Fair Play SATURDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1893. University for Wellington.

Fair Play, Volume I, Issue 8, 23 December 1893, Page 12

Fair Play SATURDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1893. University for Wellington.

If there is one thing about which we honestly believe Sir Robert Stout is really in earnest, it is the interest he has always taken, and still takes, in our education system. In this interest he is genuine enough, and we cheerfully accord bfrn all possible credit therefor. That being the case, we hope that as soon as the new Parliament assembles he will take energetic action in favour of a University in Wellington. He can move in two ways, either by bringing in a private Bill, or by introducing a motion, setting -forth

the necessity for such an institution being formed in our midst, and the desirableness of Government supporting- the scheme with a thoroughly adequate en‘ dowment. In this action we trust, and, indeed, we fully expect, he would be warmly supported by his two colleagues, Messrs. Duthie and Bell, and the daily press of the city ought to do its share in bringing the arguments in favour of a University very prominently before the notice of honourable members. Petitions should also be prepared and sent round for signature, and representations in support of the project should be made by the various educational and other local bodies. Wellington has every just claim to have a University College established here. The city is the capital of the colony ; the natural centre, not only of the trade of the whole of the southern—and more wealthy and important—part of the North Island, but also for the northern and western coasts of the South Island; it is yearly growing in size, in population, and in attention to the arts and sciences, and it is most manifestly unfair that she should not enjoy those extended educational facilities which are the portion of her two great rivals, Dunedin and Auckland. We have in this province two of the best secondary schools in the colony—the Wanganui Collegiate School and the Wellington College. We are more accessible to Nelson with its College than to Christ, church, and there are besides a perfect host of educational institutions to which the establishment of a University here would be of incalculable benefit. The fact that Wellington has been so long without a University is by no means creditable to the older citizens, who were, in bye-gone days, much more attached to making money than' given to thinking and caring about the educational endowments of the city in which they lived. It is, however, never too late to mend, and the time has now arrived when a University must and shall be established in Wellington. We look forward to the opening of Parliament with a confident trust that Sir Robert Stout will bring all .his undoubtedly persuasive eloquence to bear upon the Government and his fellow members in this matter, and that backed up by petitions and by press and public approval, be will be successful in inducing the Government to do what would be merely an act of simple justice, viz., to authorise the establishment and endowment of a University in the capital city of the colony. .