lecture-rooms in the city, as was done in Sydney. It was very necessary to have the university colleges as close to the teachers' training colleges as possible. He would be glad to select a site if he could obtain one at a reasonable price. As to a residential college, he said something had been done in this matter in other cities by other bodies, including the Presbyterian and Anglican Churches. Mr. Bradney (Auckland West) suggested using part of the Orakei Estate for the purpose of a university college site.