N.Z. Degrees For Alien Doctors

Northern Advocate, 16 January 1948, Page 2

N.Z. Degrees For Alien Doctors

DUNEDIN, Fri. (P.A.).—The Senate of the University of New Zealand yesterday considered the applications by three alien doctors for sections of the degrees of M. 8., Ch. 8., of the university. Their intention, it was stated, was to take the remainder of the degrees by examination.

The senate decided to refer the applications to a conference of representatives of the senate medical faculty and the Medical Council. The conference will also be asked to examine the whole question of granting New Zealand degrees, or sections of degrees, to such applicants. The three applicants an the present instance, it was reported, had studied at the Otago Medical School for only a short period. In the past, permission to use New Zealand degrees had been granted only to aliens who had completed a three-year course at the Medical School. HIGH QUALIFICATIONS Dr P. P. Lynch, Wellington, said that at least one of the applicants nossessed high European qualifications, but he did not favour the granting of New Zealand degrees unconditionally. One of the reasons why alien doctors sought New Zealand degrees was that these would give them reciprocity in other British countries to which they might wish to go in the future. The chancellor (Sir David Smith) said that the senate must place its decision on a reasonable basis. He considered that the granting of any retrospective status should be abolished. A man with a foreign degree, such as M.D. of Vienna, might not be recognised by the Medical Council in New Zealand, but Sir David did not think the senate could refuse to grant the man the degrees of M. 8., Ch. 8., of the Universty of New Zealand.