UNIVERSITY COUNCIL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3763, 27 April 1926, Page 9

UNIVERSITY COUNCIL.

Tho ordinary meeting of tho University Council on Tuesday afternoon was attended by urn Chancellor (Mr T. K. frcoy, Stf .>/.», Sir H. Lindo Professor Benoatu, Drs Wr Marshall Macdonald, and J. Fitzgerald, Messrs J. Wallace, G. it. Ritchie, \V. J.' Morrell, J. S. Douglas, L. 13. Ritchie. J. A. Moore, J. Rennie, (J. M. Gilray and J. W. Scurr. CORRESPONDENCE.

The Registrar of the University of New Zealand forwarded an extract from a letter of Professor Sage, suggesting an interchange oi professors.*—The matter was referred to tho Professorial Board to express an opinion.

The Secretary of tho Otago Hospital Board wrote stating that the board had resolved to appoint three resident medical officers provided the council contributed £609 per annum towards salaries.—Sir Lindo Ferguson said this meant that in order to complete the scheme for clinical teaching in the hospital a third teacher would be appointed provided the council agreed to pay half the salary of the new appointment.—The matter was referred to the Finance and Medical CciiMi.uteos to report.

The Education Department wrote asking for particulars of new arrangements between the Medical School and Hospital Board.—The letter was referred to the Finance and Medical Committees.

The Hon. Secretary of the Otago branch of the International Federation of Uni veteity Women wrote requesting, the use either of tho old board room or of a room in the old Dental School.—The matter was referred to the committee controlling the use of the buildings, the Chancellor to ask the writer to state her request more definitely. The Dean of the Medical Faculty wrote requesting that various works be undertaken—kalsomining, purchase of cases and floor covering for corridors. —The purchase of cases was referred to a small committee with power to act.

Professor Fisher wrote roper)ir-g that Mr Ross, tho newly appointed tutor-organiser for the W.E.A. has been iinahL io take up his work owing to illness.--The Chancellor stated that other professors wore undertaking the work in the meantime. The arrangements made were approved. Miss A. E. Stevenson wrote, asking the council to hold in trust £1069, to be later used by (he direction of the Home Sconce alumpae. The Chancellor said that these were l the profits made bv the running of Studhoime House for Exhibition visitors during vacation. On his motion it was agreed to thank the alumnae and express appreciation of their work, and to refer details to the Finance Committee to consider how the money should be invested in the meantime.

The Secretary, Board of Control, wrote forwarding revised constitution and regulations for council’s confirmation.—The papers to !r* forwarded to the Finance Committee. Tho Doan of the Medical Faculty for warded an application from Dr Carmalfc* Jones for leave during June to permit of his visiting Australia to make arrangements for the Medical Congress io be held in Dunedin early next year.—Agreed to. Dr Malcolm wrote requesting the employment of a research helper, the money to be provided by a grant from the New Zealand Institute.—Agreed to, provided there was no expense to the council. The Secretary of Forestry wrote recommending that the Forest Hill reserve be acquired for the purpose of forestry under the provisions of the Public Works Act.— Referred to the Finance Committee with power to act. The Registrar wrote forwarding particulars of business transacted by the Professorial Board. It recommended that the offer of Professor Miles Walker to deliver lectures be accepted, and that * Professor Park make the ueressary arrangements.—Agreed to. The trustees in the estate of Lissae Rathbone again wrote stating they could not allow an alteration to regulation 8 of the scholarship.—Received. SCHOLARSHIPS AND APPOINTMENTS.

11. W. Whyte wrote asking to be granted a technical college- scholarship in bookkeeping.—The Chancellor explained the position, and expressed the opirion that the scholarship should be granted. The council agreed to this course. The Registrar recommended that the appointments of Misses Pithie and M’Curdy be confirmed as from January 1 last. — Approved. Dr Benham wrote stating that his term as Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Science had expired, and the faculty recommended the council to appoint Dr Inglis for three years from April 12.—The council accepted the recommendation and agreed to record its sense of the very valuable services rendered by Dr Benhain during tho six years he had held the position of dean of the faculty. The Sub-Doan of the Medical Faculty wrote requesting the appointment of T. G. de Clive Lowe and N. T. Mirams as demonstrators in pathology and bacteriology respectively for this term at £5 5s each.— Agreed to. Dr Jack wrote requesting the appointment as student demonstrators of A. G. Harrington, J. K. Horn, W. M. Somerville, H. M. Taylor, *P. J. Sutton, and H. O. Thomson for the year, the first five at £lO 10s and the last at £ls 15s.—Agreed to. Professor Park wrote requesting the appointment as student demonstrators of S. W. MTntosh and A. F. Lowrie at £lO 10s each.—Agreed to. GROUNDS AT LOGAN iPARK.

The Secretary, Exhibition Company, wrote asking if the council desired to purchase the grandstand and fencing round the sports ground.—lt was agreed to send

a copy of the letter to the Students' Asso* cation. Mr Rennie said it was time they knew exactly what the position was about the Exhibition grounds. There was not much time left now for negotiation. Mr Wallace siid it was time they knew where they stood Mr L. D. Ritchie: Nobody knows. Mr Wallace: Well, there should I>© a now committee set up that does know. The Chancellor said they had certain moneys in hand wlicli they had not paid over.

Mr Wallace: That is not the question. What is the position with regard to the ground ?

The Registrar read certain proposals for playing areas for the university at Logan Park.—The matter was referred to #.ie special subcommittee dealing with playing grounds at Logan Park .with the addition of representatives of the Students’ Association,

REQUESTS FROM MEDICAL SCHOOL. Dr Pickerill wrote asking that provision be made for the reception and instruction of dental students in hospital; recommending that Messrs Parkinson, Burt, and Dodds he given the title of lecturer; and requesting the appointment of a janitor, a femaie laboratory assistant, and a telephone girl for the new Dental School. He handed over to the council a cheque for £833, representing gifts from various business men and others for the purchase of equipment.—The first two requests were referred to the Medical Committee and the dean for a report, and the third to the Finance Committee. It was also decided to thank the donors for their gifts, and Dr Pickerill for his work in this connection. FINANCE, FINANCE AND MEDICAL, AND FINANCE AND HOME SCIENCE COMMITTEES. The Finance and Home Science Committees reported that the appointment of student demonstrators in the home science department had been considered, and that it had been resolved to allocate the sum of 20 guineas for this purpose for the year. The Finance and Medical Committees reported that they had considered a request for the appointment of student demonstrators in clinical surgery and clinical medicine.—it, was resolved to agree to the appointment of two student demonstrators in clinical medicine and one in clinical forgery at £5 5s each for one term. The committees considered the proposed payment of fees for c’ nical surgery recommended by Professor Bell on January 25 and March s—namely, Dr Batchelor 27 guineas, Dr O’Neill *27 guineas, and Dr Fergua six guineas.—The council was recommended to approve of this payment •nd in future to adopt the same principle in respect of payment for clinical surgery as it had already adopted respecting payment of clinical medicine. The Finance Committee and Dr Benham considered a letter from Dr Jack, dated March 15. regarding the appointment of a successor to Mr Hinton, and resolved to recommend that the council advertise in Australia and New Zealand at a salary rising from £4OO to £450 by two annual increments of £25 each, it being stated, however, that a man with special qualifications in:iv be appointed at the maximum salary. The Finance Committee and Dr Benham considered the request from Mr Skinner, dated March 8, for P months’ leave of absence as from October next.—lt was resolved (hat Mr Skinner be granted leave of absence from the end of the spring term. 1926. to the commencement of the autumn term. 1928. during this time full salary to be paid to him except for a deduction of £SO per annum, such amount to be utilised for the payment of any assistance made necessary through his absence, such amount to be refunded later to Mr PHnn r ' r J pot hs*»d A condition of the granting of leave was the receipt of a letter from Mr Skinner undertaking that in the event of his net returning to the University's service he would refund to the University all. sums paid to him during the period of his l°ave. The Finance Committee considered in vitations sent to the council to he represented at the Australasian Science Con gress, the jubilep of the University of Adelaide, and the Conference of Professors and Teachers of History to be held in London. —It was resolved that Archdeacon Woodthorpe be asked to act in respect of the first two, it being understood that he intended to attend in his private capacity; and that Mr W. P. Morrell be asked to attend the th*rd.

Mr L. D. Ritchie moved the adoption of the report. The Chancellor referred to the conditions laid down prior to granting 18 months leave to Mr H. I>. Skinner, and said that Mr Skinner had given the necessary assurance. Mr Rennie said he was somewhat disappointed that the council had not adopted Professor Jack’s other alternative proposal to fill the vacancy caused by the departure of Professor Hinton. He thought they should advertise a salary of at least £SOO in order to attract a sufficiently qualified assistant for Professor Jack. They should use the Beverley bequesi to make the physics department as strong as possible. He moved as an amendment that the council advertise at Home for an assistant at £SOO.

Mr Gilray seconded the amendment, and Dr Fitzgerald strongly supported it. Mr Morrell supported the recommendation of the committee, which he said was one of Dr Jack’s alternative recommends tions They must keep in mind the salaries paid to other assistants. He thought the committee had substantia! grounds for its recommendation. Mr L. D. Ritchie said that they had iust appointed an assistant at £350. They could not possibly pay all assistants at the rate of £SOO. The amendment was lost.

Dr Fitzgerald expressed regret that the request for a lecturer in medical jurisprudence and toxicology had been turned down. The appointment of such a lecturer would have to be considered shortly. WORKS COMMITTEE.

The Works Committee reported that it had resolved to accept the price of Messrs J. and W. Faulkner (£ll7 18s) for the fencing which had been approved by the council, and to accept the price of the same firm—£ll 10s —for the erection of a gate, which would be charged to the Memorial Walk report was adopted on the motion of Mr Scurr. CAMERON MEMORIAL COMMITTEE. The Cameron Memorial Committee re ported that; it had considered the stops to be taken in connection with the erection of a statue to Dr Cameron, and had resolved than the Chanoellor and Registrar be asked to draw up and issue a circular to graduates and cVwr friends of the University

asking for subscriptions for the purpost ol erecting a suitable statue, the amount to be aimed at being £ISOO. It was further resolved that the co-operation of the Students'* Association be invited.—The report was adoi»tcd on the motion of the Chancellor. PAYMENT FOR LABORATORY WORK.

Dr Fitzgerald, reporting on the subject of extra payment to the University irom the Hospital Board for laboratory work beiug done bv the pathological and bacteriological departments, said that the position was a very serious one. He had brought the matter up again at the last meeting of the Hospital Committee, and it was hung up once more. The committee had recommended that increased payment be made for report work in th© laboratories, but the board turned it down. At that; time thq University was anticipating receiving a grant of £SOOO from the Government, and the board eventually said it would wait till a reply on this matter had been received from the Government. Originally however, the board had agreed to tne increase without reference to the £SOOO which was another matter altogether. No further word had been received about the £SOOO except that they were led to understand that the departments of health and education were working together with a view to each paying half of the amount, but that had nothing whatever to do with the application for increased remuneration for laboratory work. They put up a strong case showing that the University was doing a-n immense amount of work for which it was not being paid a penny. They should insist that this matter should be attended as soon as possible. He moved that they make further representations to the Hospital Board ofi the matter. Mr Scurr said this was not a very bright time to com© before the Hospital Board, j as (hev knew the returns this year were j down £BOOO. and he presumed that the , board would be down another £BOOO or £IO.OOO in the coming year. Mr Rennie seconded the motion.

The Chancellor said he was quite certain they had a strong claim on the .hoard for an additional payment. A very largo amount of work was being done for which the council was not being remunerated in any way proportionate to the remuneration received from other hoards for similar work. The Hospital Board in a different. position to the council, as it had nower to go to the various local bodies for more moner. The council was very m" r ’h in need of financial assistance The motion was carried unanimously.