EDUCATION ENDOWMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 November 1920, Page 4

EDUCATION ENDOWMENT.

THE OPAKU RESERVE RETENTION INSISTED ON. TO BE HELD, A representative meeting of educational authorities in Taranaki was held. at the Education Board office, New Plymouth, last night to consider the letter received from the Victoria College Board, asking that a conference should be held to discuss the proposals in connection with the Opaku reserve. j Mr. H. Trimble, a member of the Taranaki Education Board and the New Plymouth High Schools Board, presided, and there were also present: Messrs. S. G. Smith, M.P. (Education Board and High Schools Board) t R, Masters, M.P.. and R. J. Deare (Education Board), L. C. Sladdea chairman, F. W. Atkinson, A. E. Washer, and E. Lash (secretary), representing the High Schools Board. Miss Barr (principal of the N.P. Girls' High School), Mef»r*. R. R. Tyrer, W. H. Moyes, and A. Gray (principals respectively of the StrMford D.H.S., New Plymouth Boys' High School, and Hawera Technical High School).

Mr. S. C. Smith, M.P., explained that many attempts had been made in the early part of the session to get together members of Parliament representing the area within the Victoria College district, and the conference was held. Ho knew that there was a feeling that the law should be altered so as to allow the revenue from the Opaku reserve to bo used apart from Taranaki students. There was no reason why, because Victoria College had poor endowments, it should endeavour to divert the revenue from this dista-ict. It would have been far better, and they would lave gained a good deal of support, if they had taken up the stand that they would ask the Government to give- them other valuable land, or set apart an equivalent sum to what was received from the Opaku reserve. They asked if theTe was any objection to a conference being held with the various educational authorities in Taranaki, before whom they could place their views on the matter. Ho said that there was no objection, as the more publicity the matter was given the more opposition there would be shown by the public of Taranaki. A conference had not yet been decided upon. Personally he was opposed to the very utmost against conceding one iota of the revenue that has accumulated J Why, lie asked, should this district fay the penalty of the lack of foresight , displayed in the past. They had been fortunate in having men in Taranaki in' the past who took a. keen interest in education, and had the foresight to see the great future before this district, and it was the duty of the educational authorities of the present day. not only to conserve the educntional interests of" the children of to-day, but to try and look ahead twenty-five years. If they deeided to hold a conference they should at the same time definitely 'inform the Vic- | toria College authorities that they were i entirely opposed' to conceding any portion of the revenue. Mr. Masters, M.P., also agreed .that any interference with the revenue from the reserve, which was a right that had been given to the children of Taranaki, should be fought to the bitter end. It was a fact that the funds had accumulated, but with the growth of Taranaki. he. looked forward to the time when they would have to spend a portion of the £15,000 accrued funds by the increased allocation of scholarships, and so break down at lea*t one of the arguments. Mr. Moyes pointed out that the accumulated funds were to a larger extent due to the fact that though the reserve was set aside in 1868 it wae not until 1005 that legislation was pawed enabling the funds to -be used, and then the scholarships were limited to one from each school, which practically meant a maximum of two from Taranaki, viz., one each from New Plyi mouth and Stratford. In 1914 further legislation was introduced enabling as many scholarships to be ajloted' as funds would permit, and since. 1012''ten scholars from his school had taken scholarships, while girls from the New Plymouth High School/and boys from the Stratford District High Sojfool had also taken scholarships. All these scholarships were not taken up at VioT tona College, as the bulk of the boy* went to Otago or Canterbury College! for medical or enginering ooursea. Mr. Masters said that one of the points made by Victoria CWleg* was the number of students from Tarai naki, not necessarily schola«hiß holders, that attended the univerilty. < The chairman said that th« number] of scholarships was inereaaing an* would continue to increase so that th*j accumulation would not go on, . Mr. Smitih said that it had »a«ir stated that 42 students from Taranakf attended the University, and that of »l ; scholarships allotted during the last eleven years, e>ven had been taken U» at Victoria College. Ho favored informing the Victoria College authorities that Taranaki was strongly opposed tq the diversion of any part of the fund. The chairman agreed. Mr. Sladden said that liig Board was practically committed to a conference, but it should be made clear that Taraanki was absolutely opposed to any part of the revenue being diverted. He then moved: "That the Victoria Col' lege Council be informed that this, conicrence has no objection to meeting representatives of their Council on Tuefc day, December 14, at 3 p.m., but at the same time wish to make it quite elear that we. as representatives of educational institutes, are emphatieallr opposed to the revenue from the Opaku reserve being diverted from its present purpose.' This was seconded by Mr. Deare and carried.