GRADUATE AND TUTOR

Evening Star, Issue 22320, 22 April 1936, Page 13

GRADUATE AND TUTOR

DR W. NEWLAND'S UNIVERSITY CAREER CULTURAL AND MEDICAL GIFTS EULOGISED The' retirement of Dr William Newlands from the position of tutor in surgery in the Otago Medical School was marked by gracious tributes at the meeting of the University Council yesterday afternoon. Dr James Fitzgerald said that Dr Newlands had been a dux of the Otago Boys’ High School. He had been an entrance scholar of the New Zealand University. He also gained the John Tinline Scholarship in English, and graduated M.A. and B.Sc. of the New Zealand University, so that,, befora starting on his medical training properly so called, he had thoroughly, qualified' himself by a distinguished cultural and scientific preparation. Such a training was, in his opinion* the ideal training for anyone who wished tq be a successful medical man, and more especially for one who was to be . a successful teacher. Dr Newlands’s medical course had been begun in their own Otago University Medical School, under Dr J. H. Scott, and had finished at the Edinburgh University, where he had again distinguished himself, and where, two years after graduating and doing hospital work, he' had gained the fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. Tha University Council had been - fortunate in having such a man with a genuine love for teaching and love for his Alma Mater as " one of its teachers. It had been his privilege to nominate. Dr Newlands for a seat on the Hospital Board, and he could safely say that as a member of the board Dr Newlands had always done his utmost to help the University Council and' to foster that spirit of co-operation between the two bodies which had placed the Otago Medical School in the proud position it to-day. held in New Zealand and overseas. Dr Newlands’s retirement was tha result of the regulations of the Otago Hospital Board. However,. much as they regretted losing his services as a teacher, they might congratulate themselves that they would not be losing his services altogether. As a member of the Hospital Board, they could rely on his help on any matters affecting tha Medical and Dental Schools. In the higher councils they would, still have the benefit of his wide experience in University and hospital affairs. Dr Newlands was a member of the Senate of the University of New Zealand, and in the. matters affecting the limitation of students and the proposed altering of the curriculum he had already done good work, and they could rely .on him giving careful consideration to any proposals that might be brought forward having as an object injury to their present national school in Otago. (Applause.)

Dr Fitzgerald then moved':—“The Otago University Council places on record its grateful appreciation of the distinguished services of Dr Newlands a period of nearly 30 years. During that time Dr Newlands has filled the posts of tutorship in surgery, assistant lecturer in surgery/lecturer on clinical surgery; also,' in conjunction with Dr Sidney Allen, he eonducted the anatomy department on the death of Dr J. H. Scott until the arrival of Dr Glowland. He has during that long time carried out his duties to the complete satisfaction of the University Council, and to the great benefit of the students who had the good fortune to be trained under-'him.. On his retirement from active teaching he carries with him the best wishes of the council.”

Sir Lindo Ferguson said that, although they had served, together for a great many years, he had come more closely into contact with Dr. Newlands in later years, when they had sat on the Medical Council of the Dominion since its institution. Dr Newlands was at present chairman of the council. He had-always taken an exceedingly levelheaded and fair view of the problems. He was a very pleasant man with whom to work, and the University was greatly indebted to him for his services.

“ No one who has been brought into contract with Dr Newlands can fail .to be impressed by his good judgment, strong personality, and his breadth and fairness of view,” said the Chancellor (Mr W. J. Morrell). It was a fine thing for the University that fgr a very long period it. should have enjoyed Dr Newlands’s services. He was held ia high regard by his professional colleagues and the community at large. At least four times he had headed the poll at the Hospital Board elections, and that, in itself, was evidence of hi* standing in the community. The motion was carried.