UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 231, 29 August 1938, Page 8

UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

ASSOCIATION MEETING. MOVE FOR CONCESSIONS. A special general meeting of the New-Zealand University Students’ Association was held at Massey College, Mr A. P. Blair presiding over delegates representative of all the University Colleges. Prior to the commencement,: of business, the chairman took the opportunity of thanking the Massey College Council for allowing the meeting to be held at the college. It was the first time in history that the delegates had met in Palmerston North, and visitors expressed’appreciation of the warm hospitality of . Massey College. In its interim report the executive stated that Mr A. McGhie hjjjd been reappointed the association’s representative in England for the year 1938-39 and was forwarding a volume of useful information from time to time. The sum of £230 had been contributed to the Chinese University relief appeal and the gratitude of the executive was expressed to those who had assisted in the appeal. With reference to travel facilities for students and concessions, the report. stated that various firms had been approached and in some cases certain concessions may be made. A special sub-committee was at present pursuing an expansive policy which included the interviewing of hotel, health resort, cinema and restaurant interests, and it was hoped that a concession for students would be obtained for the Centennial Exhibition.

VETERINARY SCIENCE. The executive had, some time ago, appointed a sub-committee of enquiry into the need for establishing a school of veterinary science in New Zealand. “It found,” the report added, “that the matter has been discussed on a number of occasions by responsible authorities and as recently as 1936 was under active corfiideration by the governing body of the University of Otago. The demand for veterinary surgeons in the past, either for private or State employment, has not been great, but in the past two years the demand has stiffened considerably. To relieve this position the Departs ment of Agriculture, two years ago, offered six bursaries for trainees to proceed to the University of Sydney, where the nearest school of veterinary science is located, and purposes offering a further series of bursaries this year. It is felt that the cost of establishing a veterinary course in New Zealand which would provide reasonable facilities for efficient training would be so great that the expense would not be warranted. A sounder veterinary training' would be obtained in Sydney with its larger and better qualified staff than there would be obtainable under the necessarily restricted and small scale operations of a New Zealand school of veterinary science, and in view of the fact that the Department of Agriculture proposes to make a number of bursaries available it is felt that little may be gained by furthering the enquiry. VISIT OF DEBATERS.

“The visit of the Le Moyne debaters (U.S.A.) gave the association its first real opportunity to test the efficiency of its organisation, and the result was very gratifying. Throughout the whole tour no serious hitch occurred, and the executive places on record its indebfcedness to Mr J. B. Aimers, chairman of the headquarters sub-committee, whose monumental work was carried out with an efficiency which had become almost proverbial.” The executive recommended: “That the profits of the tour should be placed in reserve to provide funds for sending a New Zealand debating team overseas, and (2) that every endeavour should be made to arrange other such tours, as it considers that they do much to promote goodwill and understanding among students of different countries.”

ATHLETIC TOUR. The executive had communicated with the New Zealand Amateur Athletic: Association to ascertain whether they would assist the association in the promotion of an Australian athletic tour. The secretary, Mr H. McCormick (who had arranged the New Zealand University athletic tour of Australia some years ago) was very anxious to see the tour eventuate, and was prepared, personally, to give the association as much assistance as lie could. In addition, his association had set up a sub-committee to confer with the executive. So far, nothing further had been done, as more details were awaited from Australia. It had been suggested to the Australians that the financial side of the tour should be on the same lines as the New Zealand tour to Australia, i.e., the visitors should pay their own steamer fares but all other expenses to he paid bv the association. By bringing outside Competition into the meetings, the gate receipts should be sufficient to meet expenses, the report stated. A scheme for the insurance of students’ personal effects had been proposed and satisfactory progress had been made. No decision, however, could be arrived at until the details had been discussed by the various colleges. The report was adopted.

GENERAL BUSINESS. The possibility of sending a debating team overseas in 1939 was discussed. It was agreed that the association could not undertake a tour of America in the meantime, but the executive was instructed to proceed with arrangements for a tour of Australia. Canterbury. Agricultural College was granted affiliation to the association on the same terms as Massey College. The tournament committee was also granted affiliation. A recommendation was presented from the Bledisloe Medal oratory contest committee concerning the conditions covering subjects for discussion. The subjects under the present rules be chosen from “a great man or woman, Maori or pakeha, in New Zealand history; or a great event in New Zealand history.” The committee recommended that the subject must not be one of current interest, but should be chosen from events prior to ten years ago. The chairman said that the idea was to exclude the possibility of subjects of a current political controversial nature being chosen, this, he maintained, being not in the best interests of the universities.

' The views of Victoria and Otago College delegates were definitely against limitation, and eventually the matter was referred hack to the executive for submission to the college societies for discussion. No finality could be reached in regard to the proposed visit of an Australian athletic team, the general opinion being that the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association, should assist in thp financial obligations and share accordingly in any profits. The matter was Held over until further information is received.

The •resignation of Mr F. D. Christensen as secretary was accepted with regret, and it was decided to place on record appreciation of his services. Mr J. B. Aimers was appointed to the vacancy.