PLEA FOR ASSISTANCE

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 824, 19 November 1929, Page 16

PLEA FOR ASSISTANCE

FORESTRY SCHOOL AT VARSITY LARGER STAFF WANTED “It is perfectly absurd for two forestry schools to be running in New Zealand. If the funds of the two institutions were pooled :t would be possible to staff one school properly and secure a greater degree of efficiency." This comment was made by Sir Geo. Fowlds, president of the Auckland University College Council, yesterday, in discussing the requirements of the forestry school conducted at the college. A plea for an increase in the stuff of the forestry school at a cost of £2uo was made by Professor Corbin, who interviewed the council. He said many times he had three lectures on end to take. and. ns the work was highly advanced and mathematical, it imposed a terrible strain on him. It was almost impossible to do it. Sometimes ho had three classes sitting at once, and he considered this state of affairs was not proper. Ho had 14 students last year and his difficulty was to provide all with proper instruction. While ho appreciated the fact that tlie school urgently needed assistance, Sir George Fowlds said that it was practically impossible for the council to provide the money out of its funds. The council believed it had presented an overwhelming case to the Minister for one school of forestry for New Zealand to bo in Auckland, but apparently no decision had been made. A suggestion was made that application should be made to the Sawmillers’ Federation to provide the money required for additional staff for the school, or alternatively to the Government. Professor Corbin said that to provide the £l5O a year maintenance of the school, it had starved itself of equipment. . . Sir George Fowlds held the opinion that no benefit would be derived from applying to the Government for assistance. He believed the Government had made up its mind what it would like to do. but whether it had the courage to carry out the plan was another matter. The president and Professor Corbin were instructed to investigate to see if ways and means could be lound to Provide the necessary funds.