THE UNIVERSITY SITE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16300, 5 August 1916, Page 9

THE UNIVERSITY SITE.

WITHDRAWAL OF CLAUSE

POSITION OF GOVERNMENT.

STATEMENT BY MR. MASSEY.

FI»T CORRESPONDENT.

I WELLINGTON, Friday. | The clause in the " Washing-up" Rill giv- | nig the Auckland University College Council the option, for three years, over the Mount Eden reserve as a possible site for the new University College, has been withdrawn by the Government. The clause was inserted in the Bill by the Council yesterday. When the Bill again came before the Council to-day, on Sir Francis Bell's motion, it was recoin.mitted for the purpose of striking out the clause.

Sir Francis Bell, in moving that the clause be struck out, said the Government had come, to the conclusion that it was inadvisable to pass it at present. The motion that the clause be deleted was agreed to without further remark.

Subsequently, when the Bill came befor the House, the Prime Minister made ; statement regarding the history of tin clause, and the decision to withdraw it Prior to the fire at Government House he said, he had arranged for the clause to be drafted allowing the College Coun cil, if it felt inclined, to take the Moun Eden reserve site for the purposes of i college. The fire then occurred, and thii altered the position. When the clausf came before the Cabinet—this being aftei the —it was decided that nothing should be done in the matter until a de cision in regard to the Government House was arrived at. Consequently it was agreed that the clause should stand ovei till next year. When, however, this and other new clauses for the Bill came before the Lands Committee, he was. unfortunately, absent at a Cabinet meeting. The result was that the clause was approved by the Lands Committee, which was not aware that Cabinet had decided to withdraw it, and it was inserted in the Bill in the Council, on the motion of the Leader of the Council, who was also under a misapprehension regarding the matter. The clause was quite harmless, but in view of the decision of Cabinet to defer it for another year, it was not proper that it should be* left in the Bill. Speaking personally, as an old Aucklander, who had lived near the city most of his life and who probably would end his days there, he thought the Mount Eden site was the best for university purposes. It was a magnificent site, containing nearly 50 acres, which would make an admirable playground. The Hon. A. T. Ngata: Are you quite certain that the volcano is " extinct'.' Laughter.) Mr. Massey: I hope so. If it is ever active again no university will be needed in the vicinity. (Laughter.! The site was also central. He considered that where the gaol now stood would be the future centra of Auckland City. Mr. Mass* • concluded:, I am not saving this xv . % ' the intention of mixing myself up \ ,«. the quarrel regarding the site. I am only expressing bv personal opinion. The striking out of the clause was agreed to on Mr. Massey's motion. On being subsequently asked if he could make a further statement as to the bearing that the withdrawal of the clause had on the controversy regarding the Government House site, Mr. Massey said he could add nothing to what he had said in the House j In reply to a further question regarding the question of the restoration of Govern" ment House, Mr. Massey said no decision would be reached before the end of the session. Some members of Cabinet would visit Auckland shortly, and the matter would be allowed to stand over until their report and that of the Public Works Department was obtained. MOUNT EDEN RESERVE.

VIEWS OF MR. NICHOLSON. ! The opinion that the protests ' made against the proposed reservation of the Mount Eden Reserve for the purposes of the University College were ill-advised was expressed yesterdav bv Mr O Nicholson Mayor of Mount "Eden." He remarked that the opposition to the proposal was apparently based on the assumption that the proposed legislation determined the question of site, whereas its purpose was simply to enable the College Council to take advantage of the site if it so decided. About two years ago, the Mount Eden Borough Council, the Epsom Road Board and the Mount Eden Domain Board offered the reserve to the authorities is a .site for the university. Mr. Nicholson said the reason for the clause in the Washing-up Bill" was to alter the purpose of the reserve, and to give the College Council three years to decide whether it would accept the land for the college sit* The effect of the agitation had been that if every other possible site was found inaccessible, the council would not be able to secure the Mount Eden reserve.

A COLLEGE RESOLUTION. At a meeting of the District Court of Convocation of the Auckland University College yesterday afternoon '.he following resolution was carried :—" That this meeting is of opinion that the proposed Mount Eden site is quite unsuitable for university purposes, and respectfully urges upon the Government the absolute necessity of providing a central site as soon as possible, the present building being totally inadequate""