Consultations On Astronomy Course

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31235, 6 December 1966, Page 9

Consultations On Astronomy Course

The Canterbury University Council yesterday formally received the recommendations of the Royal Society of New Zealand on the development of astronomy teaching and astronomical observation at the Mount John Observatory and decided to seek the views of the University of Pennsylvania and of its own Professorial Board.

“We are, in fact initiating astronomy stage I next year," said the Vice-Chancellor (Professor N. C. Phillips). Professor Phillips said Canterbury was bound to consult the University of Pennsylvania, with which It jointly ran the Mount John Observatory. Pennsylvania might have views on the allocation of time and physical development of the university.

The Professorial Board must also be consulted because development of astronomy as an academic subject would compete with other development Mr C. H. Perkins said the council would be wise to obtain these two views before considering the matter. The problem of priorities must be considered carefully because the suggested financial commitment was large. Finance outside normal sources might be required. Mr Perkins said he regretted that the Royal Society’s report did “not afford to the University of Pennsylvania the credit which is due.”

Mr J. N. Matson supported this view. Members of the council, he said, knew very well the major role in the project of the University of Pennsylvania.