SEPARATE UNIVERSITIES.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 30 July 1924, Page 9

SEPARATE UNIVERSITIES.

CONFEREN'C’E OF COLLEGES. CBY TELEGRAPH PRESS ASSOCIATION.) CHRISTCHURCH, July 28. The question of the establishment of four separate universities in place of the New Zealand University was briefly discussed by the Canterbury College Board of Governors to-day, when letters were received from Auckland and Victoria College Councils. The Auckland Council wrote stating it had written to the Prime Minister asking that a commission he set up to consider the question, and the Victoria Council stated the question had been considered, referred to a sub-committee, and that the question would be considered in a month's time. Both letters were replies to a Canterbury request that a conference of university colleges lie held to discuss the proposed change. The chairman (Mr H. D. Ackland) said the board was now awaiting developments. Though they had not come to any definite decision, he thought Canterbury should do something in the matter. The committee set up for the purpose had made a recommendation. Mr L. M. Isitt: Made what recommendation ?

Mr Ackland: That a conference be held between the four colleges. Mr W . Brook said Auckland had gone further. In writing to the Prime Minister the Auckland Council had made a good suggestion in the pronosed commission, but they should go further and consider all the oros and cons of the question. Mr J. R. Cunningham said that from reading the letters it seemed as though the whole movement had originated in Victoria College, when, as a matter of fact, it had originated in Canterbury. Mr Aschman said that they stood'in the same position now. except that Auckland had stenned in ahead of them by writing direct to the Prime Minister. ‘‘The only thing we can do now,” •said Mr Isitt, ‘‘is to object to the Prime Minister being written to asking for a commission to be set no before a conference has been held.”

Dr. H. Bight said Auckland bad done a tactless thing in not falling into line in the matter of a conference He moved that they should protest, against the action of the Auckland Council, and the motion was carried.