THE MEDICAL SCHOOL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3018, 17 January 1912, Page 61

THE MEDICAL SCHOOL.

PROFESSOR LABY CORRECTED. ' \t Mondav afternoon's meeting of the Otago University Council some chrert *n& particular reference was made to *£ «*do by Professor T. H. Laby, which appeared S the Daily Times on Saturday morning the Education Comantitee's report. The article in question contained some comSits on the Otago Medical School of not a flattering nature and, it was alleged, of not too accurate a character. The Chancellor Mr James Allen) said that eome criticism had „been levelled at tie M-li-1 School which ho thought »houd have some reference made to it. It dKI not, however, require much comment Professor Laby had been writing some articles n the Otago Dailv Times, and the second one appeared on the 13th inet., and confined the following : " The serioue defects I refer to are tne exodus of student* abroad, the failure of medical teachaDroac, „ Chancellor) wanted to draw' attention to- this because he dad not fchnk they could allow a professor in another college to make remarks to, tto«e without taking notice oi them. FicijaeeM Laby in the latter part of hie article, ,gtve some reasons for the of the Medical School, and professed to Juote from evidence but all the evidence he quoted was evidence given by Professor -Labv himself, and no one else at all <\nd he had not quoted himself correctly then. He spoke of "a miserable income of £4OOO a year," and his evidence referred to "a miserable income of £2600 " That was not very material, but if Professor Laby had looked at the returns to the evidence he would have found that last year there had been expended £5462, ordinary recurring expenditure, and £192, non-recurring expenditure. His quotation was misleading, and, so far as the public was concerned, it put the matter in a wrong light. Professor Laby had not referred to the evidence of Dr M'Dowell, who had said that the school had been a most successful school indeed. It was well equipped for the work of the profession of medicine, and there was no reason whatever to cast any disparagement on t.h" good work that had been done by the Medical School at Dunedin. Before the Education Committee, Professor Laby had been atked, "Do you know whether there has been any complaint that a New Zealand medical student, when he has 'gone to England to complete or partially complete his course, has been badly trained?" He had replied, "No. I do not know that." He had also been asked, ,: Is it not a fact that men who have not been able to pass in New Zealand have gone to England to pa*i?" The reply was, "It is commonly said to be the case. I have no personal knowledge of it." Another question had been, Are these figures (17 degrees awarded in Edinburgh to New Zealand students and 13 degrees awarded in Now Zealand) reliable, or is it juet a newspaper report?" He had replied, "A newspaper report: it is all the information I have." Professor Laby had been then asked:, "Do you know what proportion of those students have taken part of their course at the Ot;S, r o University?" and hie answer had been. " I have no information." Upon such information as had been made public by Professor Laby, and which was based uixm erroneous facts, damaging- inferences were drawn concerning the Medical School, but ho (the Chancellor) thought the public would know at what value to assess such information.

Dr Scott remarked that the Modfical School was increasing.

Dr Church said that a (Treat many went Homo to gain further instruction. The Hon. J. R. Sinclair said it had l>een shown bv the Chancellor that them was tio foundation for the statements made by Profcaeor Laby. In any oase, what was the pood of takirvT them seriously? There was some slight discussion as to whether it would not l>e advisable for the Chancellor to communicate what he had said to the press, but. it was finally decided to vva.it and sec to what extent the Chanoelloi-'s ivmarlv, would fcc reported.