UNIVERSITY COUNCIL

Evening Star, Issue 18048, 16 August 1922, Page 3

UNIVERSITY COUNCIL

The monthly meeting of the council of tho University of Otago was held yesterday afternoon; present —Mr W. J. Morrell. (in the chair), Drs Fitzgerald, Marshall Macdonald, and Benham, Messrs J. W. Sciut, L D. Ritchie, J. Wallace, J. S. Douglas, J. 0. Thomson, J. Rennie, and J. 0. Stephens. FINANCE.

The Finance Committee reported haying considered a letter from Mr McCracken, W.E.A. tutor, asking that the terms of his engagement bo varied, and recommended that Mr M’Crackens salary be restored to £4OO per annum,, and that, in view of the increase in his work, his salary be increased by £2O per annum, this arrangement to talc© effect as from August 1. The committee considoi’ed a letter from tho Education Department dated July 4, with which was forwarded a copv of the 1 New Zealand Gazette of July i 5. and also considered all the letters with reference to salaries which had been before tho committee at its previous meeting 'on July 24. It was resolved to recommend ns follows: —(a) That the salary of Mr G. W. Reid bo restored to that of £SOO per annum, with half-fees, since this arrangement dated only from March 1, 1922, and consequently should not bo affected bv the Public Expenditure Adjustment Act; (b) that the amount of reduction under the P.E.A. Act mado in tho salaries bf the undermentioned members of the staff bo restored as from August 1, 1923—viz. : (1) To married men among the full-time lecturers and fulltime professors’ assistants, (2) to members of the clerical staff, (3) to dental nurses. (4) to laboratory assistants; (c) to defer consideration of all other cases until the council receives a reply from tho Government to a communication which has been forwarded, embodying the requests kid before the Minister by the deputation which recently visited Wellington.—The Chancellor reported- that Professor Pringle had received two cables stating that his son was seriously ill, and that it was essential that ho should immediately visit England, In view of the urgency of the position,. the committee authorised the Chancellor and the chairman to confer with Professor Pringle, and to make arrangements with Archdeacon Woodthorpe for the conduct of the classes. The report of the committee was adopted without discussion. ECONOMICS CLASSES. A sub-committee of the council reported that it had conferred with Professor Pringle and Archdeacon Woodthorpe on August 2, with reference to arrangements to bo made for conduct of the economics classes, in view of Professor Pringle’s visit to England. It was resolved that Professor Pringle be granted leave of absence for the remainder of the session as from Monday, August 7, and that Archdeacon Woodthorpe undertake the work. It was further resolved that Archdeacon Woodthorpe should’ be given a seat on the Professorial Board as acting professor of economics during Professor Pringle’s absence.

Report adopted:' FINANCE AND MEDICAL.

The Finance and Medical Committees reported that at a meeting of the two committees letters were received from Sir Donald M'Gavin and Dr Herons with ( reference to the drill hall at the It was decided to defer consideration of the matter, and to ask Sir Donald 1 M ‘Gavin to visit Dunedin and discuss the matter with the committee. A recommendation from the Professorial Board that Mr S. Sconllar bo appointed teacher of descriptive geometry was considered 1 , and 1 it was resolved that the Chancellor and chairman should confer with the Director of the School of Mines, and be given power to act. The committee considered the conditions of the George Young scholarship, as revised by the Professorial Board and as submitted to the council at its last meeting, and recommended the council to approve of tho conditions in their present form, and to award the scholarship this year. The following matters were also dealt with:—The Chancellor was asked to make the necessary arrangements with the Presbyterian Church Board in regard to Professor Ramsay’s request that his series of popular lectures bo deferred till next year. Dr Cameron was also asked to make inquiries as to the number to he delivered. It was resolved to express to Professor Raw son tho committee’s appreciation _ of the compliment paid to her by the invitation to bo present at the Public Health Conference to be held in Sydney, and to express regret that her duties at tho Home Science School made it impossible for her to accept the invitation. It was resolved that the same committee which had previously dealt with the matter of playing grounds on the Lake Logan area should be appointed to meet the Students’ Association in conference. _ The chairman and registrar were authorised to act in the matter of obtaining microscopes for Dr Benham. The registrar was authorised to allocate a room for tho use of the Economics Research Society. The report was adopted without discussion. •MEDICAL .COMMITTEE,

The Medical Committee recommended the council to approve of a recommendation from Dr Carmalt Jones that no foe be charged for tutorial medicine for the present term, since no tutor had been appointed. A letter had been received from Dr Carmalt Jones regarding the steps to bo taken for providing a medical tutor in the future. Dr Carmalt Jones suggested that a scheme be adopted whereby the medical tutorship will be given to a senior house physician who has shown good capacity for teaching. This scheme, however, could not he brought into effect until 1924. The committee recommended the council to approve of the scheme, and recommended further that the Hospital Board bo asked to receive a deputation consisting of the three medical members of the committee and Mr Scurr, the, deputation to ask the Hospital Board to make the necessary arrangements for bringing this scheme into effect. The council was further recommended to approve of Dr Carmalt Jones communicating with tho Universities of Sydney and Melbourne with a view to obtaining a medical tutor for 1925. The committee considered a letter from Dr Barnett recommending that Dr Jenkins be appointed as additional surgical tutor for the current year. The council was recommended to approve of this appointment. The report was adopted. GENERAL.

The Director of Education, writing under date August 2, stated that grants of £972 6s lOd and £284 for electrical installation and plumbing work respectively for the physics building had been approved. Messrs Murray, Roberts, and Co., wrote stating that their London agents considered their remuneration should be increased to 5 per cent., in view of additional work now entailed on them in connection with orders.—The letter was referred to the Finance Committee, with power to act. Mr W. Fels wrote stating that Mr I. S. Da Beer had added £I,OOO to the credit of the Otago University ethnographic building fund.—lt was l decided to thank Mr De Beer for his handsome gift. Professor Eawson wrote requesting that consideration bo given to providing additional accommodation at Studholme House.—The matter was referred to the Home Science, Works, and Finance Committees for report. The Chairman of the Professorial Board, writing under date August 10, recommended that Archdeacon Woodthorpe be a member of the Professorial Board, and also of the arts, and science faculty, inplace of Professor Pringle.—The request was granted. The Chairman of the Professorial Board also wrote stating - that the drafting of a scheme for the distinction of funds of the estate of the Rev. James Henry had been referred to a committee. The Chairman of the Professorial Board, writing “on August 5, stated! that the board did not think it desirable at present to .job the kinematograph film circuit proposed by the Sydney University Union. The board, however, and asked for additional information on the subject.—The letter was noted.

1 ' Tho Director of Education wrote under date August)?, stating that the first cut under the P.E.A. Act had been fixed at £1,600, a-nd the second at £3OO. . Tho department would give consideration l to special relief to the University of Otago on receipt of a letter from tho council setting out tho position. A letter had been forwarded by the council, in which certain information asked for had been ‘Supplied.—The letter was received. 1 Miss Clement wrote accepting the position as assistant to -the professor of English.

OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES

’Mr Wallace moved that tho Finance Committee consist of tho Chancellor -and Vice-Chancellor, treasurer, the convenors of tho other four committees and two other members. Ho considered that eleven, as proposed, was much too largo a committee. —The motion was lost. Tho following committees were appointed : Finance. —Messrs Douglas, Eudey, Imzgerald, Macdonald, Morrell, G. R. Ritchie, L. D. -Ritchie, Scurr, Stephens, Thomson, Wallace. Works and Mines. —Messrs Bonham, Douglas, Ferguson, Rennie, G. E. Ritchie, L. D. Ritchie, Scurr, Stephens, Wal&r®. Medical and Dental.—Messrs Benham, Eudey, Ferguson, Fitzgerald, Macdonald, Rennie, Scurr, Wallace. ■Homo .Science. —Messrs Benham, Ferguson, Macdonald, Morrell, Stephens, Thomson. Library,and Museum. —Messrs Benham, Eudey. Fitzgerald, Morrell, Rennie. Discipline Appeal Committee. —Messrs Stephens, Eudey, Macdonald. The Cha.ncel.lor and Vice-Chancellor to be ex officio members of all committees.