TARANAKI SCHOLARSHIPS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 75, Issue 12, 15 January 1932, Page 7

TARANAKI SCHOLARSHIPS

THE OPAKU RESERVE FUND DECISION OF THE SENATE ANOMALY - MUST BE REMOVED [ Per Pre.°s Association. ] DUNEDIN, Jan. 114. A deputation representing educational interests in Taranaki waited on the University Senate to-day with a request that the funds accruing from the Opaku Reserve endowment, known as the Taranaki Scholarship Fund, should be utilised to a greater extent than at present. Tho case on behalf of the deputation was stated by Air S. G. Smith, M. 1%, and Mr W. 11. Moyes, principal of the New Plymouth Boys’ High School. Air Moyes said that, briefly, the deputation asked for one scholarship per annum in a literary subject, one, in a mathematical and scientific subjects and three in agricultural scholarships, those to be awarded annually and each to be tenable at the Afassey College. Lt was also urged that then' should bo provided from the residue of the annual invomo an amount for scholarships to be awarded in conformity with exiting regulations governing the Taranaki Scholarship. Air T. B. Strong pointed out that the fund now totalled £39,000. The annual income from it was £2OOO. It was impossible for Taranaki to use the endowment fully. Professor Hunter moved that the Senate rc-aflirm its decision of 1924, and asks the Alinister to take action to remove the present anomaly and injustice and ensure that revenue from the reserve shall be used for the purposes named in the Acts of 1868 and 1874. After brief discussion, the motion was carried. In 1868 the University Endowment Act was passed, which provided machinery for enabling (university) endowments to be made in each province. The schedule to the Act stated that about 10,000 acres of confiscated land in the province of Taranaki were to bo sot apart for a college endowment. In 1874 the New Zealand University Act was passed. Hansard reports of thi debates that took place during the passage of the Bill show the opinioni of various speakers. Of these the Hon Dr. Pollen, in the Legislative Council declared that the Bill provided that the revenue derived from reserves in the various provinces might be admin* istered by the Government, but should be applied to the puipose of higher education in the provinces in which they were situated. Section 30 of this Act provides that the 10,000 acres of land in Taranaki (reserved by previoui legislation), should be defined by proclamation of the Government, and that regulations should be made dealing with the funds from this land. These funds were to be used for promoting higher education in the province. Endeavour has been made to divert the funds accruing from tho Opaku reserve to purposes other than those ! defined in tho discussions and prnvi sions of tho above two measures