Change Is No Answer

The first two reasons are not very important. The full title need not be used very often; and people can always refer to "the Universities of Canterbury, Otago, Wellington," if they want to. Regarding the third "reason," the change would not make any difference. Auckland University has the same name as the city of Auckland, and the degree of hostility and mutual contempt between University and Robinson's City Council has been extraordinary for years. Besides, it is very easy to persuade people to believe what they want to believe. To do the opposite is almost impossible. And mere name-changing would not remove any real cause of friction. It is one thing to try to integrate a university with a city; another thing to submerge it. A local daily [two newspapers "pushed" the proposal] recently referred to a group of sportsmen from "Wellington University." Somebody has already had the temerity to list Vic. in the latest telephone directory under "University of Wellington."