SCHOLARSHIPS IN JOURNALISM

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18952, 28 August 1923, Page 8

SCHOLARSHIPS IN JOURNALISM

ME BELL'S BfiNEFACTION. GOVERNMENT’S ATTITUDE CONDEMNED. (Pee United ■ Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, August 27. At to-day’s meeting of the Canterbury College Board of Governors Mr J. R. Cunningham said he desired to enter a mild protest against the way a certain benefaction had been treated. He referred to the benefaction made by Mr Robert Bell, of £3OOO as “an endowment for scholarships in practical journalism,” Under the Act this was a voluntary contribution paid m cash, and the Board of Governors were entitled to pound for pound subsidy from the Consolidated Fund, but it had not received it. It was certainly true that the Act provided that the subsidy was payable “ subject to such other conditions and limitations as may be prescribed,” but ho bad been unable to find any regulations There were some six or seven students attending the lectures in journalism, and very good work was being done, but if the board had been treated as it ought to have been treated the lectureship in journalism would be on a much better foundation than it was.at present.—(“ Hear, hear.”) In other matters the board had been treated quite well by the Education Department, but in the matter of the subsidy op Mr Bell’s voluntary contribution, ho thought that by a little pressure on the board’s part it would have got what it was entitled to. The Chairman (Mr H. D. Acland) said with reference to Mr Bell’s benefaction and the Government’s attitude in regard to it, ho had reason to know that the Government's action had actually prevented other benefactions coming to Canterbury College, and that as long as the Government tooli up the attitude it had taken up the college was not likelv to receive voluntary contributions. The effect had been to keep the college from receiving money that in other circumstances would have corno its way.