N.Z. UNIVERSITY URGED TO HAVE FORESTRY SCHOOLS

Wanganui Chronicle, 29 June 1948, Page 5

N.Z. UNIVERSITY URGED TO HAVE FORESTRY SCHOOLS

Rotorua, June 24 Disappointment at the fact that the New Zealand University would not aecide on forestry schools was voiced by the president of the New Zealand Institute of Foresters, Mr. Owen Jones when the 21st annual meeting of the institute opened at the Whakarewarewa Forestry Centre today. ‘lt seems disappointing that, after delays and the hard work put in, the matter should be referred by the Senate back to the committee. By that, perhaps, you can see it is a very thorny problem,” said Mr. Jones.

The question of forestry education had received a great deal of attention in the past year and an institute committee was appointed to investigate fully. Committee members were unable to agree, and so a questionnaire had been sent to members of the institute. The response was very good and, when summarised, the results had been sent to the University Senate. The Registrar reported on May 3 that the .matter had been discussed and handed over to the com mittee for a report. “We have heard nothing since then,” continued Mr. Jones. A summary of the questionnaire gave as its main points that a New Zealand school was far preferable to sending students overseas; ’hat there was a balanced opinion in favour of a postgraduate course as against an undergraduate course; and that the former should consist of two years’ forestry following a three-year B.Sc. course, and the latter two years’ basic science and two years’ forestry. A third point was that all were overwhelmingly in favour of. university control, ami a fourth that Rotorua be selected as a site for the school. Voting was decisively for Rotorua,' with 22 votes the nearest competitor being Christchurch, which polled eight. After hearing a resume of the negotiations the meeting unanimously approved a motion sending a letter to the Senate requesting that, urgency be given to its decision.