ENGINEERING SCHOOL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22712, 26 October 1935, Page 22

ENGINEERING SCHOOL

THE AUCKLAND INSTITUTION QUESTION OF A GRANT. Some hope of a Government grant towards the cost of carrying on the Auckland University College School of Engineering next year is held out in a letter received by the College Council from the Minister of Education, Mr S. G. Smith. It was reported at the last ■ meeting of the council that in a letter dated September 25 the Minister had stated: “The Cabinet has decided, in view of all the circumstances, that the Engineering School at the Auckland University College should be continued for a further 12 months, which will, it is hoped, be sufficient to enable the College Council and those associated with it to raise the necessary funds for its permanent endowment.” In reply, the council had asked whether it could assume that there would be voted this year a sum sufficient to cover the cost of carrying on the school in 1935, including the payment of full salaries to the staff, together with a like amount for 1936. The president, Mr T. U. Wells, said he had received a further letter from the Minister which stated:—“You will remember that the additional grant given to the Auckland University College for the year 1934-35 was subject to the School of Engineering being closed or, alternatively, the College Council finding by voluntary effort the money to carry it on. My letter of September 25, advising that the Cabinet had decided that in all the circumstances the Engineering School should be continued for a further 12 months, was not intended as an indication that, the Government would find the money necessary for so carrying on, but that the condition attached to the additional grant was waived for a further year. I may say that the question of a further grant for the School of Engineering is under consideration in connection with the Supplementary Estimates, but I regret that at present I am unable to promise that the amount asked for will be voted.” Mr Wells and the registrar, Mr M, R. O’Shea, were authorised to interview the Minister.