UNIVERSITY COUNCIL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3832, 23 August 1927, Page 18

UNIVERSITY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the council of the University of Otago was held on Tuesday afternoon, and was attended by Messrs W. J. Morrell, vice-chancellor (in the chair), L. D. Ritchie, J. C. Stephens, J. S. Douglas, J. C. Thomson. J. Wallace, J. W. Scunrr, J. A. Moore, G. R. Ritchie, Colin Gilray. Drs Marshall Macdonald and Fitzgerald, Dr Benham, and Professor Inglis. GENERAL, The Director of Education wrote stating that not more than 10 home science bursaries would be awarded next year.— • Noted. Mrs Sale wrote from London offering a portrait of the late Professor Sale, to be hung in the new wing of the Museum. — Accepted with thanks. The Acting Dean of the medical faculty forwarded the arrangements proposed by Dr Carmalt Jones for the carrying on of his work during his absence in Great Britain for the autumn term of 1927.— Referred to the Medical Committee, with power to act. The Director of Education wrote declining payment of certain claims for University bursaries. —The Chairman said that the department had had all the information required. The point made by the department was that the bursaries should not have been granted under the special circumstances mentioned. —It was decided refer the matter to the special com-

mittee which is to meet the director. The Professorial Board recommended the appointment of a student demonstrator in the class of surgery at £5. —Approved. The Sub-dean of the medical faculty forwarded a letter from Dr Carmalt Jones regarding the necessity for student demonstrators. —Referred to the Medical and Finance Committee with power to act. A letter was received from the Director of Education, in replv to a request from the council that it should be placed on 1 the same footing as the Auckland and Victoria Colleges in regard to a grant of ] £3OO per annum for the chair of education. The reply stated that the grant had been made under a misapprehension and had now been withdrawn from the two northern colleges,—The Chairman stated that they had now been placed on an equality with the other colleges, but not in the manner that they had anticipated.— (Laughter.) HOLIDAY ON ANNIVERSARY DAY. The Registrar for the Professorial Board wrote stating that the board had passed the following resolution concerning Anniversary Day : —“ That this board once more assures the council and the Early Settlers’ Association that it is wholly in sympathy with tho desire, to honour worthily the memory of the pioneers; that, although it considers the method adopted by tho University in the present year to be more in accord with the spirit, of the founders of the province and of the University than the suspension of lectures would be, it would nevertheless be prepared to yield on a mere matter of opinion to the reasoned wishes of the association ; but that, in view of the special time-table difficulties by reason of .which

(as already explained to the council and the assiciation) tha declaration of a holiday would cause loss of efficiency, the board is not justified in taking the responsibility of closing the University on March 23.” A Member: Very clever; very clever indeed. Mr L. D. Ritchie said he thought they should send a copy of the letter to the association. He would move in that direction for the purpose of obtaining the reasoned wishes of the association. The Chairman said they would remember that when this matter had been discussed at the previous meeting of tho council, the chancellor (Mr Sidcy) had suggested that the minutes of the council meeting in 1875 were informal, because there had been no quorum. At that meeting in 1875 tho days and hours of lectures had been adopted. Mr Morrell said he had read the minutes of 1875, and he maintained that there was no question but that the regulations were validly passed and that they were binding on the council. Moreover, there had been a quorum present. He would like to point out, however, that, tho opinion of the solicitor of the council was that there was nothing to prevent the ■ council from closing the University at any time it might desire. Mr Stephens seconded the motion. Mr Gilray said he did not see that they were going to get any further by obtaining the reassured wishes of the association. The resolution by the board stated that it would be prepared to yield on a mere matter of oninion, but that this fact notwithstanding the board could not accede to the request.

The Chairman said he did not see that any good was to be obtained in asking for the association to set forth its wishes again. The council already knew of these wishes. The University classes were on

quite a different footing from the primary schools. Mr Ritchie said he was unaware of tho association having set out any reasoned views.

The motion was put and carried with- ' out dissent. MACANDREW SCHOLARSHIP. , The Professorial Board recommended that the value of the Macandrevv Scholarship should be increased to £75 per annum. — The Chairman said they had the money ' to increase the amount from £5O to £75. — The recommendation was approved. W.E.A. LECTURERS. The. Secretary of the Workers Educational Association wrote recommending the council to accept the resignations of Dr' Holloway and Mr Watson as tutors for the current year, and to appoint for the balance of the term to the respective positions Miss Fyfe (biology class) and Mr Bates (social psychology class), at the same salaries. —The Chairman said that Dr Holloway was unable to carry on the work owing to pressure on his time, and that Mr Watson had removed to the Taieri. FINANCE AND HOME SCIENCE COMMITTEES. The Finance and Home Science Committees reported that they had considered a letter from the Dean of the Home Science Faculty recommending that the diploma students pay £2 12s 6d for anatomy m the spring term and the degree students £1 Ils 6d. The Dean suggested that the situation be reviewed before next year. The first recommendation was agreed to,and the second was referred to the Home Science Faculty for report. The report was adopted. FINANCE AND MEDICAL COMMITTEES. The Finance and Medical Committees reported that they had approved of the folI lowing appointments as student demonstrators for the winter term: —Pathology, Messrs de Clive Lowe and Mercer; bacteriology, Messrs Chisholm and Hindenach ; pharmacy, Mr Brett. With regard, to the requested appointment of Messrs de Clive Lowe and Mackay as student demonstrators in medicine, it was resolved that the chairman and the faculty be asked to report as to the necessity for these appointments. Dr R. V. Shaw wrote resigning from the end of August. Dr Hercus wrote recommending that Dr Duncan Cook be appointed in his place till the end of the year. It was resolved to recommend that Dr Shaw’s resignation be accepted, and that Dr Hercus’s recommendation be agreed to subject to the salary of Dr Cook being the same as that of the assistant in pathology. The Acting-dean of the Medical Faculty wrote stating it was impossible with the existing staff to make arrangements for the librarian's work. It was resolved that a sub-committee consisting of the chairman. Dr Fitzgerald and Dr Macdonald confer with the Medical 1 acuity with regard to the matter. The report was adopted. WORKS COMMITTEE’S REPORT.

The Works Committee reported that the architect had forwarded a final statement concerning the Medical School contract showing a credit of £531 5s 2d. inclusive of £167 Is for amount received for clay. The committee resolved that the architect be congratulated sincerely on this result. The architect had forwarded tenders for electrically controlled locks for the Medical School lift. It was resolved to accept the tender of the National Electrical Company—£73 —for tins work. A tender from Messrs J. and W. Faulkner for £4 for putting in idler bars in the lift at the Dental School was accepted. The- architect had forwarded tenders from Messrs J and AV. Faulkner for idler bars in the lift at the Medical School. It was resolved to accept the price of £7 16s for idler bars in the lift itself, but to hold over the price of £4O 8s 6d for idler bars in the grilles on the various landings. Progress payment certificates amounting to £1506 18s 4d were passed for payment. The report was adopted. FINANCE COMMITTEE.

The Finance Committee reported that it had considered a letter from Professor Jack stating that he wished to terminate the tenancy of his house at the end of August. The committee considered a letter from the Education Department stating that a grant of £3OOO had been made subject to an allocation of 50 per cent, of endowment income to the special schools. It was resolved that the chancellor be asked to make inquiries as to what special schools were referred to and what was exactly meant by endowment income. The committee had considered the treasurer’s annual report and had resolved to recommend that a small committee of the council be set up to report as to possible economies and reduction of expenditure, the committee to consist of the vice-chan-cellor, Messrs L. D. Ritchie, G. R. Ritchie, C. M. Gilray, Dr Fitzgerald, Mr J. C. Stephens, and Mr J. Wallace. An account from Messrs J. Maxwell and Co. for £214 7s lOd for the installation of a freezing plant in the old Medical School had been passed for payment. The report was adopted.