UNIVERSITY COUNCIL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18556, 17 May 1922, Page 3

UNIVERSITY COUNCIL

The regular meeting of the Otago University Council, held yesterday afternoon, was attended by the Bev. Dr Cameron (Chancellor), Mr T. K. Sidey, M.P. (Vicechancellor), Professors Bonham and Hewitson, Drs W. Marshall Macdonald, and Fitzgerald, Messrs J. C. Thompson, J. C. Stephens, W. Eudey, L. D. Ritchie, G. R. Ritchie, J. Scurr, and J. H. Walker. FINANCE COMMITTEE. The Finance Committee reported that .it had considered the question of the reduction of salaries as prescribed by the Public expenditure Adjustment Act. After some discussion it was resolved that the chancellor, the vice-chancellor and Mr L. D. Ritchie bo asked to prepare a report, and to present it to the Government. The committee had considered clause 3 of the report of the Medical Committee, with reference to the appointment of additional assistance for clinical teaching in the Dental School, tne committee also considered a letter from Dr Pickerill stating that Professor owing to illness would be unable to attend at the hospital for some weeks, and requesting immediate assistance. It was resolved that an advertisement bo inserted calling for applications for an additional demonstrator at £SOO per annum, no work to be undertaken during the long vacation, the appointment in the first place to extend only until the close of the present year; that authority be given for the provision of temporary assistance during Professor Bell s absence. The committee had considered a letter from Professar Jack, pointing out the necessity for the appointment of Miss Marwick as demonstrator at £5 5s per month. It was resolved to recommend that Dr Jack’s attention be drawn to regulation 10 on page 33 of the Calendar of the University of New Zealand, dealing with conditions of the National Research Scholarship, and that, subject to the conditions therein referred to being complied with, approval be given for this year only for such an appointment, the reason for such approval being the extra work falling upon Dr Jack during this year on account of the erection of the new buildings. The committee considered and approved of a report from the registrar in re the proposal to give assistance to the caretaker of the Students’ Union. The registrar stated that he had conferred with representatives of the Students’ Association, and had arranged with the association to pay half the wages of ’ho woman employed, the amount of time to be given by this woman to be two hours a day. The Education Department had written notifying that an advance of £4OOO would be made to the council owing to deficiencies of rent. Interest at the rate of 5i per cent, would b© charged half-yearly, and a refund of the amount would be required in a few years. The council was notified that this amount must not be used for any extension of the present activities. The letter wag received; and it was resolved that the chairman be given power to act with regard to the temporary investment of ; this money. The committee had considered a letter from Mrs Aitken applying for increased salary, and regretted that, considering the financial position of the University, it could not recommend that this equest be acceded to. Dr Pickerill had written suggesting that the University should undertake the responsibility, only for patients of the Dunedin Hospital and such others as could attend at the Dental School. The committee recommended that in view of the additional grant being made to the Dental School no action be taken in this matter. The sub-committee which had waited on the Commissioner of Crown Lands regarding the Benmore runs had submitted the following _ report:—“ln reply to questions, the commissioner stated that the Land Board bad agreed to ask the University Council to agree to reduce the rent of tenants at Benmore to the upset value of the respective sections, because the board was af opinion that the present rents were too high. The board had received from the tenants declarations asito their inability to pay the present rents, but they had not received any financial statements as to the tenants’ position. Mr Sadd agreed at the request of the committee to obtain from the tenants a statement of receipts and payments for the past three years; a statement as to whether their rung at Benmore were worked in conjunction with any other, runs; a statement of the amount of stock’!' carried.” The report was received. The chancellor and registrar had been instructed to report on a request from Professor Ramsay for a part-time assistant at £IOO per annum. A letter from the Minister of Education had been received, stating that he -had referred to the Minister of Defence tho question of the payment, of fees students from Duntroon Military .College. A letter from the New Zealand Insurance Company had been received, suggesting insuring employees who received more than £4OO per annum. ; —-Permission had been given to the physiology department to appoint a boy in place of O. Hastie at 15s per week to commence. .The committee had approved of a letter, from Dr Elder, gating that he desired the amount of £SO allotted to him for assistance divided equally between H. Betting and H. Fawcett. The council heard hr committee. Dr Benham’s opinions regarding Mrs Aitken’s application.—The report was adopted without alteration. The matter of the Benmore runs was left in the committee’s hands. WORKS COMMITTEE. The Works Committee reorted. that, it had considered letters from Professors Jack and Benhom, asking for repairs ,to their houses. It was resolved, that the chairman and registrar should act in these matters in conjunction with the architect. The committee considereda letter from Dr Pickerill in regard to the urgent necessity for accommodation at the Dental School. This matter was left in the hands of the chancellor and registrar to forward on particulars to tho Minister. The chairman reported verballv as to the fire in the physiology department. He stated that there was no evidence to show that there had' been any negligence, nor could any statement be made as to, the origin of the fire.—The report was received. Mr Ansoombe wrote reporting (a) .that the physics building was proceeding satisfactorily; fb) that Turnbull and Jones were proceeding with the electrical work in the physics department; (c) that the reinstatement of the physiology department would be completed in a week’s time, and that the drill hall would be completed in three weeks’ time. Professor Rawsop wrote submitting modified proposals for the installation of a laundry, such installation to be of a temporary nature. The proposals were that the siudents’ cloakroom he adapted as a laundry, and that the attic and needlework room be used for ironing and drying. It was resolved that the architect should furnish a report, such report to be made to the Finance ttud Works Committees before the next meeting of . tho council. The committee resolved to receive a request from Professor Bell for the provision of a private room. It is regretted that in tho meantime such provision is not possible.—The adontion of the report was moved by Mr J. H. Walker.—Mr T. K. Sidev said they should make strong representations to the Government on the subject of the need for increased accommodation. He moved as an addition to the report that the urgent requirements of the University in the matter of buildings bo brought under the notice of the Otago Expansion League. The league was going to emphasise the need for a new post'office, but he thought that this dental building was an even more urgent matter than the post office.—The report was adopted with this addition. HOME SCIENCE COMMITTEE.

The Home Science Committee reported that it had considered the desirability of forwarding to the Hospital Board a communication from tho professors in the homo science department with reference to the pioposed appointment of a dietitian.—lt was resolved to amend the leport slightly, and to recommend the council that such amended report be sent to the Hospital Board. It was further resolved that the matter bo referred to tho Finance Committee before the. council meeting. Tho Financ:- Committee, in a special report, stated that it had considered tho desirability of forwarding to the Hospital Board a report from the home science professors with reference to the appointment of a dietitian. The committee considered the report favourably, and recommends the council to forward it to the Hospital Board. —Mr Stephens, in moving the adoption of the report, strongly advocated the appointment of a dietitian, who, he said, would be of great value to the community.—The report was adopted. MEDICAL COMMITTEE. The Medical Committee reported that it had considered a letter from the medical faculty, recommending that tho position of medical tutor be advertised for the remainder of tho year with a probability of reappointment for next year. The conditions of the* Last appointment wore read and approved. It was resolved that, the advertisement and conditions of the now appointment be drawn up by Dr Carmalt Jones in conjunction with the chancellor, such advertisement to be laid before the council, and. if approved, to he inserted in the newspapers in the four chief centres in Now Zealand. The committee also considered a letter from the medical faculty, stating that a report in regard to public health, preventive medicine, and biochemistry would be forwarded after tho faculty had received a report from the new

professor of bacteriology and public health. The letter was received.—The report was adopted on the motion of Professor Hewitson. CORRESPONDENCE. The Secretary for Education stated that it was the intention of the Public Expenditure Adjustment Act to exempt only payments to professional men whose remuneration was by fees, and not to professors.—ln reply to a question, .the Chancellor, stated that the total amount of the salary reductions was about £I4OO, and balanced the reduction in the Government grants.—Received. Miss E. Barton, laboratory assistant in physiology, resigned her position as trom June 17.—Resignation accepted. The Otago Hospital Board stated that the Dental School grant would be increased to £SOO for the year ending March 31, 1923. —Received. The Secretary for Education asked if the University could arrange to forward its publications to the British Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, in exchange for its publications.—Agreed to. The Secretary, W.E.A.. recommended the appointment of Mr T. L. James as tutor in economics at Invercargill, at the rate of £2 10s per lecture ;• that Mr Johnson’s term of engagement be from March to March; that, tne council take steps to define Ml M’Cracken’s relation to the Superannuation Act. —The recommendations were approved. After a discussion in committee it was resolved to bring Mr M’Crncken’s position under tho notice of the authorities.

Mr J. Johnson forwarded a lengthy letter asking that his duties as a tutor for the Workers’ Educational Association be more clearly defined. —The Tutorial Committee recommended that “class” be defined as containing 16 students, unless otherwise specially sanctioned by the committee, and that if tho conditions were not fulfilled Mr Johnson should be entitled to three months’ notice of the termination of the agreement.—The recommendations were adopted. Hie Chairman of the Professorial Board wrote recommending that Professors Thompson and Elder be appointed coexaminers with Professor Ramsay for the Macmillan Brown Prize; that no other candidate be appointed to the Beverley Scholarship, which is not tenable by Mr Barnett; that Professor (Herous be appointed a member of the Faculty of Medicine: tha* applications for Provisional Matribulation be made not later than March 1: that Messrs G. M. Moir, R. W. Souter and T. Thomson be appointed library supervisors ; that the council approve of the principle of advertising in the Calendar, provided the advertisements have some relation to academic life; that Mr Maurice Thomson be appointed students’ demonstrator in practical accounting, at £5 5s for the term. —The recommendations were approved. It wai resolved,_ on the motion of Professor invito Professor Hercus to deliver a formal inaugural address. at which the chancellor and vicechancellor would be present. Dr Milligan applied for a grant of £lO from the Sir John Roberts Fund.—Approved. Dr Pickerill asked that he he - remunerated for the class of stomatology.—The matter was referred to the Finance and Medical Committees. The Registrar, University of New Zealand. stated that t' e Senate at its May meeting decided I ’t had no power to alter the regulations for mechanical dentistry, which it had referred to the Board of Studies.—The Chancellor said that though the request made could not be granted at once yet some way l might be found of relieving the students specially concerned. The Commissioner, of Grown Lands forwarded a further report in regard to the Benmore University Endowment. Block. Unjess the council was prepared to consent to 'a reduction of rent, ho felt sube mpst of the tenants would applv to Referred to the Finance Committee. v Dr Drennan forwarded a further application from Mr Andertop for increased remuneration. —Referred to the Finance Committee, Dr Pickerill again with regard to overcrowding at the Dental School. The condition of the school, ho stated, was iniurious to henlth.—Referred to Works Committee.—Dr Macdonald suggested that it would now be better in the interests c.f the Dental School to setr no a separate Dental Committee and the chancellor suggested thgt he propose this when the committee® wore set up for the year. Dr Milligan applied for increased remuneration.—Referred to Finance Committee. ! GENERAL. An adiourned recommendation f r om the Finance Committee that the council review the position generally with regard ,to teachers receiving fees was left with the committee. Mr J, Reid Burt, L.D.S.. ■ R.C.S.. was appointed demonstrator in dental surgery. It was reported Jhat the fo 1 1 owing donations ha'"' been received: —Mr J. R. Orfed. Winchester—39 valuable classical volumes ■ Mr A. Mnritzson—bonks and manuscripts in connection with Hawaiian resources, and collection of ethnographical objects: Dr Mn ,- ion Whyte and J. Cray, cheques. The gifts were acknowledo">d with thanks. ‘ With reference to the construction of a still in the chemistr-s department, the Collector of Customs forwarded a bond for completion, and asked for the names of sureties. —Arran e-aments were made for the completion of the bond.