SEPARATE UNIVERSITIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3673, 5 August 1924, Page 8

SEPARATE UNIVERSITIES.

CANTERBURY COLLEGE BOARD’S CHRISTCHURCH, July 28. The question of the establishment of four separate universities in place of the New Zealand University was briefly discussed by the Canterbury College Board of Governors to-day, when letters were received from the Auckland and Victoria College Councils. The Auckland Council wrote stating that it had written to the Prime Minister asking that a commission be sot up to consider the question. Victoria College Count il stated that the question had been considered and referred to a subcommittee. The question would be considered in a month’s time. Both letters were replies to a Canterbury request that a conference of the L T niversity Colleges be held to discuss the proposed change. The Chairman (Mr H. D. Acland) said the board was now awaiting developments Though they had not come to any definite decision he thought that Canterbury should do something in the matter. The committee set up for the purpose had made a recommendation. Mr L. M. Isitt: What recommendation? Mr Acland: That a conference be held between the four colleges. Mr W. Brook said that Auckland had gone further in writing to the Prime Minister. The Auokland Council had made a good suggestion in the proposed commission, but they should go further and consider all the pros and cons of the question. Mr J. R. Cunningham said from reading the letters it seemed as though the whole ■movement had originated in Victoria College. As a matter of fact it had originated in Canterbury. Mr Aschman said they stood in the same position now, except that Auckland had stepped in ahead of them by writing direct to the Prime Minister. “The only thing we can do now,” said Mr Isitt, “is to object to the Prime Minister being written to asking for a commission to be set up before a conference has been held.” Dr Hight. said (hat Auckland had done a tactless thing in not falling into line in the matter of a conference. He moved that they should protest against the action of the Auckland Council. The motion was carried.