OPAKU UNIVERSITY RESERVE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIII, Issue 151, 22 July 1901, Page 2

OPAKU UNIVERSITY RESERVE.

DEPUTATION TO MINISTER OF EDU-1 CATION. j Ths Minister of Eiuc«tion (the Hon. W. 0. Walker) was waited npsn by a deputation on Tbursdoy evening representing the Educit'on Boar.-is and loral bodies of and Tarjnaki provinces in reference to revenue »c cuing from the Opaku restive. The deputation was introduced by Mr. W. Symes, M.H.R. for Egroont. Mr. T. McGuire, M.'i.R. for Hawera, supported Mr. Symes. Mr. Hogben, Inspector-General, was also present. Mr. McAlluoß, Ohairman of the New Plymouth Education Board, said he un 'lerstood that the Minister of Educa lon had, in answer to previous rapractically agreed that thesevenue from the Opuku resirvc shou'd be devote 1 to the purposes of giving higher education to the children in Taranaki province, which included *lso a portion of the vVaßganui etluca■ioaal district. He had placed in the hands of the Seortt.ir / for Education circulars which had been ssnt out by the Education Bo»rd°, which w„u'<] show that the Wangauui aod Taranaki E lucation Boards, and the householder'', were agread that the revenue accruing from the Opuku reserve ought to be devttsd in the dircCion alreidy indi '

Mr. Mackar, of Stratford (formerly principal of the Wellington Colleg ), speaking as a member of a county council and on behalf of the New Plymouth Education Beard, said the position in regard t) the Opaku reservp was was well known to the Minister and Secretary for Education. At one interview on the subject th>< Micister hud said th*t if he wee assu.ed t'at the sentiments of the deputation r«pr6fonttid jh.oie of the Tar.naki pe pi. #i no.ally, he woild be prepared to give legislative force to the propolis laid before him. Mr. Mackay said thi* s> far ns he could understood the Univer►iv Keve'ves Act of 1868. it a el use specially re ervi.g t'le Opaku endowment for the beneSt of the Tar.i»>aUi pjopla. (The Hon. Walker: That is so.) Continuing, Mr. Mackay said that the only paint in question was as to the method of applying the reveuue from thi reserve. Ooflfarencvts held by the Educational authorities af Wanjanui and Taranaki were uoenimous in concluding that the revenues should ba to the purpose* of providing higher education for the children of the 'yaranaki and Wan ganuid's ricts. Representatives of the Victoi« University College, invited to a conferjnce, held vhat the University was entit'ed to ths revenues, but the 'A'angauui and ' Taranaki authorities relied on the c'ause m the Act previously mentioned in support of their claim. However, after a deal of thought on the mittsr the coofereoce .let-rained to recommend that the revenues from the reserve be applied partly to providing scholarships foithe Taranaki Secondary Schools, ar,d partly for scholarships for the Vicwia University College. Mr. Maakay pointed out that the University district ernbaed Wellington, Napier, Wauganui, MarlKorough, Westlaod, and Nelson, and if the revenue was given to the Uniuersity, the ch' -ices are that the TaraDaki boys and girls might never S3e a scholarship. That would manifestly be utfair. -Re hoped that the Minister would be a'ble to introduce legislation this session giving sffect to the representations of the deputation. The Hon. Mr. Walker: In what v iy do you wish the revenue to be applied ? Ilr Mackay: We fell that scholar-1 ships for Secoudiry Schoo's would I e quite as valuable 10 the young people in the Taranaki dis'iicb as eveu a University Collego career. Thty would ■t any rate carry them a hung way in secondary education . Mr Pirani, M.H.R., as a membsr of •he Wargmgi Education Board, thoroughly approved theproposds kid befcra the Minister. Mr Robbins said the people of tae districts concerned in th's matter reg.<rd<sd the Opaku reserve revenue as t'ieir birthright, and they travel it would not be diverted to any oth<>r purpose than that indicated. [ Mr E. G. Allsworth (M»rahe- Tara Iniki Education Bond), «ail he had ! been requested by the New Plymouth High School Boird to expr si their en- | tire concurrence in the su'j;'mitt> d to tbe Minister, Messrs Okey (Taranaki County Council), W. 0. Symes (Patea County Oounoil), R. H. Pigott (Ciifon County Council), and J. Bodie (Haw»ra County' Council) all spoke emphasising the remarks of the previous speaker*, and expreneing the conviction that the proposes submitted w*re unanimou ly endorsed by the people of the Counties they severally represented. Mr. F. McGuire sa.id the members o F the House for the districts ' knew that the people of Tarsnaki and i Wanganui were vrry ansious to hi.va j the ravenua from the reserve for tV.e benefit of th»ir distric\ He thought! the time opportune to do something to give effect to the desire of tbe p ople [ as shown by the representations of the deputation. ' j

Mr. Symes also spoke to the s tme eff-'ct.

The Miniver B'iid he trusted that [there woul! on no misunderstanding in the matte s brought bf fore him. His only des : re wns to see that the condifions of tho Trust were absolut ly cir* ried into effect, and tint higher education was p'ovid d for Taranaki p»o----vince. As long as the condition* of *he Trust were complied with he would be quite satisfied. The proposals submitted be the dppu'a'ion seemed to be in ace .dance with the conditions of the Tru t. The only difficulty in the way appeared to be their re'ations with the Victoria College, bee use they must remember that the Taranaki child-en *-ere fr>e to ent"r for the Queen's scholarships. He was quite prepared to stand by the deputat'OD, ar d sea that the benefit of its endowm nt. He was prepared to go even 'fmther, and in any Bill introduced, tq give effect to the scheme, he would lii set.a clause that, if ever a college ws estab'ished in New Plymouth, any scholarships established out of the from the Opsku Reserv-s would reve' tto that college. He cou'd not give fchf>m a definite answer aa to .whether leg'slation dealing with the reserve could be introduced this session, but he would giv<* their represented ions bis careful consideration, and, if it was to do so, he would make provision for their having so many scholarships. Mr. McAllutn having warmly thanked 'he Minister on behalf of tho deputation for the courtem* reception they had received, the deputation withdrew.