UNIVERSITY FINANCES

Press, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 26874, 29 October 1952, Page 7

UNIVERSITY FINANCES

CANTERBURY COLLEGE BUDGET

The Canterbury University College • Council yesterday considered its budget for 1953. The chairman (Mr W. J. Cartwright) said that the finance committee had met from 3 P-m. to 11 1 p.m. recently to make adjustments which would enable most sections to , be balanced. * Mr D. W. Bain, chairman of the J finance committee, presented the report on the budget. In the arts, science, and general account, a deficit of about £3OO was estimated, Mr Bain said, but as some new appointments might not be taken up until later in the year, it was expected that funds would nearly balance. In any case there would be some help from this year’s expected surplus of £394. The Government grant was up by £803'6, including £2790 to meet increased costs. Tuition fees were expected to maintain their higher level, but any benefit would be offset by rising charges for services. Heating was a very heavy iteiri. The cost of reserves varied from last year only through extensive tree planting. Provision for contingencies and depreciation had been allowed for the first time, and also funds to wipe off a deficit of £1729 accumulated since 1945, Mr Bain said. It was still hoped that the Government would wipe out the major backlog running into five figures which had been discussed previously. ' The engineering account showed an expected deficit of £6B, the Governmen grant being up by £1658, and the share of the grant for increased costs was £2lOB, Mr Bain said. It had been possible to give material assistance in providing additional equipment for civil engineering, and other departments would receive smaller increases in their grants. Contingency, depreciation, and refresher leave funds had been established. , , , The School of Fine Arts budget could not be settled until after discussions in Wellington, said Mr Bain. A deficit of £1286 appeared on present estimates, but this arose from provision of £l5OO for the appointment of a professor of fine arts. It was hoped to obtain funds to cover this appointment. / A decision that hostels should be self-supporting and not claim on general funds was announced by Mr Bain. Rolleston House had a deficit of £864 this year, and was estimated to have a deficit of £770 next year, he said. An increase in fees from £3 to £3 10s a week was approved by the council. Mr Bain said there would be a surplus of £3BO next year, but this would not fully cover this year’s loss. Helen Connon Hall had a surplus of £491 last year, but a deficit of £327 was estimated next year. The surplus would be more than absorbed by necessary improvements, and it had been agreed to increase fees from £2 15s to £3 2s a week for single rooms, and from 12s 6d to £3 a week for double rooms.