POLISH STUDENTS SEEK ADMISSION TO N.Z. MEDICAL SCHOOL

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 April 1947, Page 3

POLISH STUDENTS SEEK ADMISSION TO N.Z. MEDICAL SCHOOL

(P.A.) DUNEDIN, April 15. A request that the University of Otago should consider finding places for a proportion of the 75 Polish medical students' at present in a military camp in Britain was received from the advisory and relief secretary of the International Student Service and discussed at the monthly meeting of the University Council today. The letter stated that the men were awaiting their absorption into the Polish Resettlement Corps. They had been with the army of General Anders in Italy, and since the end of the war they had been continuing their medical studies at the faculty of medicine in Bologna. They had all completed at least two years’ medical study, and some of them had reached their fifth year. Because of the overcrowded condition of the universities in Britain, there was no possibility for them to continue their studies in that country. Moreover, unless places could be found for them in medical schools elsewhere they would rapidly be drafted into industry,, agriculture, or mines, and the value of their years of study would be lost. All medical schools in the Dominions were being asked to find places for a small number of. these students, the letter added. However small the number of students which Otago might be able to receive, the council would be certain that it would be bringing new hope and purpose into so many lives. The financial requirements of these students was assured, if only they could receive acceptance into medical schools. The chancellor, the Very Rev. D. C. Herron, said that while he was sympathetic with the request, he could not see that when New Zealand students were being turned away from the medical school there could be much hope for the Polish students. The letter was referred to the medical faculty for a report.