STUDENTS AT OTAGO MEDICAL SCHOOL

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23088, 2 August 1940, Page 8

STUDENTS AT OTAGO MEDICAL SCHOOL

* Decision to Restrict Number .REASONS EXPLAINED BY CHANCELLOR [THE PRESS Special Service] DUNEDIN, August 1. That the sole reason for the decision of the Council of the University of Otago to restrict the number of students to be admitted to second-year courses at the Medical School in March, 1041, was the shortage of accommodation, and the consequent inability to maintain efficient training, was emphasised by the Chancellor of the University (Mr W. J. Morrell) in an interview to-day. Mr Morrell was commenting on a question of which notice was given in the . House of Representatives on Wednesday by Mr A. G. Osborne, the Government member for Onehunga. Mr Osborne is to ask the Minister for Health whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that the University of Otago had decided to restrict severely the number of medical students “ostensibly on the ground that accommodation is not available at the Otago Medical School,” and whether, in view of the pressing need for more doctors, the Minister will consider establishing a medical school in Auckland, where ample clinical material is available for the efficient training of the Dominion’s medical practitioners. “The reason i for the decision of the council is not ‘ostensible,’ ” Mr Morrell said. “It is fact. The statement issued by the finance and medical committee to the council last week showed that the maximum of the Medical School is 100. A few more ..were taken this year; but the increase meant inconvenience and a consequent threat to efficiency, and it could not be carried on. There is no desire on the part of the Council for restriction. In fact, a conditional request was made to the Minister earlier this year that he should consider the question of the provision for increased accommodation and staffing, if it were found from investigation that this was justified by the needs of the Dominion for trained medical practitioners during the next few years. The Minister stated that the output of from 60 to 70 graduates a year was reported by the Director-General of Health to be fully sufficient to meet the requirements of the Dominion, and that this being the case, the school as at present constituted appeared to be able to cater adequately for. New Zealand’s demands for medical men, even allowing for certain wastage due to the students not completing their courses, or to graduates proceeding overseas. “Since the limitation to 100 became operative,” Mr llcrrell said, “the council decided to introduce it accordingly, and it is clear that this figure leaves an ample margin over the estimated requirements to cover all contingencies, since the annual output of the school necessary to the maintenance of an adequate supply has been put down at from 60 to 70.” Mr Morrell added that there was no need to emphasise ■ that the school was doing all that was needed of It, and more, with an output of 100; but that consideration was not its responsibility. “We * know how many students can be accommodated and trained efficiently, and the decision of the council was based purely and Simply on fact. In his notice of the question, Mr Osborne has, implied criticism of the grounds for the decision, which are factual, and not open to doubt,” concluded Mr Morrell,