FORESTRY SCHOOL RECOGNITION ASKED

Wanganui Chronicle, 21 January 1947, Page 2

FORESTRY SCHOOL RECOGNITION ASKED

CENTRE AT ROTORUA. Christchurch, Jan. 17. To ask that the University of New Zealand should approve the proposed forestry training centre at Rotorua and grant it degrees, the Director of the State Forest Service (Mr. A. R. Entrican) appeared before the Senate in Christchurch. The matter was referred to the executive committee for inquiry and a report, the Chancellor (Mr. Justice Smith) saying it was an important matter which warranted the most careful consideration. Mr. Entrican traced the formation of the State Forest Service and its development. He said that when the need for a training scheme became apparent, professors of the university colleges were approached, but only in Christchurch was there much enthusiasm. Later, when the college councils were approached, Auckland and Canterbury look up some instruction, but. the staff was inadequate, and only a smattering of the necessary knowledge could be given. Meanwhile, there was a growing need for trained staff

Mr. Entrican said a school separated from a university centre would have some disadvantages, but these would soon be outweighed by the advantages of a forest centre. Mr. J. H. E. Schroder said Mr. Entrican bad suggested that the university colleges had not shown interest In forestry training, but Canterbury University College had framed proposals which, in a measure, anticipated the report now made by the Foresti’v Department. Concerning a newspaper report this week that, the university would recognise the degrees of the school. Mr. Entrican said be would deny knowledge of such a statement being issued from bis department, and would express the belief that officer of his department had made it.