OTAGO UNIVERSITY

Evening Post, Volume XCIX, Issue 92, 19 April 1920, Page 7

OTAGO UNIVERSITY

SUBSIDY AND EXTENSION.

IK TELEGRAPH.—VKESS ASSOCIATION.)

DUNEDIN; This Day. The needs of the Otago University were placed before the Hon. C. J. Pan;, Minister of Education, by a deputation which asked for additional financial assistance as an increase in the revenue of the University Council,, which was a matter of urgency. The Chancellor, Dr. Cameron, said additions to the present buildings were needed, and the University was inadequately staffed. It would be in the interests of the whole community if the professors were able to devote some of their time to research work. He pointed out that the Board of the Presbyterian Church were paying the salaries of four professors, amounting to £2500. It was only fair that the council should receive a £ for £ subsidy on that'amount. ' He suggested that students of the" Training College for TeacHers should receive a bursary for three years instead of. for two. ' ■ '

In the course of a sympathetic reply, the Minister said he had consulted Dr. Anderson, Director of Education, with regard to' the question' of increased grants and a £ for £ subsidy on the £2500 mentioned. The director had said the question was really a legal one. The difficulty in the way was the opiniop of the Solicitor-General, who had advised that the Church Board's grant was not a free one. It was not a matter of. discretion on the part of the Department of Educatioff. The. Department would probably have no option about granting the subsidy. 1 With regard to extension, he said he Understood that the plans for additions for the Botany and Biological departments would necessitate an estimated expenditure of £5300. He understood the Department was sufficiently fa-t forward in the matter as to advise him that there was no objection, except perhaps for the formality of authorising tenders. He would dispense with that formality, and say at once that the council war at liberty to proceed with the works. ' • '