WORK FOR THE COMMUNITY

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 21024, 28 November 1933, Page 10

WORK FOR THE COMMUNITY

♦ Canterbury College Activities MANY AND DIVERSE ASPECTS The service given the community by all departments of Canterbury College was reviewed by Mr C. T. Aschman. chairman of the college Board of Governors, at the meeting of the board yesterday. Reports from the various departments on their activities apart from actual college work were before him, and he remarked that the extent and value of this outside work, which went on quietly, tended to pass unnoticed. "The work of the college is not confined to the college only," he said. "In accordance with the modern view of the functions of a university a great deal is being done outside the college for all sections of the community by all departments. The amount that is done is surprising, and a great deal of it never receives any publicity. So many are the calls on the staff of the college for this work that some members have to give a great deal of their vacation time to it.'' Individual Departments. Outstanding features of the work that were better known were the tasks undertaken by the economics, education, and psychology departments. The work in education and psychology, under Professor J. Shelley and Dr. C. E. Beeby, included the application of psychoeducational scientific methods for educational and vocational guidance, affecting about 120 children, clinical work of a psychological character in the diagnosis and correction of behaviour difficulties, the treatment of special difficulties (speech and other defects) in school work, with investigation and remedial teaching. In addition there were wireless talks, Workers' Educational Association courses, industrial psychology, and other public lectures, the children's playground experiment, and advice on the internal planning of workshops. Dr. J. Hight, the head of the history and political science department, had acted as chairman of U\c economics committee set up by the Government from January, 1932, to January, 1933. and had on several occasions also been called on to give advice to Government departments, and also served on the economics committee of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce. Professor Tocker, of the economics department, had done a good deal of cutside work on Government committees, in addition to going to the World Economic Conference. His department did. a great deal of work in the preparation of the economic bulletins of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce, and it had frequently to answer public and private enquiries.

Scientific Help. Professor E. Percival, of the biology department, was director of the Freshwater Research Committee for New Zealand. His department next year was arranging a series of public lectures on social biology. Mr C. E. Foweraker, of the School of Forestry, was frequently called on by horticulturists to identify plants and to advise generally. The physks department, under Professor C. C. Farr, was called into frequent consultation on problems that presented difficulties to individuals and institutions in the city, the Public Hospital being an example. Honorary scientific work was done in collaboration with the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. The chemistry department was constantly called in to- do analyses and tests, and in addition Professor H. G. Denham was concerned in administrative work with the Wheat Research Institute, the Scientific and Industrial Research Board, and Canterbury Agricultural College. The engineering departments also were constantly of service to the public in doing necessary testing and other work. In conclusion Mr Aschman remarked that the various departments were constantly receiving expressions of gratitude from individuals and institutions helped by them. The college was grateful to Ihe members of its staff who were helping wholeheartedly in this work, which showed the part being taken by the college in the community.