OTAGO UNIVERSITY.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14907, 4 March 1914, Page 10

OTAGO UNIVERSITY.

THE MEDICAL SCHOOL. (PRESS ASSOCTATTO:•* TEI.KORAM ) DTJNEDIX, March' 3. At <a special mooting in committee of the University Council to-day, the Hon. J. Allen, Minister of Education, being also in attendance, a letter was received from the Secretary for Education, intimating that the Government was prepared 1 to give £10,100 towards extending tho present medical school building, and for giving accommodation for anatomy, chemistry, and physiology, on the understanding that only £5000 will be payable before the end of the financial year. Tho Chancellor, tho Rev. A. Cameron, reported that a certain gentleman was prepared to give £2000 towards a building for pathological and bacteriological department*;, and rooms for public health and materia medica. The estimated cost of the bin"'ding was £12,000. The Council resolved to apply for a subsidy to provide the balance, on the assumption that the Government would provide a £ for £ subsidy on all voluntary contributions. After the Council came out of committee tlie Hon. T. Fergus moved that the thanks of the Council be acco.-ded the Minister of Education and the Government. The motion was seconded by Mr T. K. Sidey, M.P. Mr John Roberts said it was a good thing, to know that they had someone at the head of the Education Department who was thoroughly conversant with tho Council's needs. He did not mean that other Governments had thwarted the medical school, but the lack of assistance had really Been clue to tho fact that they had not known the requirements of the medical school. The Chancellor, in eulogising the work of Mr Allen in connexion with the Council, and his assistance in getting the grant, said the latter had not been given in any spirit of partiality. In making the grant the. Government was serving, not only Dunedin, but the whole of i.ho Dominion. He conveyed the resolution to Mr Allen as expressive of the Council's appreciation of his efforts on behalf of education. Mr Allen, in replying, 6aid the Government had put Dunedin out of its mind altogether when considering the vote. It recognised that the medical school belonged to the whole of the Dominion. He hoped the Council would make tho school worthy of New Zealand. The Council resolved to appoint a ne;v professor at £800 per annum to fill the vacancy created by the- death of Dr. Scott The following were appointed as commissioners to interview candidates and report with respect to them : —The Hon. T. Mackenzie, Professor J. Simmington (Belfast), Professor A. Robinson (Edinburgh), Professor Elliott Smith (Manchester); tho vacancy to be advertised in Now Zealand and Australia as well as abroad, and the appointment to be for live years.