A REAL ADVANCE

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1030, 22 July 1930, Page 11

A REAL ADVANCE

DEVELOPMENT OF VARSITY EDUCATION DIFFICULTIES SURMOUNTED “I consider that these 10 years have shoAvn a real advance in respect of our service to and position in the community,” said Sir George Fowlds, president of the Auckland University College Council yesterday, in revieAving the development of the college during the 10 years he has occupied the presidential chair. Three big problems which confronted the institution in 1920 AA r ere the securing of a metropolitan site, the erection of buildings on it, and the obtaining of recognition of the engineering school by the Senate. These difficulties had been surmounted by energy and persistence and, although the site and buildings had been adversely criticised, they were now universally admitted to be both beautiful and useful. Candidates for the first and second

examinations could noAV De prepared at the engineering school and lie expressed the opinion that the Senate would be prepared to grant the right to hold the third and final examination for the degrees of Bachelor of Engineering (civil, mechanical and electrical) at almost any time the college applied for it. £20,550 SUBSCRIBED

Tho sum of £20,550 had been subscribed by the public of Auckland toAvard the £175,000 with which the arts’ building, students’ building, extensions of the physics department, the engineering school, the caretaker’s cottage and grounds and playing areas had been provided, the president added. In discussing the gilts of endoxvment sums to uni\ T ersity education. Sir George FoAvlds said that Dunedin’s citizens had set an example for those of other centres far behind to follow.

“Our Tuesday night public lectures are noAV firmly established and are well attended,” continued Sir George. “Our present courses in municipal government and local body finance are a base upon which we will some day superimpose a diploma of public administration and finally, I hope, a bureau of ciA'ic research, Avherein the resources of tho uniA’ersity A\'ill be placed at the disposal of tho City and the citizens. BOOK-KEEPING GROUP

“The farm book-keeping groufi established* at Te AAvamutu by the Department of Economics is merely a sample of tho use which the university can be to tho country districts. I feel that Ave can truthfully say that we are noAV fairly on the road leading to our ultimate aim—a civic and provincial university.

“Looking into the future, I can see that a great expansion lies before us. In Orakei we hop© to have a site which will give us room to found as the years go by a university keeping pace with tho advance of the community. There wo may b© able to place buildings for our science departments and our school of engineering, together Avith student hostels and playing areas, giving us the nucleus of the residential uni\'ersity Avith day classes which Ave all regard as our ultimate aim. Our present site and buildings Avill always be required to meet the needs of the recruitment of certain of the professions and of business, whicli appear to require evening tuition for the students.

“If our proposal, in conjunction Avith tho City Council, for a line arts block on the old Grammar School site comes to fruition, our very fine school of architecture Avill be properly housed, our school of music can then find a homo which Avill encourage it to expand, and the cultural and aesthetic societies of the City will find a common home under the aegis of the university and the City Council. In our School of Commerce avo have one of our greatest opportunities for expansion, and this matter is continually engaging my thoughts. “A lectureship or chair of anthropology must sooner or later be established in this the most suitable of all locations in the Dominion for this work. Our University of Auckland may come sooner than is anticipated and it behoves us, both council and staff, to seize every opportunity to take a step in this direction. In the residential colleges of the City, St. John’s and Trinity, avo have what Avill some day be an important part of our university.

SIR GEORGE FOWLDS RE-ELECTED

Eloquent tributes were paid to Sir George Fowlds on his re-election yesterday as president of the Auckland University College Council.

On the recommendation of the Professorial Board, the council awarded the Sir George Grey Scholarship to Mr. J. S. Watt, B.Sc. The value of the scholarship is £SO. The council decided to join with the City Council in sending a. deputation to AA r ait on the Minister of Education with tho request that he should take steps to vest the old Grammar School site in th© College Council and the City Council for- the purpose of a fine arts block.