SCHOOL OF FORESTRY

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 10955, 18 July 1921, Page 4

SCHOOL OF FORESTRY

CANTERBURY'S CLAIMS BIG DEPUTATION WAITS ON ACTING-PBOIIER. THE NATURAE ASPECT. Per Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, July 16. Organisations Horn all parte of the South Island were represented on a big deputation to Sir Francis Bell to-day to urge the claims of Canterbury in connection with the establishment of a School of Forestry. Virtually every local body and every public association, in Canterbury was represented. In introducing the deputation Air B. M. Isitt, M.P., said that a Government expert had gone all over the Dominion to chixjse a spot for a school, and had declared emphatically that be favoured Canterbury. The Government had confidence in their expert, and Canterbury could not see why his opinion should be set aside. Mr A. G. Henderson, president of the Canterbury Progress League, said • the Canterbury pioneers had raised plantations as shelter belts on the plains, and Canterbury had a demonstration of afforestation not equalled 1 in the world. He hod no wish to push the interests of Canterbury as against the interests of the Dominion as a whole. Dr. Chilton said that if the school were established in any other centre than Christchurch they would first have to make experiments an plantations, which would take forty years to develop, whereas Canterbury had them , already. * | Mr Evans (Hokitika) representing all the local bodies of Westland, said that if the school were established in r Canterbury th© Dominion wouild derive , great profit from the forests of West- ■ land. Mr Armstrong, representing the . Marlborough Progress League, said the ’ northern province united in urging that the school be established at Can- [ terbury College. MINISTER IN REPLY. Replying, the lion. Sir Francis Bell , said he had seen no more representative deputation m his experience. He ; had to deal with the matter as one , atfecting the Dominion, and a decision I would not he come to until _Mr Mas- . Bey’s return. He could promise on his, [ and on the Premier’s oehaif, that the j matter would he dealt with on a national basis. Sir Francis added: “Let me try and disabuse the minds of the people of Canterbury and the people ,of Auckland of the notion that there is dissension between Mr Massey and .myself (Laughter.) Mr Massey, when he re ■ ceived that telegram the other day from i the Auckland, members, did not reply to it, as they supposed, without com- • mujndcating with me—(applause and • laughter)—to ascertain whether I made l any special difficulty about this mat- ’ ter at a time when Cabinet was under • my presidency. Having received my > reply to that question, he replied. The ■ details I cannot give you, hut I may - say that one of the remarks I made 3 was that I should like Auckland and ' Canterbury to have a thoroughly good j fight. (Laughter.) On the reply J r made he then telegraphed to Auckland ■ that the matter would be delayed for 3 the absolute decision of Cabinet after 1 he returned.” That is the position as 1 between Mr Massey and me.” In concluding his remarks Sir Fran--1 c-is Bell said the question must be de- ■ cided without petty local prejudice. He ■ knew Mr Massey wanted the school, to he where it would best serve tbe people 3 of New Zealand—(applause)—and it ' was quite certain that the claims of • Canterbury would he fully considered. As Commissioner he had come to the 1 (conclusion that, quite apart from the 3 [questionof the engineering school, Can--3 j terbury was the most suitable district: ‘ partly because young people from aU 3 parts of the country could come to the f school. However, he oouQd not pro--7 perly reiterate the view which he had 7 previously expressed. _ The matter was 3 in the hands of Cabinet, which com--3 prised Ministers from all parts of the ' Dominion. Sir R. Heaton Rhodes said he was whole-heartedly, as a member for Canterbury, with the proposal for the , school being placed here. However, as ) a member-of the Cabinet he had to consider the question in its largest aspect, as Sir Francis Bell had made clear.