DOMESTIC SCIENCE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXIX, Issue 7242, 30 July 1907, Page 2

DOMESTIC SCIENCE.

At Monday's meeting of the Canter bury College Board of Governors there was (says the Lyttelton Times) a con sidorable discussion of matters connect ed with the arrangements for the esta blishment of a chair of domestic sckyia in connection with which liegotiatioiv had been in progress with Miss Gil- ' christ, of Tennessee University, America.

A cable message was read from Mis Gilchrist as follows:—"We considei matter ended, as wo cannot agree witl the terms; have withdrawn from nego tiations. Positively refuse, for reason; contained in letter following." The chairman (Mr G. W. Russell; said that he had told Mr John Studholme of tho matter, and Mr Studholme had written stating that he would pay Miss Gilchrist's passage bad to the States, if that was the only ob jection. Should she refuse, his previous offer of £200 a year for three years still held good, if another suitable candidate: for the chair could be obtained. A fur ther letter had been received from Mr Studholme stating that he agreed with the opinion of the Board that Miss Gilchrist had certainly been exacting in tho whole matter, and he had received a. letter from her recently which showed that she had fully intended to come to New Zealand. -

The chairman went on to say that he did not think, after the emphatic refusal of Miss Gilchrist, that the Board could with dignity approach her either to propose to pay her passage back tc America at tho close of her engagemen. or even to convey to her Mr Studholme s generous offer. He was noi prepared to beg her to come to Nov Zealand. (Hear, bear.) When the Board went into the matter a fey months ago. it was on the understand ing that the University Senate, ther sitting in Christchurch, was about tc establish a degree in domestic science and the Board's idea of bringing Mis"' Gilchrist to Christchurch was that-she would be. the first professor of home economics. He had had an impressior that the Senate had passed the degree but had received a reply from the re gistrar to the effect that tentative re commendations had been referred to . recess committee. Consequently, n. possible harm could be done if the mat ter was held in suspense. He moved"That, as the Senate has not yet es .ablished a degree of domestic science -nd as Miss Gilchrist has declined tin Board's offer, the whole question be re fcrred to-the College Committee for it consideration, and that the committc be asited to report on the followinr questions: Is it desirable to establish r lectureship or chair in domestic science? What work-in tin's directior is being done in English, German o. colonial universities? Are the classe; in domestic science already conductor by other educational institutions ir Christchurch sufficient for present >- c quirements?" By passing the motion he said, the Board would obtain a thorough and exhaustive enquiry into tb<whole position. It had acted wit] some haste a few months ago, but haP "j W tiH ie I to "oanse and carefully con sider all details before proceeding wit! the new departure. Mr J. C. Adams, who seconded tlir motion, said that the question requiremuch more deliberation than the Boan' had given it. The motion was carried On the motion of Mr Hughes, it wndecided to thank Mr Studholme for hisecond offer, and to inform him that the Board in the meantime was con sidering the whole matter.