UNIVERSITY OF OTAGO

Evening Star, Issue 19999, 17 October 1928, Page 15

UNIVERSITY OF OTAGO

MEETING OF COUNCIL Those present at the monthly, meeting of tho Council of the University of Otago yesterday afternoon were: Messrs T. K Sidcy (Chancellor), W, J. Morrell (Vice-Chancellor), L. Deans Ritchie, J. Wallace, J, C, Stephens, J. S. Douglas, J W. Dove, C, Gilray, W. F, Moore, J, Rennie, G. R. Ritchie, J. C. Thomson, Drs Marshall Macdonald and J. Fitzgerald, and Professor J, Inglis. CORRESPONDENCE. The Invercargill Savings Bank Scholarship, awarded to Miss C. M. I. Webb, was extended for a further year provided she takes an honours course; As tho certificates were reported by tho Professorial Board to be in order, the A.O.S.M. in metallurgy was awarded to C W. Cayzer. At the request of the Director-Gene-ral of Agriculture, permission was given Dr H. Gill to work in Dr Hercus’s laboratory while studying tho fat lamb mortality in Otago. The use of the University buildings from, November 20 to 29 was granted to the Education Department for its examinations.

The board decided to approve of the letter sent by tho University of New Zealand to the Carnegie Corporation suggesting that grants of £4,000 be jnaiTe to each of the universities, and £2,000 to the Massey College for bringing the libraries up to date. Tho council “ received ” the report on the Franco-British Congress on Education from its representative to tho congress (Mr W. P. Morrell). A request by Dr Carmalt Jones for a grant of £25 from the Barnett Fund to assist in the publication of the ‘ Proceedings of the Otago Medical School ’ was acceded to. TRAINING OF MID WIVES. Several letters and reports on tho proposal to remove midwives from training at Forth street were received, and the council decided to forward to the Medical and Finance Committee a letter from tho Professorial Board, passing on with its approval a letter from tho medical faculty recommending;—“ (1) That tho council considers the advisability of appointing an advisory committee, consisting of representatives of tho council, associated with, say, three representatives of tho medical faculty, two members of the Obstetrical Society, and two members of the Hospital Board, to advise the council regarding establishment of a maternity hospital; (2) that the first call upon the £SOO grant, up to £l5O, should be for securing meiit of the training of midwives at Forth street, and so secure all available cases for students. Drs Riley, Ritchie, and North had agreed to this.”

FINANCE AND MEDICAL COMMITTEES.

Tho Finance and Medical Committees considered action to be taken in view of tho fact that £SOO had been placed on tho supplementary estimates for instruction in midwifery. In this connection tho committees considered a letter from Dr Riley, stating ho had received a letter from Dr Jellett referring to the desirability of tho .University’s agreeing to pay the travelling expenses of midwives in training from Dunedin travelling to other training centres. —It was resolved that tho matter be held over for one mouth, and that in the meantime the Chancellor and the chairman of the Medical Committee should interview the responsible Ministers to ascertain if the grant is an annual one, and to explain that it is necessary to have tho,-.additional grants asked for by the deputation in Wellington, with tho exception, in the meantime, of the grant for a new hospital. Before going to Wellington, tho chairman was asked to endeavour to ascertain tho approximate £ ost .?*'■ the travelling expends of midwives in training and tho approximate amount which would bo necessary to pay to Iho Hospital Board iu_ view ■of its dispensing with the training of midwives. Air Dove was aslcgd to collaborate with Dr Fit/gerakX in ascertaining this last-named item of internal lion. The committees considered tho proposal (if Dr Fitcliett for the institution of a course in pharmacology.—!t was resolved that the matter bo held over for one month, and that in tho meantime the medical faculty bo asked to report as to the regulations in the calendar regarding practical work in dispensing Tu this connection Dr Fitzgerald was asked when in Wellington to endeavour to get finality regarding tho grants to bo made to -tho special schools. Tho committees consider'd correspondence from tho University of New Zealand with reference to Dr Rowland s position on tho New Zealand University Council. This matter was held over, and the chairman (Mr Stephens) and the registrar wore asked to report direct to the council regarding it. Mr Stephens, Dr Fitzgerald, and tho registrar report as follows: —Under the New Zealand University Amendment Act. 1926, no person in the employment of a constituent college shall he eligible to bo a member of the council of the University of New Zealand unless appointed by the Academic Board. Since Dr Newlands has declined to accept remuneration, we do not consider that ho is rendered ineligible under this section. Probably, however, it was not tho intention of the Legislature to disqualify from membership a person taking casual work of the nature which Dr Newlands has been performing, even if such person were paid tor such casual work. Wo therefore recommend that the Government be asked to amend the 192 G Act by adding the following words at the en.d of subsection 4 of section 4, viz.:—“lf the remuneration for such employment shall exceed £bo{" U this proposal were adopted; any employee of the University or of the constituent colleges would be eligible for membership provided ho did not receive more than £SO per annum as remuneration for his work.

In moving the adoption of the report Mr L. Deans Ritchie, after reviewing the alterations that had been made in allocations to the special university schools daring tiro past session of Parliament, said that the Legislature had done to some extent what the council had desired. Certain snnis had been allocated to special schools, and he did not think that the council had power to vary the allocations. He thought it was a matter for profound regret that the medical school had not been put on a holier footing, and that better provision had not been made for it. The Medical School was granted £6,000, which was an increase of £1,215, hut £SOO had been withdrawn from midwifery. Their deficit last year was £SOO, so that thei present position was somewhat disappointing. The Mining School had been granted £350, compared with £319 last year; the Home Science School £3.000, an increase of £275; the Dental School £1.500. an increase of £365; Arts and General £4,500, an iitcrea.se of £1,840. Taking it all in all, they were better off by £3,175 than they were last year; but ho would not like the impression to go abroad that they had sufficient money for all their requirements. They were in a satisfactory position as far as separate budgets were concerned, but not in respect to the funds at their disposal. The report was adopted. FINANCE COMMITTEE. The Finance Committee reported that, a letter had been received from the secretary of the Students’ Association stating that at present the association had not sufficient funds to repair the tennis courts on the south side of Leith.—lt was resolved that the Students’ Association be informed that, unless they do something in the way

of effecting repairs within a reasonable time, the council will have to take into consideration the matter of resuming possession of the courts. It was further resolved that tiro Board of Control bo asked to report on the behaviour of students at the annual meeting of the Students’ Association held in the Allen Hall. . , , , I The committee considered what action should be taken in increasing the ! emoluments of the John Edmond fellowship in view of Mr Edmond’s girt of : £SOO of Wright, Stephenson debenture I stock.—lt was resoved that the value of the fellowship be raised as. from iFebruary 1, 1929, to £240 per annum; that the fellowship bo payable monthly; and that the follow be required to pay the ordinary laboratory fee. The committee considered a Jcttoi from Canterbury College asking tor the co-operation of the council in the matter of rural education in connection with the application to the Carnegie Trustees.—lt was resolved that Professor Strong be asked to report to the special committee and this committee to report direct to the council. Letters were received from tho Canterbury, Victoria, and Auckland University Colleges concerning the exemption fee.—lt was resolved to recommend the council that in future a student who claims exemption in only one subject should be required to pay a fee of *1 11s 6d. The report was adopted. WORKS COMMITTEE. Tho report of the Works Committee recommended that progress payment certificates amounting to £147 6s 3d bo passed for payment. The registrar was instructed to report regarding the walls of the new Medical School, which were reported by the dean not to bo waterproof. Messrs John James and Co. submitted an account for £B4 5s Bd m respect of repairs to roof.—lt was resolved that Mr James be asked to state who authorised him to do the work for which he had submitted a charge. Messrs Anscombe and Associates submitted an account of £B3l 2s for work in connection with the museum building.—The account was passed for payment, subject to confirmation by tbe : Museum 'Extension Committee. The report was adopted. LIBRARY COMMITTEE.

The Library Committee considered « ■proposal from the Arts and Science Faculty that separate catalogues of the different sections in the main library should bo prepared.—This matter was noted for report from the permanent librarian as to the possibility of making some satisfactory catalogue of hooks under different subjects. The committee considered the question of appointing a permanent librarian, and alter considerable discussion it was resolved to recommend that applications be invited for the position of university librarian on conditions similar to those existing at present, the salary to be £l6O per annum, rising to £2OO per annum. The report was adopted, with the provision that tho second clause bo referred to the Finance Committee. HOME SCIENCE COMMITTEE. The report of the Homo Science Committee stated tho business of the committee was to prepare a_ statement for submission to the council on the relation of University bursaries to the diploma course.—After some discussion it was resolved that in the opinion ol the committee the diploma course should lie retained and that University bursaries si ion Id be retained and should bo available for this course; further, that a statement lie prepared by tho chairman, Professor Strong, and the registrar setting out tlic_ reasons why this policy should be continued. Tho report was adopted. II URAL EXTENSION. A special committee set up to consider extension work in rural districts reported that a letter had been received from Canterbury College on this matter. After full consideration it was resolved that the council he reconunomlcd_ to reply to tho Canterbury College in the following terms:—(ll That this council has already decided to ask lor £2,000 for each district, and wo put forward for tho consideration of tho Canterbury College that it should do tho same. (2) That the council is favourable to co-operation, but is oi opinion that actual administrative matters should be under the councils of the respective colleges. (3) The billowing allocation had been suggested by the professors, and appeared in general satisfactory a.s a basis:—Purchase oi one car, £250; working of car and salary of W.E.A. tutor or for provision for W.E.A. development, £600; one clerk, £200; sharea aof home economics director (who should he resident in Dunedin), £250; home economics woman tutor, £350; office printing, lihrarv, and general expenses, £350; total." £2.000. This postulates a single director ol home economics for the two districts, half of the salary and expenses being paid by each. It is suggested (hat a joint advisory committee be appointed by the two councils for homo economics work which should report to the two councils. It was suggested that the Canterbury College Council should consider am allocation on lino.s sufficiently similar to make possible the appointment of a joint director in home economics. Exchange of material in other branches of tile work might also ho arranged for, as is already being done by each college. This appeal to be sent forward through the council of the University of New Zealand. The report was adopted provided that the scheme was only a temoprary one, and that the council was not bound to carry it out in its present form or allocate money definitely as set out at present.