HELP FOR STUDENTS

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 67, 22 March 1929, Page 13

HELP FOR STUDENTS

A LOAN SCHEME

FUND BEING RAISED

(By Telegraph.) (Special to "Tho Evening Post.") DUNEDIN, This Day. . A scheme for helping medical students .faced with .financial difficulties was outlined in a letter from Sir Lindo Ferguson, Dean of the Medical Faculty of tho Otago University, to tho University Council. It was stated that £1000 was already in sight for this purpose. The letter stated: —"I have been endeavouring to raise a fund, the interest of which is to bo applied, on tho recommendation of a small committee of the faculty, in the form of loans to students who have passed their second professional examination, and are- in financial difficulties with regard to the completion of their medical course. Tho proposal is that tho interest only of the amount raised should bo used in the loans, that tho loans should not bear interest for, say, three years, and that after that time they should become in-terest-bearing until such time as they are repaid by the . graduate. The amounts repaid will bo added to tho capital of tho fund in order to increase its usefulness, and enable it, possibly, at a later date, to extend the scopo of its benefits. We want to ask for tho cooperation of the' Council in the matter. ''

Sir Lindo Ferguson stated further that so far as tho University Council was concerned ho was not asking it to undertake any responsibility beyond that of acting as trustees of the fund. Ho gathered the Ministers of Cabinet were favourably disposed to the scheme The Chancellor (Mr. T. K. Sidey) said lie thought Sir Lindo Ferguson should be thanked for the work ho had put into the scheme. Mr. W. J.- Morrell said that tho scheme was characteristic of many universities, particularly 'in America. He thought that the idea-would bo very valuable to their medical students. So far as he could gather, practically no losses were made on the loans where tho scheme was in practice. Mr. Morrell then moved that a hearty vote of thanks be accorded. Sir Lindo Ferguson for initiating the proposal, tho motion being carried unanimously. . It was pointed out that certain details would have to be gone into, and .the letter was then referred to the Finance and Medical Committees with power to act. ■ .