Grants To Start Veterinary Faculty At Massey

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30086, 21 March 1963, Page 10

Grants To Start Veterinary Faculty At Massey

(Neto Zealand Press Association

WELLINGTON, Mair. 20. Grants to enable the new veterinary science faculty at Massey University College to begin teaching in 1964 had been approved by the Government, the Minister of Education (Mr tTennent) announced today. “Because the university of Sydney is accepting no more New Zealand veterinary students we must take immediate steps to meet the insistent demand for veterinarians and ensure a continuing supply of trained people from our own resources,” said Mr Tennent. “To enable the faculty to be®in teaching in 1964, the Government has approved grants of £45,000 for salaries and running expenses and £45,700 for working materials and equipment. ■rads allows for the appointment during 1963 of three professors, six senior lecturers and one lecturer, the recruitment of other ancillary staff and the immediate ordering of equipment essential for use next year.” A great deal of work was involved in establishing a completely new faculty and in preparing for lectures. Staff were required this year to prepare detailed and integrated courses for the 1964 professional year, to determine the general pattern of the faculty’s development, assess the buildings and equipment needed and make teaching preparations to deal with the initial intake of 32 students as selected by Massey University College, said the Minister. “This intake will be Increased to 50 when permanent buildings are completed,” said Mr Tennent. “By then, several years hence, the roll of the faculty will be about 210, including some post-graduate students.

“With this deevLopment of the faculty in mind, the University Grants Committee has placed before the Government a tentative scheme with estimates of cost covering the next few years. This scheme is based on a report presented to the Massey College council by the dean of the new faculty, Dr. J. J. Cunningham, who visited overseas veterinary schools last year,” said Mir Tennent.

“The University Grants Committee also took expert advice on veterinary training by inviting to New Zealand, Professor David ’ McFarlane, dean of veterinary science at the University of Sydney. Professor McFarlane visited Massey College with Dr. L. J. Wild and made a detailed report. “It is envisaged that buildings of some 100,000 sq. ft. will be needed to provide all the space required on the campus, including practice

facilities, in-patient accommodation and housing for experimental animals. "It is estimated that the project will cost up to £700,000 exclusive of furniture. Equipment required by the faculty in the nextfew years will cost, in all, £216.000. 'Hie amount for approval this year is £45,700 as stated,” said Mr Tennent. “The recurring annual costs for the faculty, when it is fully operational, are estimated at £177 000, for salaries, working equipment, materials and running expenses. The Government

grant towards this will be about £147,000. “The full academic staff will be 38, but the veterinary staff will draw considerably on existing departments at Massey, in particular on those of animal husbandry and bio-chemistry,” said the Minister. “Other staff such as technicians, animal attendants and laboratory assistants will also be required

“It has been calculated that the new faculty’s eventual annual intake of 50 students will provide a steady force of 1000 veterinarians in approximately 50 years,” said Mr Tennent.