VICTORIA COLLEGE COUNCIL.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1686, 22 June 1904, Page 65

VICTORIA COLLEGE COUNCIL.

THE’ NEED OF FUNDS.

SPECIALISATION OF UNIVERSITY

WORK.

Dr Knight presided at a meeting of the Victotria College Council last Wednesday evening. The other members present were —Bishop Wallis, Rev. W. A. Elvans, Messrs ,J. Graham, A. R. Meek, C. Watson, Robert Lee, Charles AY ilson and T. R. Fleming. __ The chairman announced that Mr A. R. Guinness, who had forfeited his . seat through absence, had been re-appointed to fill Idle vacancy for the remainder of the term.

Accounts amounting to £513 4s 10s were passed for payment. THE NEW BUILDING.

A progress report on the works now proceeding at the new college building was submitted by the architects, Messrs Pentv and Blake. It stated that tho contractor had practically completed excavating the trenches for wall foundations and heating chambers. .A quantity of bricks had been delivered at the site, and concrete was now being deposited in trenches for the arts building. In this connection some delay had been caused .owing to the flooded state of the Hutt river. The writers asked that a committee should be appointed in order that the system of ventilation adopted might be explained. Tlie Building Committee was appointed to co-nfer with the architects.

The following recommendations of the Building Committee were adopted:—(l) That the application of the architects for payment of 3 per cent, of their commission, less the ,£IOO paid for the first prize design, be acceded to, and that the amount, £675 5s 6d, be paid on the understanding that the balance of the- commission be held by the Council until the completition of the building; (2) amended to read “that the sum be paid as soon as.it is received by the Government, and that the Government be requested to pay the amount as part of the cost of the building; (3) that the agreement with the clerk of works be sealed; (4) that the architect and the clerk of works be requested to furnish monthly reports upon the building while in progress.” SPECIALISING UNIVERSITY SUBJECTS. Sir Robert Stout-brought up the question of specialisation in University sub- ■* The resolution recently passed by the Council of the Otago University in reply to the suggestions of the Auckland College Council, pointing ouc that a School of Mines had been in existence in Dunedin for the past twenty-seven years, was read. Sir Robert said he was of opinion that it would be well to come to some arrangement in the direction suggested by the authorities in, AuckWith the small funds at the disposal of the various university colleges it would be almost impossible to carry out the work everywhere. Wellington, to his mind, should establish a School of Law. He moved—“ That, considering the small funds available for university education in New Zealand, this council is of opinion that there should be specialisation of university work by the colleges, and would urge the Auckland College Council to invite representatives of the various colleges to meet and see whether any agreement could, be arrived at as to specialisation of work amongst the colleges.’-’ This, he believed, was the proper course to adopt. It would be unwise to dictate what school, should be established'in any'particular centre. He

regretted to say that we bad .not yet that enthusiasm for higher education wa ought to have. ..Recently he received » letter from the United States of America, saying the universities there were getting what they asked for —that was the reason they were leading the world. In New Zealand the monetary assistance given the universities was very small and Very poor. Numerically speaking, there were fewer university students in this colony, than in Finland. Rev Mr Evans seconded the motion. By carrying the resolution, he said, they, would be helping to attain the end Auckland had in view.

Bishop AVallis said he was partly in accord with the motion, but would prefer if the mover would include the words “and the comparatively small number of matriculated students attending the several university colleges,” after the word “New Zealand.” This would get over the suggestion of making the matter solely one of money. Sir Robert Stout had no objection to the inclusion of the suggested words, and' tho motion was passed in the amended form.

FINANCIAL POSITION.

The treasurer (Dr luiight) brought down a balance-sheet, giving a forecast of the position up to March Slst, 1907. The receipts and expenditure for the three succeeding years was set forth as follows: expenditure £6021 14s 4d, deficiency £2064 8s 4d; 1906—receipts £5190, expenditure £7005 123 9d, deficiency £lßls 12s 9d; 1907 —receipts. £5160, expenditure £6096, deficiency £936. The chairman, in explaining the position, said the total deficiencies at the end of 1907 would amount to £4815 16s Id. The Council had on deposit a sum of £4OOO. Already they had spent £227 10s ocn the new building, and the figures before the Council made no provision for furnishing, fencing of site or accommodation for a caretaker, all of which were absolutely necessary. By March, 1906, the accumulated funds would be exhausted. He wished to bring under the notice of the Council that a sum of £4641 was annually spent in the salaries of the teaching staff, and a further sum of £3OO in other salaries. Their grant from the Government was £4200, and out of that £865 was yearly paid away in scholarships. In his opinion there were three methods of coping witn the existing state of affairs. Firstly to reduce the staff— Sir Robert Stout: We cannot do that.

Proceeding, Dr Knight remarked that recent professorial appointments at Canterbury College were at the rate of £6OO per annum, whereas tney paid £7OO, an amount which he approved. Secondly, to increase the fees. These, he said, now amounted to £BOO per annum. Thirdly, an increased grant from the Government, in addition to being relieved of the Queen’s scholarships. Mr Evans, in reviewing the position, said he deprecated strongly any criticism of the Government in the matter. The contribution of the Government to the building fund exceeded the most sanguine expectations. He considered the outlook was not as gloomy now, as had been the case on previous occasions. He hoped the Council itself would do its duty.

Sir Robert Stout said he considered the chairman, as treasurer, was quite light in bringing down the report. The Government might well increase its contribution and so place Wellington in. the same position as Auckland. The matter was allowed to drop afro? some further discussion.