UNIVERSITY SENATE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17218, 22 January 1918, Page 3

UNIVERSITY SENATE.

FIFTH DAY—MONDAY,

The Senate of tho University of New Zealand continued its sittings in the Otago University Library yesterday morning. A proxy in favour of Professor Hunter was left by Mr 11. H. Ostler, who has been recalled' to Auckland. lai-X'TIO.V OP OFFICERS. On the motion of tho Rev. A. Cameron, seconded by Dr Anderson, Sir Robert Stout was re-elected to the position of Chancellor for the next three years. Both speakers paid a tributo to the very valuablo services rendered to the University by iSir Robert. On the motion of Mr Von Haast, seconded by Dr Collins, Professor J. Macmillan Brown was re-elected vice-chancellor. Professor lit own was <also rc-clected as a member of the General Council of Education. Mr Von Haast was re-elected treasurer of the University. NOTICES OF MOTION. The Rev. A. Cameron: ''That a committee be appointed' to consider the alterations, if any, which should be made in tho requirements for matriculation for students of the age of 25 years or over. Dr Anderson: "That the Wellington Recess Committee be charged with the duty of considering, during tho coming recess, the provisions of the University Act relating to tho University Courts, w'ith a view to arriving at a more convenient arrangement for dealing with matters of professional concern than tho constitution at present provides, tho committee to report to the next meeting of tho Senate." Mr Von Haast: "(1) That for the purpose of encouraging the study of forestry tho University allocate £150 a year for three years for a travelling scholarship in forestry, provided that tho Government contribute a like sum towards the scholarship and make some arrangement for the employment in the Forestry Department of the scholar on the expiration of his scholarship ; (2) tliat every candidate for a degree presenting a sciojicc be required to do, during tho long vacation, some practical work in connection with agriculture, forestry, or a New Zealand industry to the satisfaction of his professor, and to embody the results of his work in a written report; that this motion bo referred to tho Science Committee to consider the. best means of giving practical effect thereto." TIME LIMIT FOR HONOURS. The Senate adjourned in the morning to allow committees to meet and transact business. It resumed at 2.30 p.m. to consider various notices of motion. The first to come before it was one moved by Mr Von Haast:—"That every candidate for honours in arts or science must present himself for examination for honours within six years from his matriculation, except in the case of illness, in which case the chancellor may extend the period within which the candidate may present himself for not more than one year." Mr Von Haast said that if they were going to limit the period in which honourscould be taken, he thought that was the best way of doing it. He was not very sure that the time should bo limited. Dr Marshall seconded the motion. Mr Mahon opposed tho motion on the ground that it would place undue restrictions on certain students, such as teachers who interrupted their University studies with a period of teaching in the country. Dr Hunter expressed the opinion that it was undesirable to impose time restrictions in connection with academic honours. He was of opinion, however, that the proposed amendment was at least much fairer than the existing regulations. Professor Segar thought tho difficulty arose from tho system of exempted students. The only satisfactory solution of the problem might come through abolishing the association of honours with the _ M.A. degree. Honours were usually associated with tho 8.A., or it might be a way out of the difficulty to associate honours with the "double repeat." He thought the matter was too important to be decided hurriedly, and moved that it be referred to the Degrees and Commerce Committee.

This proposal was immediately adopted. CANCER RESEARCH.

Tho Hon. Dr Collins moved: "That the New Zealand University establish a research scholarship, open to the medical profession in New Zealand, on the subject of cancer and allied malignant diseases. That tho terms and conditions 'bo referred to tho Medical Committee of tho Senate/' Dr Collins explained how he had come to bring this matter before the Senate by notico of motion. The proposal was to use the funds of the Sir George Grey Scholarship, for which tho number of candidates was found to be small and tho conditions unsatisfactory. With reference to the subject of cancer. he spoke of the great progress that had been made in recent years as the result of scientific research. He outlined the conditions prevailing in the seventies of last century and tho great advances that had been initiated by Pasteur, Lister, and others. It was necessary not only to have research, but to interest the public so that tho results of tho research might be made use of. It was possible even t in a small community like this to carry but investigations that would add to the stock of common knowledge. Ho referred particularly to the remarkable results obtained in research work by Dr Tru-by King in reference to the preservation of infant life and tho promotion of the health of women and children. Ho quoted figures showing that, while the death rate.from cancer per 100,000 of population in New Zealand in 1877 was 32, the rate in 1915 wis 82. This in itself was sufficient justification for tho demand for research work on the subject. It was an interesting fact that, as tho death rato from cancer had gone up, the death rate from phthisis has gone down in corresponding degree. Tho death rato from phthisis had declined from 87 in 1877 to 63 in 1915. The general death rate all round was declining. The research work of tho last 50 years had done an immense amount to preserve life, and there was no reason why within tho next 50 years cancer should not become a curable disease. Dr Wilson had drawn attention to figures pointing to the curious conclusion that British immigrants were much more liable to cancer than were native-born Australians. At the present time cancer ranked second to heart disease as a cause of death'. Is 1915 there were 224 deaths from cancer in New Zealand. The following up of tho history of discharged patients would bo a very valuablo branch of research. He thought the research scholarship should bo worth at least £400 or £500 a year. He would like to see tho holder of it visit every hospital in New Zealand to see every case of cancer, to inquire into every caso under the care of a doctor, and to get the opinions of both doctor and patient in every individual case. The results could then bo sent to the committee concerned at Ilomcr.

Dr Ferguson, in seconding tho motion, pointed out what a research scholarship meant, and said that anything in tho way of an undergraduate scholarship like the Sir George Grey would bo quite useless in this case. There was an awakened interest in research scholarships at the present time. But if any research was to be carried out satisfactorily it must be by a man of considerable training, under the guidance of a most experienced man. Tho revenue of the Cancer Research Committee at Home was something like £SOCO a year, £nd though they had been at work for 15 years, they had not so far done anything towards reducing the cancer death rate. He thought the sum mentioned by Dr Collins would be only the very beginning of the expenditure. —("Hear, hear.") With £500 a year ior one man, without material or equipment, no results at all could be expected. He thought tho matter was. one that might well be brought before the Government, as it was one for the Public Health Department.

Professor Segar expressed his sympathy with the motion, but said he was sorry that Dr Collins had made uso of statistics of an alarmist charactcr. In these statistics no allowance was made for tho change in the average age of tho population, which had considerably increased. He quoted from careful investigations made by himself some 17 years ago, showing that the increase in cancer was not heady so great as was generally supposed. The increase in the figures was partly due to improved diagnosis. He also strongly challenged the inlerence that cancer is more prevalent in immigrants than in tho native born.

Mr von Haast moved as ail amendment "'J hat the Senate represent to the >> : ew Zealand Government the advisability of taking steps for the encouragement ol study and research in the subject of cancer and allied diseases." Dr Anderson, who seconded the amendment, took the view that the matter was one outside the functions of the University and belonging to the Government. The University had not sufficient funds for such investigation. Referring to the Sir George Grey scholarships, he sajd Dr Collins had been misinformed when he concluded that these scholarships had not been of much im. Of the 68 possible Sir George Grey scholarships during i.ho last 17 years 51 had !xen awarded, and the facts indicated that of; present there were not sufficient worthy candidates for the purpose for which the scholarships were given. He thought that !ho foholnrshipa might, be abolished, having served their purpose, but tho Minister thought tho memory of that great statesman should bo perpetuated. They would be glad of a lead from the Senate ae to haw

the funds should best be expended, and he himself would not be averse to diverting thorn for post graduate research. Dr Benhani pointed out that there already existed a scholarship of £250 a year for throe years, giving; a student opportunity to pursue his studios of cancer in tho Old Ijtind.

Professor Kirk said it was regrettable that tho small matter of the Sir George Grey scholarship should have been mixed up with the larger question of cancer research. He wished to remove the impression that; these scholarships had gone begging as far as Victoria College was concerned.

Tho Hon. Rlr Hanan suggested setting up a committee that might bring definite and practical proposals before the Government. It was a matter on which the Government naturally desired to have professional advice. It seemed to him that the main question was one of finance. If tho research was to be taken up successfully it was tho most skilled and advanced men who should bo induced to give themselves to it.

Professor Hunter said it would be a great pity if anything was done to prevent good students from taking advantage of the Sir George Grey scholarships, which had been put to excellent use at Victoria Oollege. The Chancellor expressed the opinion that the Sir George Grey scholarships were never meant to be research scholarships, but intended as an aid to students of science. He agreed that it would bo a mistake to abolish them. He believed that valuable investigation might be made in this country as to the effect of our climate and surroundings on the incidence of cancer. He thought tho general principle of the necessity of such research should bo affirmed, and it might then be left to the Medical Committee to suggest the exact details. The Rev. A. Cameron pointed out that in tho Otago University a most distinguished series of graduates had been helped by the Sir George Grey scholarships. Dr Collins, in replying,, said his idea was that the research student should work in this country and got a very clear idea of the amount of cancer in the country. Dr Collins's motion was lest, and Mr von ILiast's amendment was agreed to on the voices. LL.B. DEGREE. Professor Segar moved: "That candidates for tho LL.B. degree be allowed to take a section of the examination at tho end of the first year." ITe explained that he intended that tho candidate should be allowed to take two or three subjects in his first year. . In the B.A. and B.Sc. degrees candidates were allowed to take as many as four subjects in their first year. He proposed that tho whole matter be referred to tho Law Committee, and this was agreed to.