THE CENTRE OF AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16300, 5 August 1916, Page 6

THE CENTRE OF AUCKLAND.

The outcry against the setting aside of the 'Mount Eden reserve for a University College on the ground that it is far removed from the centre of the city was effectively answered by the Prime Minister in the House of Representatives yesterday. Half a century ago Metropolitan Ground was the centre of Auckland, and there are Aucklanders who believe that it will always be so, who are as blind to the future prospects of the city as they are to the changes that are taking place around them. The Mount Eden site has been represented as so distant that to erect a college upon it would cripple and paralyse university education. It is, in fact, already central, and convenient, as every Aucklander knows, and there is good ground for the belief expressed by Mr. Massey that the future centre of the city will be near where the gaol now stands. The point, however, is ignored by the Metropolitan Ground party. They will have the Metropolitan Ground or nothing, and by their activities they have ensured a further indefinite postponement of a settlement which might have been effected years ago, to the great benefit of education in the city and province. Had the matter been discussed calmly it might have been noted even by Metropolitan Ground enthusiasts that the reservation of the site was solely in the interests of the University, as it involved no cost, and did not exclude the consideration of other sites. It was, however, a possible and attractive alternative to the Metropolitan Ground and the abolition of Government House, and for that reason every effort had to be made to prevent the authorisation, whatever might be the effect upon university education.