OPAKU RESERVE.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 December 1920, Page 6

OPAKU RESERVE.

CONFERENCE OF EDUCATION- , A LISTS.

NO DIVERTING OF ENDOWMENT.

Yesterday afternoon, delegates concerned in educational matters in Taranak'i met Professor Hunter, of Wellington, representing the Victoria College Board, in connection with ihe proposal that the Opakn Reserve endowment (set aside for promotion of higher education in Taranaki) should be di-erted to the use of the College. In addition to Professor Hunter, there were present: Messrs,' P. J. White (chairman of the Taranaki Education Board) who pre sided, Messrs. S. G. Smith, M.P., R. Masters, M.P., 11. Trimble, and R. ,T. Deare (members of the Board), Messrs. I, C. Sladden, J. S. Fox and E. Lash (High Schools Board), Mr. W. 11. Moyes (principal New Plymouth Boys' High School), and Mr. F. Tyrer (Stratford District High School), Messrs. J. H. Quilliain and <f. C. Nicholson (legal advisers to the Education and High Schools Board) also attended. In opening proceedings, Mr. White extended a welcome to Professor Hunter to the district, 'and state I thai the conference would be pleased to hear tiic views taken by the College authorities.

Professor Hunter, in putting the case before the meeting, pointed out that Victoria College had to take in practically all the districts not touched by the Auckland, Canterbury and Otago institutions, and was used equally by children from Taranaki, Hawke's - Bay and Wellington. He thought that the intention of the authorities in setting aside the Cpaku Reserve was that whenever a university was founded fcr the district in which the reserve was situated, the revenue should be used by the College. At present the revenue from the reserve was not being used for educational purposes, and the accumulated funds amounted to about £15,000. With education demands so great, was it right that a fund should be hoarded up in such a manner? The speaker suggested there was even a possibility that such a good sum might be commandeered by an impecunious treasurer. There was no "idea of suggesting that the reserve should be permanently transferred, but he thought that some arrangements might be made whereby the annual revenue from the reserve in the future could be expended for university purposes. It wars not fair to students of the present day that there should be an accumulation of funds going on. Mr. Sladden pointed out that Professor Hunter was putting forward an entirely new proposal. The circular previously sent out by the College authorities bad suggested that the endowment be handed over. Professor Hunter reiterated that all that was desired was an arrangement as to the expenditure of the revenue from tile reserve in the meantime. Mr. Masters pointed out that the College got an amount from the Consolidated Fund every year. Professor Hunter: It is practically run by the Consolidated Fund. Mr. Masters: Yoii get £4OOO a year.

Mr Moyes remarked that mention had been made of the £15,000 accumulated fund. He pointed _out that from 1868 to 1905 thare wm no possibility of us-

ing any of the revenue. In future he doubted if there would be any surplus revenue. Schools were now allowed as many scholarships as there were successful candidates (instead of the former rule of one scholarship to each sehooH. There would be four schools in Tarnnaki putting up pupils and the scholarships would probably use up all the revenue.

In supporting Mr. Moyefe" remarks, Mr. Masters stated that there had been certain conditions attached to the Taranaki scholarships up to 1014, which had made it impossible to expend the money available. A big, increase was apparent in the number of scholarships taken up in the last six years, and in view of the increasing proportion of primary pupils who passed on to secondary schools, it was quite probable that "ail the money available from the Opaku Reserve would be required in the future. He questioned whether Victoria College was suited for the requirements of pupils from Tarnnaki, pointing out that a large proportion took the medical course, which necessitated attendance at Dunediu, and there were a good few candidates in •engineering studies which were taken at Canterbury College. Taranaki people is a whole, said the speaker, would not approve of those in charge of education in Taranaki adopting the suggestions put forward by the Victoria College authorities. The amount of the Taranaki scholarship provided from the endowment was £OO which, considering the circumstances, was quite insufficient, and the minimum should be £IOO.

Mr. Smith said the proposal to divert the revenue would meet with solid opposition from the people of the district. He _ advised the College authorities to devise some other scheme of raising revenue.

The chairman quoted Hansard extracts supporting the contention that it was the idea of the legislators who set aside the reserve that.the endowi ment should be used for the purposes of higher education in the province in which the reserve was situated. Up believed that the time was not far disi tant when Tarcmaki would need a uni- ; versity college.

Professor Hunter said he was glad to have been present at the discussion, and lie realised more fully after hearing the speakers, the opinions of Taranaki on *V matter. lie helievej there was little hope of another university college being established. He offered his personal co-operation in any efforts that might be made for increasing the value of the Taranaki scholarship. In regard to the number of students who would be likely to proceed to the universities, Mr. Tyrcr expressed the opinion that in n very few years the whole of the revenue would be taken up in scholarships Secondary education in Taranaki might be said to be only beginning. One particularly remarkable feature at present was that there was a trend for boys and girls to remain at school.

The debate concluded without .any motion affecting the subject being tabled, the delegates being unanimous on the question of reserving the endowment to Taranaki. • .

At the conclusion of, the proceeding*.

a vote of thanks was accorded to Professor Hunter.