Concern about university cuts

Press, 15 June 1979, Page 2

Concern about university cuts

Fears that universities may

be forced to reduce their services were expressed yesterday at a Lincoln College for-

um called to discuss cuts in education spending believed to be contained in the Budget, which will be presented to Parliament on June 21. Speakers at the forum included Professor J. D. Stew-

art, principal of the college; Dr R. J. Fields, branch chairman of the Association of University Teachers; and Mr C. J. Gosling, president of the National University Students’ Association. Professor Stewart told students that the next five-year block grant to universities would run from next April. The original grant for 1979, part of the present fiveyear grant, had already been cut by S3M. Although universities could survive this year by economising, he was concerned that the cuts might be continued when the next five-year grant was negotiated.

Salaries and wages took about 70 per cent of the grant to Lincoln College. This figure was more or less

fixed. In effect the burden of this year’s cuts fell on the remaining 30 per cent: although the S3M cut was only about 2.8 per cent of the total 5107.5 M granted to univer-

sities in 1979 it meant a drop of 14.8 per cent in Lincoln College’s non-wages spending power.

The cut the College had to bear appeared to be higher than its fair share, but the

reasons for this would never be known because the University Grants Committee did not disclose its reasons.

Electricity prices had risen

by 44 per cent and coal prices by 22 per cent. Minor cuts would have to

be made in areas such as new library books, grounds upkeep, and teaching and research equipment. But a 50 per cent cut would have to be made in deferred maintenance.

Altogether $161,000 would be cut from the college’s planned budget, leaving a deficit of $llO,OOO, the first since he had become principal. Mr Gosling said that New Zealand’s universities had already admitted they could cope with this year’s cuts although some, such as Lincoln College and Canterbury University, .might have to accept a deficit. But it was rumoured in Wellington that the next fiveyear grant would also be cut “All this will mean a radical change in the activity of New Zealand universities as we know them,” said Mr Gosling. Either the quality of education would be reduced or there would have to be re-

stricted entry to universities. The latter could be done in three ways: higher fees could be imposed, the qualifications for university entry could be tightened, or the tertiary bursary could be reduced.

The deterioration of New Zealand's education system had already begun. If the five-year grant was cut the system would deteriorate further. “The people of New Zea-

land must begin to realise the importance of education to the ftiture of this country," Mr Gosling said.