UNIVERSITY YEAR.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 41, 18 February 1927, Page 10

UNIVERSITY YEAR.

BRIGHT OUTLOOK FOR 1927.

CHAIR OF ECONOMICS.

DIPLOMA COURSE FOR NURSES,

The history of the Auckland University College since the opening of the new Arts building in Prince's Street last March has been one of the remarkable progress. The prospects of the approaching year, with the opening of the 1927 season on March 7, are no less bright than those of the past, and an even greater measure of success is anticipated in academic achievement.

The College Council has established a Chair of Economics and has appointed Dr. H. Belsliaw of Cambridge. The fact that he is a specialist in agricultural economics sliould make it a splendid appointment as far as the practical needs of the province are concerned. Professor Belsliaw will take up his duties at the beginning of the second term, and, in the meantime, Professor Grossmann will continue to give the lectures in economics. An innovation this year will be a nursing diploma, this the outcomc of a request by the Hospital Board and the New Zealand branch of the central council of the Nursing Association. It will be a course for young women who have decided to enter the nursing profession and have passed the matriculation examination. There was a widespread request for the course, and the council expressed its willingness to meet the needs of the community if there was a definite need for it, and provided that the finnace was provided by the Government. Study of Architecture. In connection with the School of Architecture there will be further developments. Mr. T. A. Sladdin has been appointed assistant lecturer. He has excellent credentials, being a Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects, and possesses a wide experience of practical work in all parts of the world. With this appointment there will be a member of the staff of the school available throughout the full period of the studio, a decidedly forward step. The relations between the school staff and the practising architects of the Dominion are most happy, and there is a wish to see a notable development in this part of the university work. The School of Architecture, 'by the way, is still without a Government grant and is being carried on by the college without a reasonable financial foundation. It is hoped that, later in the year, the school will receive at the hands of the Minister of Education treatment in the matter of finance on the basis of the importance and the success of the school. Engineering Development. This year the School of Engineering will be strengthened by the purchase of additional plant, costing over £1000. This school is now well established and the importance of the work that it is doing is being fully recognised in the engineering world. • In regard to the Chair of Education, a rapid increase lias taken place iu the number of students. Just before the end of last year Professor Fitt left to take up research and practical psychology in Canada and America, under the Rockefellow Foundation Fellowship, and it is expected that the experience lie will gain there will greatly strengthen the school upon his return in 12 months' time. Professor Egerton, professor of English, has also gone abroad for his sabbatical year, and will visit some of the largest universities. The college council has decided that the time has arrived when the college should follow the lines of the larger universities and issue pamphlets for public use in regard to research work carried out by members of the staff. The first series, which will shortly appear, will be on milk production and sweet milk for city supply. The pamphlet will be prepared by Professor William Riddet, professor of agriculture. The Social Side. Apart from the academic work of the college, one of the features of last year was the improvement made on the social side, and the establishment of a university club as a centre of social life. The building, which was provided for the students' accommodation, is a finely-equipped block in the nature of an annexe. A restaurant was established at the outset as an experimental move, and a cafetaria is now reported to be a permanent establishment at the Auckland University College. Meals are obtained at an economical charge, and the special advantage of havnig a restaurant on the college grounds has been much appreciated by both the students and the members of the staff.