COLLEGE COUNCIL ELECTIONS

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28265, 1 May 1957, Page 6

COLLEGE COUNCIL ELECTIONS

Possible Contest By Graduates It is expected that most members of the Canterbury University College Council, who retire this year by rotation next month, will be returned unopposed; but it is possible that the Court of Convocation (graduates) seats may be contested. There are reports that a well-known writer on historical subjects may be nominated in addition to the two sitting graduates’ representatives, Miss A. M. F. Candy and Mr C. E. Fenwick.

Other members retiring are: Mr J. Leggat, appointed by the Gov-ernor-General; the Very Rev. Martin Sullivan, elected by members of the House of Representatives; Mr W. J. Cartwright, elected by teachers; Mr R. M. Young, elected by school committees; and Professor J. C. Garrett, appointed by the Professorial Board.

Mr Young won his seat by election but there has not been a contest in the Court of Convocation since 1954, when there were five candidates and the two present representatives were returned. At that time, 1585 votes were polled from 3416 voting papers distributed. At present the Court of Convocation roll has 4000 names with known addresses in New Zealand, 300 overseas, and 500 whose new addresses are not known.

Periodically there have been attempts in the college to increase the interest of graduates. A graduate is automatically placed on the roll of the Court of Convocation on being capped (although next month’s graduands will not qualify for this election) but afterwards he seldom hears directly from the university apart from elections.

Revival of the graduates’ association has been mentioned from time to time and some people in the college are still keen, but it is unlikely that any fresh move will be made until the college becomes the University of Canterbury. By then the transfer to Riccarton will have begun and it is considered that there will be more to interest graduates. It is not many years since the roll of graduates increased slowly, but. the big influx immediately after the war and the present rate of 225 to 250 graduates each year is rapidly expanding numb€ Rolls of electors will close on May 6, nominations will close on May 13 at noon; and the elections (if any) will take place on June 3.