SITE OF UNIVERSITY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15998, 17 August 1915, Page 9

SITE OF UNIVERSITY.

INVITATION TO minister.

ASKED TO VISIT AUCKLAND. MAYOR SUGGESTS OR A K EI. It was decided at yesterday's meeting of the Auckland University College Council to invite the new Minister for Education, the Hon. J. A. Hanan, to visit Auckland and inspect the various sites suggested tor the university. The chairman,' Sir G. M. O'Rorke, said he preferred to have a site near the city. ,!"' clla moved: "That beforo making any further recommendation to the Government on the question of the university site, this council invite the Minister for Education to visit Auckland in order that he might inspect proposed sites and confer with the council; and that the chairman, vice-chairman, Dr. W. C. W. .McDowell, Mr. T. W. Leys and Professor H. W. Segar be appointed a committee to prepare information for the Minister and to confer with him."

A Site Near Queen Street. .T ho ™? v . Ba ' d it was only from the Acting-Minister for Education that the council had had an intimation that it could not have votes for both site and building. A National Cabinet had been formed and th% views of the new Minister might be entirely different. He had visited the proposed site, tho situation of which put it out of the question, having regard to the council's requirements. It was the crowning glory of the university that it met the needs of those who had to earn their living. It was the poor student who required consideration. The rich could easily obtain educational facilities. The college was supported by the State, and a gross injustice would be inflicted on the workers of New Zealand if anything were done to hamper their education. The centre of the city would always be, not Mount Eden, but the spot where trains, trams and ferries converged. That was somewhere round yueen Street. Wellington people did not go out to Newtown or the Hutt, but. at great expense, placed Victoria College within easy reach of the lioart of the city. Ihe colleges at Christchurch and Dunedin were equally convenient. They were told that the Mount Eden site was within a quarter of an hour's journey, but that would be so only if one travelled by motor-car. •It was of prime importance that the university should be in the heart of the city That principle obtained in Britain. If the council acquiesced in removal to the suburbs, it would be placing a cruel hardship upon the students.

Only One Site. . r " eacoc in seconding, said ne had drawn up a motion on similar lines. The necessity for a central site needed no labouring. The question was whether the university was to be democratic or an institution for the few. If it were desired to bring the advantages of education to as many as possible, a central site was essential. He agreed that yueen Street would always be the business centre, though the geographical centre might be anywhere else. He protested against any idea that the council was responsible for any delay that had occurred in the choice of a site. The council had consistently argued that a central site should be secured and the metropolitan site was the only one which met requirements. It would cost tho Government no money and a building grant could be afforded as well. Thev had simply been told that the giving of the site was out of the question, but no reason had been given for that statement. If the college were removed' to Mount Eden they would lose at least half the students. Professor H. W. Segar stated that the council earned the right to grants for site and building by virtue of the work done in the university. The Mayor's Proposal. Mr. J. H. Gunson said he had followed the subject with considerable interest for somo years. He opposed the acquisition of the Metropolitan Ground. The Mount Eden site did not appeal to him. They needed an area of 40 acres, or 50, if possible. He asked the council to consider the Orakei site. It was difficult to conceive to-day what the position of Orakei would be in five years' time, when a road and railway would give splendid access. The development of the waterfront scheme contained possibilities hardly realised as yet. (Hear, hear.) Rev. J. H. Simmonds said he did not see the difficulties urged against the Mount Eden site. His travelling time from Mount Eden to Wellesley Street by tram was 19 minutes. He did not think the number of students would show a falling off; the earnest student would not be prevented from attendance bv the distance to Mount Eden. He would support the motion.

Question of Accessibility. Dr. H. D. Bamford said that Mr. (Gunson s suggestion regarding the Orakei site was si valuable one. In many respects Orakei would make an ideal site. It was a question of accessibility. The council desired to cater, not only "for the poor, but for all classes. * ' ii. lr V. repl - V to questions. Mr. Gunson said the Government had 200 acres at Orakei, and, he thought, the council should ask for 50 acres. Professor C. W. Egerton supported the motion. In regard to Orakei the difficulty was, he said, that a site theremight not be available for some years. ° i The motion was carried unanimously with the addition of Mr. Wells' name to the committee. I