THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES WEDNESDAY, JULY 30. 1902. UNIVERSITY FINANCE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12418, 30 July 1902, Page 4

THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES WEDNESDAY, JULY 30. 1902. UNIVERSITY FINANCE.

The public, which takes a deep pride ill tho University of Otago and a keen interc-st in its welfare, lias now been made fully aware of the necessities of the institution. These have been stated with sufficient frankness in our columns. One striking, outstanding feature of the thoughtful views respecting the future of the University expressed to us by a number cf gentlemen who have given their most careful consideration to the subject must have been noticed by all the readers of our last two impressions. Upon various points the views of these authorities aro widely diverse. But upon one p6int they disclosc complete and a-bso-lute unanimity. They all insist most emphatically that, however desirable and necessary it may bo to extinguish the University Council's overdraft at its bankers, a nrucli larger scheme must be undertaken. And it must be undertaken without delay. It Oias already been delayed too long. Tho vital importance to tho University of having its finances established on a permanently stable basis should indeed have been recognised years ago, Now that the community realises, as we believe it, dees, that the Usefulness of tho institution is being impaired as the result of the pecuniary embarrassment of the governing body, it will scarcely rest contented until it has devised and given effect to some large and generous scheme of relief. To pay off the overdraft in the manner that Sir Joseph Ward has proposed, with the certainty that -unless. some

steps are taken to place the University Council annually in the possession of additional funds there will be another overdraft, of dimensions approximately equal to that of the present day, to pay oil in the coursc of four or five years, is clearly not all that is required. So far as it goes, it is a most commendable project. But if wo were to imagine that it satisfies all the immediate necessities of the University, we should deceive ourselves. For the Univevsity Council has, through the force of circumstances, been economising, while, in order to lccep the institution abreast of modern requirements, it should have been developing. It has been cutting down while it should have been extending. It has been abandoning certain classes antl reducing salaries while it should have been, equipping new chairs and providing additional lecturers. It has been starving the institution, through no fault of its own, at a period when a liberal expenditure of funds was called for to enable the University to keep pace witli the times. In terns that cannot be disregarded the needs of the local college have been shown by the friends of the University who have courteously responded to our invitation to them to cxpressi their views upon the-situation. A considerable sum of money is plainly required to enable the institution to discharge its functions with an efficiency which will keep it in the forefront of Australasian university colleges. Whence is that money to be derived? It might fairly be argued that, as the financial straits in which the University Council finds itself are directly attributable, to the heavy shrinkage in the values of the endowments that were set aside for the provisicn of university education in Otago, and as the education of the people, of the colony is a matter for the State, the Government should be asked to .provide funds sufficient to place the institution on an assured footing. We do not, however, think it desirable that the Government should be approached with any request of that kind. The Government should certainlv bear a generous proportion of the cost of restoring the University .to a position of financial stability, but 'we are satisfied that the community of Otago is public-spirited enough to recognise that an appeal may with perfect appropriateness be addressed to it for assistance in this scheme. We are, indeed, in a- position to speak with authority upon this point, for we have received assurances during , the past few days that enable us to say that a broad scheme for, the relief of the University finance will be liberally supported by well-wishers of the institution. Nevertheless, the Government has its responsibility in the matter. The Acting-Premier has promised a. subsidy of £2 for every .£1 that is contributed by the public with the object of extinguishing the University Council's overdraft, and has promised a further grant of £2 for £1 if an additional .sum of £250 is subscribed by the public. Will he extend that subsidy so that it may cover all the funds that may be subscribed at the present time for the purpose of improving the financial position of the University? If he will only do that, the public will be cncouraged to make a strenuous effort to place the institu-

tion cn a basis of absolute security. | We have sufficient confidence in the people of Otago and Southland to know that, under those circumstances, they will rally warmly to the support, of the University 'which was founded hero bv the enterprise and far-" siglitednoss of their fathers. In a concerted action of that kind we shall take the liberty, we hope, in the course, of the next few days, of inviting them to join. The time is, we firmly believe, opportune for a movement of this kind. Consequently we have, in the past week, taken measures which have set matte's in train for the inauguration of a large scheme for the object we have indicated. One of the first steps nece«?avy is for the representatives in Parliament of this city and its provincial district t.n inr quire from the Government to what extent it will be prepared to assist the suggested • movement, and, in anticipation of till?, wp hove comiminicMed with the senior member for the City of Duuedin and suggested tWeon-

vening by him of n meeting of 01 ago 1 end Southland members to consider tV question, and, if they think it advisable, as they may be expected to do. to urge the Government to' increase its offer of assistance by undertaking to subsidise at the rate of £2 for £1 all the frtnds that, may be col-

lectori for the benefit of the University. Finally, wo have, as we have already hinted, received substantial offers of assistance in various quarters that convince us that, if the Acting-Premier will give the undertaking- the help which, wo think, he should be asked to give, the public will for its part subscribe handsomely to a fund for affording the University Council not temporary relief only, but. permanent relief from the financial .difficulties by which it has for some time past been harassed.