UNIVERSITY NEEDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17268, 18 September 1919, Page 8

UNIVERSITY NEEDS.

I THE CLAIMS OF OTAGO. I ■ —i DEPUTATION TO MINISTER. SUBSTANTIAL HELP SOUGHT. [BY telegraph.— reporter/] WELLINGTON. Wednesday. Representatives of the Otago University interviewed the Minister for Education, 1 Sir Francis Bell, this morning to ask for i the assistance of the Government, in a large building programme, and also in the strengthening of the staff of the medical schiiol and the increasing of salairies. Mr. Downie Stewart, M.P., urged that the requests made by the deputation were oj pressing- importance. The university was in need of immediate assistance in order that its work might be conducted under satisfactory conditions. The chancellor, Dr. Cameron, said there was immediate and urgent need for the increasing of the annual income of the university by some £15,000 a year. The average salary of the professors at present was only ±!boo, and an increase toiiiOOO was necessary in order that the medical scnool migntnot be at a grave disadvantage compared with similar institutions in other parts of the world. Another urgent matter was the provision of adequate assistance lor the prolessors at. the medical school in order that they might be able to undertake research work in the public interest. An expenditure of about ±.100,000 was required for buildings and laud, particularly in connection with the medical school. Dr. Ferguson urged that the medical school ought to be regarded as a national institution. It had trained about half the medical men now practising in the country, and the demands upon its services were growing constantly. The institution was training its students under serious disadvantages owing to the lack of accommodation. Sir Francis Bell, in reply, said the deputation had come a little late. The proposals of the Government with regard to universities and schools had been settled by the Government for this year between the Finance Minister and himself. They were now embodied in Bills. " I believe that when you sea the proposals you will not abuse us," said the Minister. " I am not going to say a single word more than that about them, and I do not think that Sir James Allen will say anything. It would not be proper that we should make any statement now. We have heard what you have had to say. We have laid down certain financial provisions, which are to be brought in with the Financial Statement, and there will be no alteration. You will be able to see exactly what was proposed before your deputation reached us. ana whether it does or does not give you the chance you seek." The deputation raised the question of ¥ a subsidy on bequests. The matter had' been mentioned to the Minister earlier. Sir Francis Bell said he had " turned the proposal down." He would not make the proposition to the Minister for Finance. "We cannot leave it in the power of anyone to ruin us by a series of endowments and bequests," said the Minuter. " If people give to the university in their lives they will share the benefit themselves and they will get a Government subsidy. If they wait until they are dead to make their gifts the university will get the benefit, but there will be no subsidy. I am not in favour of subsidising bequests." * The chancellor said that unfortunately many people did not appreciate the difference between gifts and bequests. Sir Francis Bell suggested that th» university should set about the education of the public on the point.