PROFESSOR OF ECONOMICS

Evening Star, Issue 25769, 16 April 1946, Page 4

PROFESSOR OF ECONOMICS

DEATH OF DR R. W. SOUTER The death occurred this morning of Dr Ralph William Souter, who held the chair of economics at the University of Otago for the last 10 years. He had been ill for a Bhort time, but his death had not been expected. The son of a Mosgiel family, Dr Souter was born in Dunedin 49 years ago. He became undergraduate of the University in 1914, but went overseas on military service before completing his course. He gained commissioned rank, and returned to New Zealand at the end of the war. He resumed his University studies and graduated B.A. in 1922, being senior scholar in economics. He completed his M.A. degree in the following year with first class honours in mental and moral philosophy and second class honours in economics. , In 1924 he joined the staff of the Otago Boys' High School, and aftßr two years he became an assistant lee-

turer in the departments of philosophy and economics at Otago University. He won the ' prize for economic research in 1927 and was awarded a Rockefeller Foundation Fellowship in the same year for two years' study at Columbia University, New York. At the end of the term of the fellowship he was appointed- a lecturer in economics at the Graduate School of Columbia University. He gained the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in 1933. Dr Souter was appointed to the chair of economics at Otago University in 1935 and he took up his duties at the beginning of 1936. He was appointed an associate member of the Council of the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce, and took a keen interest in economic affairs as they affected New Zealand and other countries. Two years ago he prepared a plan for national economic planning after the war, and shortly before his death he was engaged on an economic plan designed to aid New Zealand in avoiding inflationary tendencies. Dr Souter married Miss Malvena Oldham, a graduate in dentistry of the University of Otago. He is survived by his wife and two children. At a meeting of the Otago University Council to-day the Chancellor, the Very R ev - D- C- Herron, referred to the "loss which the University had suffered in the death of Dr Souter,. A motion of sympathy with his widow and family was passed.