OPAKU RESERVE

Taranaki Daily News, 18 April 1932, Page 11

OPAKU RESERVE

TARANAKI’S UNITED CLAIM

CONFERENCE AT STRATFORD

MOVE TO SEIZE REVENUE

EMPHATIC PROTEST MADE

ANSWER TO COMMISSIONERS

That this conference, representative of all sections of th© community in Taranaki, emphatically protests against effect being given to the following recommendation of the National Expenditure Commission, that “the reservation, of the land known as the Opaku Reserve be abolished, and that accumulated funds and future revenue be diverted to the Consolidated Fund.” In answer to the commission’s statement that the income from the scholarship fund has been more than sufficient to provide for the scholarships required, this conference points out that the accumulation of the fund has been due mainly to the failure of the New Zealand Senate properly to interpret and carry out the provision of the Act in the past and to adopt the proposals of the education authorities of Taranaki that the scope of the scholarship be widened, and increased . in number.

This motion was adopted unanimously at Stratford, on Saturday afternoon by a representative conference consisting of 75 delegates from most of the public and. educative bodies of the province. It was moved, by Mr. J. A. Valentine, chairman, of the Taranaki Vigilance Committee, after he had delivered an address upon the history of the Opaku reserves. The discussion which followed indicated very clearly that Taranaki was united in its determination to hold these endownments in the face of all efforts to divert the revenue towards other quarters. The' vigilance committee, together with the chairman of the Patea County Council from time to time,' was empowered to continue its careful watching over the fund. RDPiRESENTATIVE ATTENDANCE. There were present representatives from the Taranaki Education Board, the .Stratford and Hawera Technical High Schools’ Boards, New Plymouth High Board, North Taranaki and .South Taranaki School Committees’ Associations, Taranaki, Stratford and Hawera Hospital Boards, New Plymouth, Hawera, Stratford and Waitara Borough. Councils, New Plymouth and Waitara Harbour Boards, Taranaki Local Bodies’ Association, Patea, Stratford, Taranaki, Hawera, Eltham and Waimate West County Councils, Eltham' Drainage Board, Opunake Power Board, Fitzroy Ratepayers’ Association, New Plymouth Eire Board, North Taranaki and South Taranaki Provincial executives and Stratford sub-provincial executive of the Farmers’ Union, Women’s Division of the Farmers’. Union, New Zealand Educational Institute, Women Teachers’ Association, Taranaki Women’s Institue, Durham Road, principals of the Taranaki secondary schools, members of Parliament for New Plymouth, Stratford, Egmont and Patea, and members of the Taranaki Education Board. The meeting was opened by the Mayor of Stratford (Mr. Percy Thomson), who presided. Associated with the chairman on the stage were Messrs. H. G. Dickie, S. G. Smith, W. J. Polson, C. A. Wilkinson, M.’sP., R. S. Sage (chairman of the Hawera Technical High School Board), H. Trimble (chairman of the Stratford Technical High School Board), J. A_. Valentine (chairman of the Taranaki Vigilance Committee) and Mr. P. Skoglund?(Town Clerk of Stratford). “ANOTHER. ATTACK.” The chairman said he was sure the Taranaki Education Board, at whose instigation the conference had bben called, must be delighted at the large attenance. “There has” he said, “been another attack upon one of the .province’s cherished reserves.” Unfortunately Taranaki representatives in the House were few in number, but the speaker was sure the size and strength of the present gathering would give them added confidence and strength in their representations. The Minister of Education had given an assurance that not all the recommendations of the 'National Expenditure'Commission would be adopted,' and in this matter Taranaki was fortunate in the person of the Minister holding this portfolio. Mr. Thomson mentioned the advantages of attack as well as of defence, and suggested that the conference should be able to formulate some constructive proposals dealing with the ultimate use to which the reserves should be put. The story of the Opaku reserve, its history, the legislation connected with it and the scholarships 'its revenue endowed were described by Mr. Valentine by the reading of his pamphlet on the subject. The interpretation of the words “deemed worthy” said Mr. Valentine, was the subject of litigation last year and the university senate was so-badly defeated in the action that scholarships had been awarded much more freely—to the value of £loso—whilst the rent had amounted to £S9S and the interest to £1409, so that considerably more than the rentals had been expended that year. He stressed the point that because of the mishandling of the funds a great accumulation had taken place, but Taranaki was certainly not to be blamed for {be unfortunate action of a body over which it had no control The Taranaki scholarships were awarded to Laranaki scholars who had passed the University Scholarship examination with credit, bu, all had proved of the finest type and not one had made misuse of lus opportunities. Some had- been appointed to very hi°-h positions, both in London and elsewhere. The students had come from ■Hawera, Stratford, New Plymouth and elsewhere, and all had made good, showing that the basis of allotment ot the scholarship was a sound one. (he fund had been set aside to help (he cause. of higher education in Taranaki and should • be 0 used for that purpose.

USES FOR THE FUND.

From the meeting that day might' emanate, suggestions' for. the uee .of the fund, perhaps for cutting out a portion of it on the grounds that it was too big to use as it was. If Taranaki was not able to use it, it was -said, some one else might use it. If the meeting gave them a mandate to deal with the fund in any other way they would feel bound to follow that direction. Without that direction they -would feel if they did otherwise that they had been false to ithe trust imposed in them. Mr. Valentine then moved his motion.

Mr. Trimble seconded the motion. Ho said he was glad to see at the conference Mr. W. L. Kennedy, Stratford, and mentioned that with Messrs. Tyrer, Monkhouse and the Hon. Thomas Kelly Mr. Kennedy had mainly been responsible for the passing of the Taranaki Scholarship Act of 1905. “We should, I think, remember these men at this critical period,” he said. • Mr. Trimble went on to contrast the system of modern education with that in vogue two decades ago, when the fund was first established. “We people of to-day,” he said, “will, be failing in our manifest duty if we do not. protest against any attempt to divert this fund. I. believe if we present a united front and state definitely that the fund must be retained for its original purpose we shall succeed. Mr. Trimble drew attention to the item of revenue shown in the balance sheet of the fund. He considered some of the tenants must have been in ar-: rears because the normal annual revenue was between £7OO and £BOO a year. Against this normal revenue the number of scholarships conformed very closely in cost. RESERVES PREVIOUSLY LOST. Mr. Dickie stated that three years ago at a meeting in Stratford a proposal was put forward that Taranaki scholarships should be tenable at Massey College. He considered Taranaki was greatly indebted to Mr.- Roberts for having taken the initiative in the legal proceedings that had resulted so successful in connection with the scholarship awards. Already in 1897 Taranaki had let two reserves slip—the Manaia racecourse reserve and Mokoia reserve, which had been set aside for the establishment of a dairy school. Taranaki was then the leading dairy district and the Taranaki members no doubt considered that the school would be established. As a result the accumulated funds for the reserves ( £8000) would go to Massey College. He strongly objected to any interference with the funds. He had always recognised that with the funds growing there would be a growing danger of losing it, as some day a finance Minister would seize the opportunity. It was possible that the recommendation of the Economy Committee might go no further, but if it were embodied in any legislation Taranaki should fight it every inch of the way, and the members should be supported by a united Taranaki. He favoured setting up a strong committee to be prepared in case it were necessary to make any compromise, but he was strongly of opinion that the present meeting should absolutely refuse to make any compromise. “My opinion regarding this matter is quite definite; it is ‘no surrender,”’ said Mr. 8. G. Smith. Mr. Smith traced the efforts and the source of the consistent efforts made to “filch the fund from Taranaki,” saying that he did notblame the commission for its report, because that body did not have the op-, portunity of hearing evidence from' Taranaki but based its recommendation solely upon information contained in the' files of the Education Department. VICTORIA OQLLEGIE ACTIVE. Since 1905 the Victoria College authorities had been, most active' in endeavouring to secure the administration of the Opaku endowment and had been aided and abetted in secret by the Education Department. The Economy Commission now proposed to-divert the accumulated funds into the Consolidated Fund. : The speaker realised the difficult position of the country, but said that surely the position was not so desperate that the Government must take the one and practically only endowment away from Taranaki. He paid a tribute to the Taranaki members of the past who had so ably fustrated the attempts.to filch the fund, and said hejiad been amazed to read in the Daily News on Friday that a Taranaki born boy had stood on a public platform and said that those who were working to conserve the endowment were adopting an attitude of parochialism gone mad. A yoiee;- That man does not count. Mr. Smith went on to say that both sides of the question regarding the Opaku reserves had been before the public of Taranaki. No blame could be attached to the province because the fund had accumulated, because in successive years numerous attempts had been made to move the senate in the direction of enlarging the scope and application of the scholarship, always without success. One of the main arguments used to suggest that the fund should be taken from Taranaki was that the endowments of Victoria College produced only £44 a year, but Mr. Smith asked why Taranaki should be penalised just because of the foresight displayed in setting aside good land, whereas the Wellington people had set aside poor land as reserves. There had been some talk of making a compromise, but Mr. Smith stated that no individual or institution in Taranaki had the right or power to compromise with anyone. Such a direction could come only from a representative gathering such as the one at present, and all or any future action must be guided entirely by the decisions arrived at that afternoon. His own opinion was one of “No Surrender.” He was sure the principals of Taranaki's secondary schools could recite the names of the boys and: girls who had won Taranaki scholarships and could name their achievements. Children from -the province had successfully competed against the best in N.ew Zealand at the universties, and there was no reason to belittle the mental ability of Taranaki scholars. “THE ONLY DANGER.” Air. Wilkinson pointed out that up to the present the only danger lay in a recommendation from the Economy I Commission; legislative proposals had ■not yet been formulated. Personally, he (did not believe legislation aiming at (faking the fund would actually he introduced into the House, more cspecial-

]y since such a strong delegation had met that day. They were anticipating a fight perhaps a little prematurely, but the’’fund would always be a source of temptation until some steps were taken to permanently guard it. He suggested, therefore, that the meeting should appoint a committee of its mout trusted men to confer with the Government when necessary on matters concerning the fund. If an Act was introduced into the House there would bo very little time to organise Taranaki’s defences. “I believe if there is one thing upon which Taranaki is definitely united it is in its determination to resist any effort to take away this fund,” Mr. Wilkinson said. Taranaki was' fortunate indeed in having in the House a man of Mr. Smith’s energy. Before even the ink was dry upon the commission’s report he had gathered the Taranaki members into the Prime Minister’s room to enter an emphatic protest. Mr. Smith was to be commended upon bis action and upon the vigilance he had at all times displayed in matters effecting the Opaku endowment.

Mr. Wilkinson added that while Taranaki must be prepared to fight for its rights it should remember that something had to be done with the money, and he hoped the meeting would adopt his suggestion of setting up a permanent Opaku committee. Mr. Valentine said Mr. Wilkinson’s remarks showed that the general public was not aware of the steps that had been taken by the Taranaki education authorities for the utilisation of the fund. They included the establishment of scholarships at both Massey and Lincoln Colleges. Proposals had been made by Taranaki education authorities for utilisation of the scholarship funds, but they had not been adopted. Mr. Polson declared, himself as strongly opposed to any attempt to filch the reserve from Taranaki. He agree with Mr. Smith that there should be no surrender. He was disgusted to read in the paper that some one had asserted that it was parochialism gone mad. It was not parochialism but patriotism to protect one’s heritage and stand up for one’s rights. He did not think Taranaki’s rights were questioned. It had been definitely proved that the reserve was intended for Taranaki and should be reserved for Taranaki. The question was “Can we hold it?” Mr. Polson held that if a united front was shown Taranaki could and would hold it, but if there was any weakening or suggestion of giving away something it would be clutched and their case would be so much weaker. He therefore hoped that Taranaki would present a united front. "GESTURE TO GOVERNMENT.” It had been said that in view of the financial stress they should be generous and do something to help by permitting the Government to take part of the fund. If they wished to help they might perhaps consider lending the Government the money for a time without interest, though ho pointed out that- the money at present was in circulation and playing its part. If £20,000 or so would: get New Zealand out of its difficulties by all means let them make a, gesture and lend it, “but don’t give away the hertitage of Taranaki,” he said. It was an occasion when all must back up . the representations made by their members in Parliament. In fact, they must let. their members know clearly that they were determined by giving them definite orders to. see that, the reserve was retained, and ho was satisfied it would then take a pretty strong pull for any one else to take it away. r

Mr. J. W. Harding (Hawera) said that only three people in Taranaki had spoken in favour of giving away a portion of the fund—'Messrs. W. A. Sheat, 8. Pitt and E. K. Cameron —but he wanted it' definitely understood that they did not represent the general trend of opinion in Taranaki.

. Mr. J. Cocker said the South Taranaki School Committees’ Association strongly supported the motion. Mr. Sheat was the only delegate who favoured giving away a portion of the funds. iMr. Murray rose to enter an explanation. Mr. Pitt in making his observation at the last meeting of the Stratford County Council, he said, had expressed a personal opinion and had made a suggestion which the speaker had seconded. This did not- mean that they were prepared to hand over the Opaku reserve. It simply meant that something should be done as indicated by Mr. Polson—a gesture to the country, such as, perhaps, lending or giving the accumulated capital to the Minister of Finance free of interest for a period. Mr. Pitt was firm in desiring the endowment to remain as Taranaki’s heritage. RESERVE FOR EACH PROVINCE. Mr. H. R. Billing emphasised some points. The first was that any change made in the reserve was made in 1874, when it was ascertained that there was to be no colonial university. That Act governed all reserves in New Zealand. Auckland, Otago, Wellington and Taranaki each had it reserve. Therefore it was clear that the Opaku reserve was set aside for Taranaki for the purposes of liigher education, just as other reserves were established in other provinces. For some reason the Wellington reserves were very poor ones and that was the reason why Wellington had looked so greedily towards Taranaki. If the Opaku reserve were to go then also should the Auckland and Otago reserves be seized. A point omitted from the motion was that the University Senate had wrongly withheld a number of scholarships justly entitled to Taranaki (cries of hear!. hear!) Mr. Billing added that the senate had obviously; become frightened and had caused the insertion of an obnoxious clause giving itself the sole “say” as to whom scholarships should be awarded. He also pointed.out that the senate was fully in favoui’ of the Taranaki proposal to utilise the fund for scholarships tenable at Massey College, but stipulated that such scholarships should be available to the whole of New Zealand.

Mr. C.'E. Betts, Okaiawa, said Mr. E. K. Cameron's name, had been mentioned as one opposed to the retention of the fund by Taranaki, but he knew that Mr. Cameron was heartily in favour of conserving the endowment, and as reerptary of the South Taranaki provincial executive his views were t well known. The speaker was unable to conceive how the Press report attributing to Mr. Cameron a view so wholly at divergence with his known sentiments, had come about. The South Taranaki executive of the Farmers’ Union strongly supported the moi ion.

Mr. D. S. Wards, Okaiawa, spoke In similar strain.

Mr. W. G. Belton (Patea) was strongly of opinion that the accumulated fund should be kept as a reserve. With the proposed reduction of rents and interest the revenue would probably be cut down' 20 per cent. Moreover, in times like the present some of the properties might be allowed to depreciate, and it might be necessary for some money out of the fund to be expended upon them. That phase had been overlooked and he considered it would be advisable to appoint to the Vigilance Committee someone who was familiar with the locality in which the reserves were situated. His council certainly supported the “no surrender” policy. Mr. E. S. Ruthcrfurd (Stratford) considered that the Taranaki scholarships should be available at Massey College. He did not favour sending students to the universities to learn dead languages which would be of no use to them in the 'business; .they. intended to ; f0110w... He ■was opposed to .a. university, being, established in Taranaki as there were already too many universities in New Zealand. . • .

' Mi< Valentine’s motion was unanimously carried. .. .- On the motion.’of Messrs.. J. 8.. Murdoch (Hawera) .and H. V, .8. Griffiths (Mayor of New Plymouth) it was resolved that the meeting “Fully endorses the actions of the vigilance committee and asks it to continue its efforts.” On the motion of Messrs. F. Gawith (ELtham) and A. L. Campbell (Eltham) it was decided to recommend that the domain of the Patea County Council be added to the vigilance committee.