THE MEDICAL SCHOOL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3804, 8 February 1927, Page 24

THE MEDICAL SCHOOL.

NEW BUILDING OPENED. THE OFFICIAL CEREMONY. AN HISTORIC EVENT. (See Illustrated Pages in This Issue.) The official opening of the new building which will form the portion of the Medical School in main portion of the Medical School in King street took place ' Wednesday afternoon. The new portion is, of course much larger than the first building connected with the school, the foundation z stone of which was laid in 1916, and' which was completed some - time afterwards. The latest addi- - tion has cost £125,000, that is in- , eluding £15,000 for the cost of the land. These new buildings will provide accommodation for the departments of anatomy and physiology and the sub-depart-ments of histology, biochemistry, and pharmacology, and comprise the necessary classrooms, laboratories, and research rooms for a school averaging an annual class of 50 students. Mr T. K. Sidey, M.P. (Chancellor of •be University of Otago), presided, and “Was supported by the Hon. W. Downie Stewart (Acting Prime Minister) on ins right and Sir Lindo F • p)ean of the Medical Faculty) c., L

left. Amongst the large number 01 people present were Sir James Allen (exChancellor of the University), Mr W. J. Morrell (Vice-chancellor), Dr Fitzgerald, Dr Marshall Macdonald, Professor Benham, Messrs J. C. Stephens, J. Rennie, J. A. Moore, O M. Gilray, J. ,T ' Scurr, and J. Wallace (members of the University Council), the Mayor (Mr H. L. Tapley, M.P.), Sir William Sim, Sir John Roberts, Sir George Fenwick, Bishos Whyte, Professor D. R. White, the Hon. J. A. Hanan (an ex-Minister of Education), Dr L. E. Barnett, the Hon. Mark Cohen, the Hop. G. M. Thomson, and the Rev. W. Hewitson. ADDRESS BY THE CHANCELLOR. Mr Sidey said the official opening of the new, fine building marked another' stage in the. progress of the Medical School. It was gratifying to the Council of the University of Otago that the building had been completed in time to be available, as its first purpose, for the sittings of the Australasian Medical Congress, which would open its session in Dunedin.on the following day. They were honoured in having with them several overseas members of the congress, and on behalf of the University, of Otago he took the opportunity of extending a hearty welcome to them.-—(Applause.) He trusted that their stay in Dunedin would bo profitable from a medical point of view and enjoyable from x the social point, and that they would take away with them pleasant recollections of their stay here.— (Applause.) He did not, said the speaker, intend to re'er 1o tlm history of the Medion 1 S<-'»o I hevond staiintr lb"! 'm ‘ rfte> “ | v . ' t.S ... _ . ..u.... .. ...v.i train

ing.. It had been in 1883 that the full medical course'had been for the first time established, and the first student graduated in 1887. —(Applause.) That was 40 years ago. It would give an. indication of the growth of the school to know that the total number of graduates now reached 667, apart from the considerable number who had taken part of their course at this University.—(Applause.) He was sure he could say that wherever their graduates had gone they had given a good account of themselves, and in the Old Country, when they had applied for public positions, they bad more than held their own with the graduates of other universities.—(Applause.) With their new building the efficiency of the school would bo enhanced, and the University would, be the better able to equip their future medical practitioners. Coming now to the movement which had resulted in the construction of this building, it had been in 1919> that the necessity for providing additional accommodation for the departments of anatomy and physiology had forced itself upon the council. Plans had actually been prepared for the alteration and enlargement o.f the old Medical School building on the site of -the other University departments. It had been at this stage that a motion by the dean of the medical faculty, Sir Lindo Ferguson, asking that alternative plans should be prepared for a new school on the site the present building, had been carried. That resolution amounted to a decision to construct a building on the present site if the Government approval could be obtained. In advocating his proposal Sir Lindo had urged proximity to the Hospital as being a most important consideration, and from that time to now he had not ceased to 1 exert himself in every possible way to adI vanee the movement.—(Applause.) He

would like to take the opportunity of congratulating Sir Lindo upon the consummation cf a project which had been very dear to his heart.—(Applause.) There were others outside the. council who should be mentioned. Prominent among these was the present chairman of the Medical Committee of the council, Dr James Fitzgerald. He had not then been a member of the council, but he had taken a prominent part in advocating the removal of the school to the vicinity of the Hospital, and had appeared before the council to give evidence in supports of the proposal.—(Applause.) He also wished to mention the name of an ex-Minister of Education, the Hon. J. A. Hanan.—(Applause.) During his term of office Mr Hanan had given very sympathetic consideration to the matters put before him . by .the council, and although he had relinquished office before he had been able to make any decision, he had inspected the proposed site and had signified his approval of the movement.—(Applause.) They were also indebted to another ex-Minister of Education, the Hon. Sir James Parr, who had recommended to Cabinet the various grants required in connection with the construction of the building. They had also been indebted to the late Mr Massey, who, as Minister of Finance and head of the Government, had authorised the various grants.—(Applause.) In the difficulties that they had had to surmount, they had always felt that they had a friend at court in the Hon. Downie Stewart. —(Applause.) Air Stewart was with them that day in his capacity of Acting Prime Minister, and Dunedin was honoured in the fact that one of its representatives occupied so high and responsible an office. >— (Applause.) It was very appropriate that he was officiating that day, because, at the time the council had decided to remove the Medical School to King street, Mr

Stewart had been a member of the council and had concurred in the decision.. They had admittedly made his position difficult on one or two occasions, chiefly because of an under-estimate of the amount required to complete the building. Mr Sidey said he believed this difficulty would not have arisen had not the somewhat unusual course been taken in letting the contract, first, for the shell of the building. Had the contract been for the whole job, there would not have been the same difficulty, as the Government from the commencement would have known what the ultimate cost was going to be.—(“Hear, hear.”) He would like to point out that it was as far back as October 1, 1920, that plans were forwarded to the Government, with an estimate of £75,000. to include architect’s fees, but not fittings, which, it was stated were likely to cost a considerable sum. Further, his recollection of what was said at a deputation to the late Prime Minister, Mr Massey, was confirmed by reference to the report, when, on June 8, “923, the late Dr Cameron stated: “I daresay the Medical School, before it is completed and equipped, will require £100,000.” The actual cost of building and equipment, without the passenger lift, had been in round numbers £llO.OOO. The site, including £940 for a right-of-way, cost £15,000, making a total of £125,000. When the passenger lift was added, the cost would be £126,000. The completion of the building was not only a matter for congratulation to the council and the city of Dunedin, but for the Dominion of New Zealand. —-(Applause.) , Time and again it had been, acknowledged, on behalf of the Government, that this was not a mere local school, but that it was a national institution, and this should not be lost sight of when the Government provided for its finance.—(“Hear.z hear.”) He understood that the Government had agreed to accept the recommendation of the University . Commission of last year, that the special schools in the various colleges should be placed on a separate and independent footing so far as their finance was concerned. They were now anxiously awaiting the decision of the Government as to the provision to be made to place the medical and dental schools on a separate financial basis. . The very existence of their new building, the Minister would recognise, involved a considerable additional expenditure for upkeep, lighting,. heating, and staffing, and the establishment of the new sub-depart-ment of bio-chemistry could be no longer delayed. Apart from the growth of. the Dominion, a great advance was being. made in the science of medicine, involving greater specialisation and an increase of departments. He supposed there ■'had never been a time that had seen a . greater appreciation, from the economic point of view, of medical science in the interests of public health and industrial efficiency.—(Applause.) Although ha was not authorised by the council to say so, he was sure the council would welcome the suggestion that at stated periods, say, every five years, a report 0.1 the requirements of the school should be made to the Government by outside experts. He would just, add, while he appealed for State assistance, he at the same time . commended the Medical School to public-spirited citizens as a commendable object for private benefactions. As they entered the building they were greeted by a bronze bust of Lord Lister. Many of them would recognise this bust as having been on view at the recent Exhibition. That it was now the property of the University was due to the generosity of their architect, Mr Edmund Anscombe—(applause)—and he took that opportunity of thanking him for the gift. He desired to express the hope that statues of those who had rendered distinguished service to their Medical School would ba added. One of the first that should have a place was that of the late Dr John 11. Scott, who had done so much to lay the foundations of the Medical School and who had directed and controlled it for a period of 37 years. —(Applause.) lie had to compliment the architect upon the design of the building, which was the largest work that the University had so far undertaken, and which he believed would well meet the requirements of the school. In this connection the architect had desired him to acknowledge publicly the assistance received by him from Professor Malcolm and Professor Gowland. They had rendered invaluable help in determining the provision that should be made for their respective departments. A word of praise must also be added to Mr M'Lellan, the contractor, for the satisfactory manner in which he had carried’out his work.—(Loud applause.) SPEECH BY ACTING PRIME MINISTER.

In the course of a characteristic speech, which was highly appreciated by all present, the Hon. Mr Stewart said that in declaring that great building open he desired to take advantage of the opportunity of congratulating the members of the University Council on the completion of the work of erection. It was, as the Chancellor had said, the result of years of anxious thought and long negotiations and protracted conferences —he would not say arguments—with the Government on questions of finance. They said to-da- that the great work had reached fruition, and that was a matter for very sincere congratulations. He thought they should congratulate the medical faculty on having reached the stage of being housed in a building affording ample space to enable it to carry out effectively the very important work of educating students in medicine. In his opinion there was no profession that was more entitled to better provision than the medical profession. From the very earliest days of the school all the leading medical men of Dunedin had placed their services, without reserve, at the disposal of the University Council for the purpose of assisting, largely by personal voluntary service, to give the students the best possible education. It seemed to him that the medical profession was a shining example to all the other professions in New Zealand. The opening of the building was a matter for congratulation so far as the citizens as a whole were concerned, for they had always taken a genuine pride in the progress and t development of the Medical School, and had from time to time responded Iberally to requests for subscriptions for developing the school. It was well known that they had willingly postponed a claim for a building of great urgency in the city in order to make way for the completion of this important undertaking.- Ho supnosed ’it would be invidious to individualise in regard to the names of those

■who had been prominent in rendering groat service in bringing about the completion. of such a great work, but ho thought they - would allow him to mention the name of the late Dr Cameron, who during .the later portion of his life focussed his. -attention on the University and with splendid success. That must be a happy day for the dean of the medical faculty, and he (Mr Stewart) would like to think that ho was not only happy, but contented. —(Laughter). He had no doubt, however, that Sir Lindo’s restless spirit was already brooding over fresh schemes for development and that in time a benevolent Government would be asked to provide fresh funds to enable him to realise his dreams. The importunate widow mentioned in the Scriptures ' was a mere amateur compared with Sir Lindo Ferguson.—(Laughter. She had to appeal to a 'Very unjust judge, but Sir Lindo had to -appeal to a very merciful Government.— (Laughter). Sir Lindo was labouring in and out of season—mostly out of season — to secure his object. The medical school had for some years been the apple of his eye. He (Mr Stewart) sometimes wondered how Sir Lindo has risen to the position of eye specialist because he was the most one-eyed man the speaker had ever met—(Laughter). “I suppose succeeding generations will call him biassed,” said Mr Stewart. “I am bound to say I have often blessed him myself.—(Laughter). The speaker said he was glad to see that Sir Lindo was going for a holiday. It would be a holiday for the Government as well. —(Laughter). One of the conditions was that if the Government assisted the University Council through with the Medical School there was to be peace in the camp for five years at least.—(Laughter). The dean of the medical faculty seemed to think that a Cabinet Minister’s best reoreatign was studying plans for a new medical school. Mr Stewart went on to aay that it was a happy circumstance that the opening of the school had been arranged for a time when there was a meeting of so many distinguished visitors 'from abroad. He could, however, see a danger in regard to the holding of the medical congress here. He had heard it stated that the professors were not only-over-worked, but were also under-paid, and there was a danger that the representatives of the great universities of Australia might covet the New Zealand professors and try to lure them away to better fields. He believed, however, that our professors had shown singular public spirit by . not putting their own financial position in the foreground. If was because of that spirit, he thought, that they were able to keep such distinguished men here. He congratulated the dean and the Faculty on the compleHcn of this great work, and, in declaring the ‘■chool onen. he wished it all prosperity and good fortune. —(Loud applause). As a memento of the occasion. Mr ■Anßcombe presented to Mr Stewart a handsome greenstone paper knife and gold key. -tastefully designed and beautifully executed. The gift bore the University coat of arms in coloured enamel and bore a suitable inscription to commemorate the ceremony.. A gold plate outside the case was inscribed with the Minister’s name.

ADDRESS BY THE DEAN OF THE MEDICAL FACULTY.

Sir Lindo Ferguson said that although much of the trench work had been done • there was. a good deal more to do. and ;Mr Downie Stewart knew it. To speak; -of a dean being content was a contradiction in terms. - I" a dqan were content .he was not fi‘ to hold his position. No ! one :knew the shortcomings of a school better than the dean, and if the dean thought that enough had been done I>■■should be pole-axed.— (Laughter.) Sir Lindo added that he was glad to see the Hon J. A. Hanan present. Mr Hanan had been the first Minister who had seen ■ the necessity of moving the anatomy and physiology departments close to the Hospital. He was also exceedingly pleased to Bee . Allen, who onened the next building in ]916. He was the first Minister to declare that Cabinet looked on the school ns one of national importance and not .provincial. That declaration had been made since by .Sir Francis Bell. He had recognised the importance of this sten they had contemplated, and he had bought the site for the new building, and had then gone out of office. A new Minister came ’’!• nnd he. when approached, had said: Well, .you’ve cot your site. What more do you want?” Sir James Parr was a long time realising the urgent necessity, ’ when he did come to realise it he did all that was within his power to -further the project. They also owed a great deal to the broad-minded views Mr Massey took of education in general. He was . always exceedingl.v sympathetic and considerate, even when the speaker knew that, there were other claims such as were making those of the University impossible for the time being. Continuing, the speaker said, that they had got their building, but now they- did not know where they were going to get the money to pay the charwoman for keeping it clean. He referred to the financial difficulties with which the school was faced, and spoke of the' necessity of the special schools being placed on a separate and independent footing, as had been mentioned by the Chancellor. Referring to a statement which had allegedly been made by a medical man that the school was 20 years ahead of its time and that it was a great extravagance. Sir Lindo said that the medical man might have gone to headquarters and found out the position from people who knew it. Had the council not made provision for the needs of the growing' advances in medical science, it would have left itself open to severe criticism.— (■‘Hear, hear.”) The present buildings were not too large. The cry that was sometimes heard that the medical profession was overcrowded was often heard ■when he had entered the profession, and it had been heard during the past 50 years, but he and many others had managed to make a living.—(Laughter.) When he came here there were 800 men on the register with a population of about 840.000, and how there were 12KX) men with a population of a million and aquarter. The overcrowding was no greater ■ than at any time in the past 45 years, and at present they were unable to supply .- fully the demand for young graduates for house .surgeons—-that was the position this <year. These things always balanced them- , selves. It was pleasing to know that out . of 1200 men on the New Zealand register 600 were graduates from their. school.— .(Applause.) The enormous strides the ■».sohpol was making led him to ..believe-that - within a few years probably-twe^thirds of the number would be supplied from the

school. This threw the responsibility on the Government to see that their national school was thoroughly -efficient, and: thoroughly equipped.—(“Hear, hear.”) He wished to thank Mr Stewart for declaring the school open, and to say how pleased they were to have an old member of the University, an old Dunedin boy. and an old personal friend there with them that day to open it. — (Applause.) Mr Stewart must feel very proud to be officiating in that way on such an historic occasion because jt was a step forward in medical education here which would have farreaching effects.— (Applause.) PRAISE FOR THE SCHOOL. Dr L. E. Barnett said that, as one of the oldest of those connected with the medical school from its earliest stages, he could from the bottom of his heart congratulate the council on the fine school that had. now been established. He ha< seen many medical schools, and this was one that no. city need be ashamed of. Indeed, for, a small dominion like New Zealand, it was a magnificent achievement. He paid a warm tribute to the dean (Sir Lindo Ferguson) for the manner in which he had overcome the difficulties that had faced him. Not only the council, but the Government and the r .edical profession of to-day and to-morrow, were under a debt of gratitude to Sir Lindo. DESCRIPTION OF THE BUILDING. The building is situated in King street, opposite the main administration block of the Dunedin Public Hospital. It is a very' : mposing struct re, four,storeys and a basement-—with a frontage of 229 ft to King street, its greatest depth being 136 ft. The facade is of brick and stone, and when c< mpleted will be one of Dunedin’s most handsome buildings. - The new building will house the anatomy and physiology departments, the former occupying the greater part of the second and third storeys. The third storey does not extend over the whole area, but is entirely given over to anatomy. The principal rooms on the second floor are the dissecting room (69ft x 49ft). lecture room (49ft x 36ft), museum (105 ft x 31ft),. also small lecture room (38ft x 26ft), library (31ft x 23ft), professors and demonstrators’ rooms, etc. The first floor houses physiology, the principal rooms being junior physiological chemistry room (61ft x 49ft), with chei.<‘;’ti ; y preparation room adjoining (34ft. x ,23ft). lecture rooms (36ft x 36ft and 43ft x 31ft), histology research, biochemistry, food analysis, library, tutorial room, professors’ rooms, research rooms, etc. ' The ground floor, with imposing entrance and stair hall, with general offices and waiting rooms adjoining, accommodates the: junior' experimental room (60ft x 30ft), experimental demonstration room (34ft x 28ft), experimental research, preparation rooms, consulting rooms, experimental pharmacology, men’s and women's common rooms, rooms for operative surgery, professors of clinical medicine, special sense physiology. The-basement extends over the whole area and accommodates mortuary, workshop. storage tanks, refrigerating chamber.: refrigerating plant, bong.room, modellers’ room, animals’ room, heating plant, and general storage. *. . . / , -.7,. /.' The building is heated, itith low pressure, steam,-and lighted by ;■<:// 2.! A goods lift is \ . The .building itself-wiU.k-pst in the. vicinity of £110,600. h i;-.. /, .<..//-