UNIVERSITY'S NEEDS

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 588, 14 February 1929, Page 13

UNIVERSITY'S NEEDS

REQUESTS TO MINISTER The Hon. 11. Atmore, Minister of Education, met the members of the University Council yesterday. After extending a, welcome to the Minister, the president. Sir George Fowlds, put representations before him in reference to the application for a grant for a caretaker’s cottage on the college site. Sir Gcorgo also discussed the position regarding the University endowment at Orakei. The situation was that the college had an endowment of 43 acres, but had no title to the land. The Forestry School was also touched upon, in view of the . recommendation of the Forestry Committee that there should be only one school in New Zealand. Finally, Sir Gec-rge made reference to the union of the Auckland and Victoria Colleges in connection with the Massey Agricultural College at Palmerston North. The point at issue was the provision of grants for the new buildings. Replying, the Minister said he was always willing to co-operate with the council concerning questions of policy affecting university education. He promised to look into the subjects mentioned. “I can assure the council that I will endeavour to take a well-balanced view of the education system as a whole, and will not show preference for any particular branch of the educational machine,” said the Minister. Later he was conducted over the college, and the cramped conditions of the engineering school were pointed out to him, though no special request was made. TOUR OFTHE SCHOOLS The Minister of Education, the 1-lon. IT. Atmore, visited the schools at Napier Street, Royal Oak, Epsom, Newmarket, Cornwall Park, Rcmuera and Meadowbank yesterday. This morning he visited the Auckland University College, and this afternoon ho will visit the Otahuhu school. He will return to the city by way of Panmure and Orakei, with the object of investigating the educational needs of the district in the vicinity of the new railway deviation. To-morrow, visits will be paid to the five grammar schools and the Catholic Rural Training College for Maori Boys at Northcote, and the Minister will leave for Wellington in the evening.