THE MINING AND MEDICAL SCHOOLS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2672, 31 May 1905, Page 17

THE MINING AND MEDICAL SCHOOLS.

Mr Bedford introduced a deputation from the University Council. The Mayor said the Otago University was supported by the Otago League in its undertakings. Mr T. K. Sidey, who was the principal speaker on behalf of the deputation, said that, in the absence of the Chancellor and "Vice-chancellor of the University, he had been asked to say a few words on behalf of the council, but before doing so would call upon Mr Mason, the registrar of the University, to read a letter from the Vicechancellor (Mr James Allen). Mr Mason accordingly read the letter, which, after apologising for the writer's inability to be present at the deputation, detailed the matters which it was clesired to bring before the Premier. He hoped the Premier would grive a favourable answer to the University's claim for £250 extra for the Mining School, and went on to say: — "Wo quite understood that once the school was to be retained we were to receive £750 per annum. We have had only £500, and I think the country has a wonderfully cheap and efficient school for the small amount of money asked for. As regards the other matters which the deputation may speak to you about in respect of the Medical School, we thankfully acknowledge the £1000 paid for building conveniences in connection with the new physiology chair, and we hope that you can see your way to pay us another £1000 before the vote of the House is taken. I also trust that there may be no further delay in tho payment of moneys voted by Parliament for the expenses of the newprofessor of physiology and of the Medical School, which were all put before you in Wellington. We also think Parliament should increase the grant provided for physiological buildings to pound for pound on our total payments, and that something should be done for the buildings of the Mining School,, Mr Hogben, who came with me to see these buildings, and went through our accounts, no doubt will be able to advise you on the matter." Mr Sidev, continuing, said that in connection with the grant of £250 for the Mining School the Premier was aware that from the inception of the school the sum of £500 had been paid, and it was one of the conditions upon which the school was Started that that should be paid. They had been receiving an additional £250, and without that they would have been unable to carry on the school at all. He would not go into tho question of the merits of retaining the school here, nor the many con-

siderations in favour of its retention, because they had been laid before the Premier from time to time. He would call the Premier's attention specially to this : that the decision of the Government that the school should remain here was practically on condition that this £250 additional should be g-iven. To say that the school should remain here and only get £500 was practically saying that the school must go. The whole <^£ tke Otago members had been extremely plsased that the Government had agreed to allow the. school to remain, but tk&y aAI understood the £750 was to be received S«p ¥*■ Supposing -it had been decidec? th&p ii should be removed to Auckland, they still understood that they would be placed in a position to keep faith with the students, .and to carry out their engagements with them, and would get the £750 for three years. When the Minister of Mines had been here recently he had been interviewed because the £250 had always been paid through his department, and he (the Minister) had told them it was not a sum that could be properly paid out of money under the control of his department. There was therefore nothing left for them but to dome to him (the Premier). He would not detain him (the Premier) further than to appeal to him very, strongly for a continuance of the £250. The other item he would say a word about was the grant of £1500 made for the Medical School. The Premier might remember that some time ago a deputation waited upon him in connection with thfi urgerrcy of certain claims in connection with the Medical School, and it was shown that £1500 would be wanted to put the school on a satisfactory footing. That was approved by the Premier at the time they were going to appoint a professor of physiology, who, it was understood, was going to undertake the teaching. That had been carried out. the professor had been appointed a-nd had -undertaken his duties in connection with the sohool, and the whole of the £1500 was absolutely required, and that was what the deputation would impress upon the Premier. Of that £375 was payable as the first quarter's instalment on March 31, and that had not yet been paid, though a statement asked for by the department had been sent up. Another matter he wished to refer to was in regard to buildings in course of erection. By voluntary contribution the sum of £2000 had been raised, and the Government had paid them £1000 on account, and they asked that instead of waiting for a sum to be voted in the House the Premier woulcT allow them the other £1000.

Professor Sal© said, in connection with tho Mining School, he would strongly urge tho Premier to look at one little point in which he could assist them very materially. The associates of the school who had obtained diplomas 'had an excellent name all over the Australian colonies and other places' There was no clause in the Mining Act by which, a man could become a mm© manager until lie had been working underground for five years, and that precluded associates from getting these managerships. They were sending away most promising students to other countries to do that which they might be doing in their own country. He thoirght the Premier might take the matter into consideration, and might get a clause put into the act that enabled a man who had not a certain amount of experience underground to be placed in the same position as others.

Tho Premier said, as regarded the £250 ioi* the Mining School, so far^as his memory served him, there was no promise, definite Oj: inferred, as to its continuance. Taking ifc off the Estimates of the mining vote, which he was informed took place, would support his contention that there had been no promise, otherwise the Minister of Mines would have put a sum upon the Estimates. If he had not done so, and the Minister of Education had aiot done- so, it did not look as if it was going to be continued. He had thought if the school was retained they were not troubled so much about the. £250. The doing away with the school altogether was what they had been trying to prevent, and the school had been &aved. He remembered that the question of the three years had had a great deal of weight with him, because he was against breaking faith with bhe students as to givinsr them the £1500. * So far as he knew, the Government had kept faith in respect to that. Tbo undertaking wa^ given on behalf of the University, and there the -matter remained. 'On the point of the £250 for the School of Min&s not being a charge on the mining ■voto lie should differ from his colleague, the Minister of Mines. If it was practically for training 1 men as mine-jiianagers and providing technical trainin^nhe did not _ see -whero else "it should oome from. It might; h-& contended it should be got. under the head of technical education training. However, the question which was still in abevancp was whether or not this vote should continue beyond the time of the training of the prespnt students. That point had never been definitely settled yet, and when

ho got back to Wellington he would diacasa the question with his colleagues, come to a conclusion, and let them know where they were, so tliat there would be no misapprehension so far as they were concerned. Ho was given to understand that it was imperative, if the school was to go on. that they should have £750 instead of £500, and it would not be out of place if he were to ask them to give in detail why that amount was necessary. They might let him have that in detail as soon as possible, so thafc when they were together in Cabinet they f^ctuild settle the question. He thought there was room for their Mining School to be continued, and ifor the same thing in the North Island. Coming to the point referred to by Professor Sale in respect to the five years' underground training, there was a. good deal in his contention, and there was also a good deal of difficulty in students getting that training. He was thinking himself whether it might not be considered rather socialistic in character if the Staff started gold mining a,« well as coa T ' -"nir and give a<s a reason the training of these young men in order to etvuip them with the necessary credentials. So far as their two coal mines were concerned, he would mention the matter to the Minister of Mines, and if there were any younff men who wanted that special training they wnuTr' place the mines at thei v disposal. T4T 4 also a question whether the time wa. too lon^. In the early days when "they had to tackle underground work it did not take them five years to become perfect at ifc. He was delighted to h-ear the good news regarding the_suocess of our yoxmg men_ in other colonies. It was very encouraging 1 l o him, and would have great weight in th*lirection of that £250. Coming to the building, as far as the payment of the £3500 was concerned, it was his duty as Minister of Education in dealing with that to assist the University, and even if the payment was a little in advance, seeing they had £760,000 of a surplus, he did not think there would be much trouble. As for the building grant, it was a different matter, as they were .always liable to be assailed for n~.akinjf an advance in anticipation. The only difference, however, was in the payment of interest on the bank overdraft, and! ho might to the risk of getting a rap over the knuckles for giving the money before it wa.s voted by Parliament. He would havo to consider -which was the wiser of the two courses. They had had a promise that they would get the money, and he thought tho word of the Government was quite good enough for tha University Council obtaining £1000 overdraft from any banker in New Zealand. Let him assure them that th& gcod work the University Council was doing had his best wishes, and he- would within reasonable limits do hia best for them. The deputation thanked the Premier am ■withdrew.