UNIVERSITY SITE

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24050, 22 August 1941, Page 5

UNIVERSITY SITE

NEEDS OF FUTURE THE CITY'S INTEREST REPORTS ON COUNCIL'S POWERS A suggestion considered by the last City Council, that the provision of a site adequate lor the i'utu:e expansion ol Auckland University College should be investigated, came before the council again at its meeting last night, when a report was made by the Town-Plan-ning Committee.

In a report the city solicitor, Mr. .1. Stanton, stated that the Education Amendment Act, 11)20. empowered a local authority to contribute such sums as it might think lit to the council of a university college tor the purpose ol' increasing the efficiency of such college, or to make a grant by lease or otherwise of lands or buildings for the same purpose. Mr. Stanton considered that the council would be entitled to buy land as a site for the college and to lease or give it to the college. However, the real question at issue, as he understood, was whether the council would have authority to take land cornpulsorily under the Public Works Act for such n purpose. He was of opinion that that the legislation cited din not authorise it to do so. The city engineer, .Mr. J. Tyler, in a report, expressed the view that it was not within the council's powers and duties to provide sites for educational purposes. He stated that the recent survey of recreational facilities had shown that, in order to meet the city's ultimate requirements in the way of public reserves, the area of the latter would have to he increased hv 1210 acres. He considered this a much greater obligation than the acquiring ol land lor university purposes. The committee stated that in its opinion the present college site was inadequate for proper expansion and that steps should be taken to locate a suitable area which would allow this. It asked that it be empowered to confer with the appropriate authorities regarding the proposal. The council referred the mattor backto the Town-Planning Committee in order that it might confer with the Finance Committee.