Pharmacy Course Controversy

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31016, 23 March 1966, Page 20

Pharmacy Course Controversy

(New Zealand Press Association)

DUNEDIN, March 22,

The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Otago, Dr. Arthur Beacham, said today that he was concerned about facts and figures relating to the university which had been quoted by the Minister of Education (Mr Kinsella) during the pharmacy course controversy last week.

Dr. Beacham referred to a statement made by the Minister approving a three-year course in pharmacy at the Central Institute of Technology. “I understand that the Pharmacy Board wishes to concentrade all pharmacy training at the University of Otago,” he said. The university was not a party to any dispute between the Government and the board in this matter, but he was concerned about certain facts and figures quoted.

“Mr Kinsella is quoted as saying that the capital outlay for an intake of 100 students to the university sytem for a three-year course would be £1 million. This is probably a misprint. If not we would be interested to see a breakdown of this figure. “The running costs for the same 100 intake at Otago are given as £98,750. ‘This figure does not originate from this university and 1 doubt if anyone else can make a close estimate of the marginal cost of expanding our present pharmacy school.

“I have not made such an estimate, but, with a large medical school and a small pharmacy school already in being. I should have thought that the cost would be much less than this. “I undestand that the Minister also alleged that the number of applications to enter the course at Otago was less than the number of places provided. I am advised by Associate-Professor F. N. Fastier that this is not so.”