UNIVERSITY COUNCIL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3867, 24 April 1928, Page 71

UNIVERSITY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the University Council was held on Tuesday, and was attended by Mr T. K. Sidey, M.P. (chancellor), Sir James Allen, Sir Lindo Ferguson, Professor Benham, Dr J. Fitzgerald, Dr W. Marshall Macdonald, Messrs W j’ Morrell, L. D. Ritchie, J. Wallace, J. C. Stephens, J. A. Moore, J. Rennie, J. W Scurr, and C. M. Gilray. CORRESPONDENCE. Professor Strong wrote stating that Dr Renfrew White would give lessons in physical education free in consideration _of certain work which Professor Strong would undertake.—The proposal was approved Tho Professorial Board advised that it was opposed to the principle of allowing a Technical College studentship gained in one_ subject being applied towards another subject. Professor Benham said that some years ago it had been the practice of professors to open certain courses free to Technical College students who had gained a studentship in one subject. The Professorial* Board did not approve of the practice.—The decision of tho board was approved. The board’s recommendation that the Stuart prize be awarded to Miss A. M'Grath was approved. A letter from Dr North asking to be allowed to retain his position as tutor in gynaecology in an honorary capacity until other arrangements become possible was held over.

A letter from Professor Strong requesting the use of the Home Science School for meetings of the Home Economics Association was received and the request was granted.

The Secretary of the Returned Soldiers' Association wrote inviting members of the council to attend a service in the Drill Hall at 3 p.m. on Anzac Day. The Registrar added that a further invitation waEto hand requesting members to attend The unveiling of the memorial in the University Memorial Walk at 11 a.m. on Anzac Day. Both invitations were received. The Institute of Historial Research forwarded details of _ a scheme whereby a university, by making a payment of £25, might nominate three graduate students per annum to free places at the institute, or by an annua] payment of £lO nominate one such student. There were certain other privileges. A Member; Is this an American institution ? The Chancellor: it is British. —The letter was received. A communication was received from the Professorial Board recommending tho council to approve of the proposal for the extension of University bursaries to a tilth year in the case of medical students. —Mr Morrell moved that the letter be received. He expressed the opinion that tho council should not agree to such a proposal without giving the matter very careful consideration. Ho was not opposed to the recommendation at the present stage but he thought they should not act hastily m agreeing to bursaries for a fifth year for one branch of students —The motion was seconded by Mr Gilray —At the suggestion of several members. Mr Morrell agreed to alter hi s motion so that the question could be referred to the Medical and Finance Committees.— Professor Benham stated that the Professorial Board had gone into the matter very fullv. and felt that it was only fair to the medical students that the fees should be pa : d to a certain extent in the fifth year. All the faculties had discussed the matter and there was only one dissentient. He moved that the proposal be aonroved — The amendment was seconded by Dr Macdonald. —Bir James Allen asked if the money was provided oy the Government and if the proposal meant that the council should approach toe Government.-The Chancellor said he thought the matter was governed bv the . regulat ons of the New Zealand f.niversity. and that any recommendation adopted would go to that body.—Mr Ritchie said he did not think the proposal should be agreed to without full consideration — Ibe amendment was lost, four members voting for it and seven against it, and the motion was agreed to on the voices. FINANCE AND MEDICAL COMMITTEES.

The Finance and Medical Committeereported that they had conferred with the ?^ITL F ? Culty r<? £ a ‘- dil .‘g a letter which stated that accommodation could not be found for two students at Batchelor Hosnital After discussing the matter at length it had been resolved that a sub-committee of the. chancellor, vice-chaneello-iiM J* i.i Ritchie,. Sir Lindo Ferguson, Dr vu Z ? era t d ’ Dr , Dr North and Dr Kitchie be authorised to draw up a statement regarding the position. The report was adopted. MIDWIFERY AND GYNAECOLOGY Tho special committee set up for the purpose of reporting on the teaching of midwirery and gynaecology reported that it had been resolved that tho council be recommended to appoint the committee to ''ait on the Hospital Board and request it to refrain from taking more midwives into training. Further recomnicndations were as follows : —

That the council be recommended to appoint a deputation to proceed to Wellington to place the needs of the department of midwifery and gynaecology before the Government,

, IhjlA a letter be drafted addressed io the Director-general of Health setting out the needs of the department and stating that it proposed to follow up this letter ny deputation. Tho following needs of the department were to be set out in this letter:—•

(a) Provision should be made for the fallowing staffs One professor, one obstetrical tutor, one gynaecological tutor, one practitioner in charge of all normal cas.'s at respective salaries of £6OO, £2OO, £l5O and £lOO, the additional expenditure involved being £5OO. tb) The training of midwives in Dunedr.i should cease to allow of sufficient cases for students. It was estimated that this might possibly involve a payment of £I2G per annum to the Otago Hospital Board as compensation for the assistance at present given by midwives in training. (c) Provision should be made for intern students. If accommodation could not be provided either at Batchelor Hospital or St. Helens Hospital, that rooms should bto rented closely adjacent- to Batchelor Hospital to provide tion for students in their fifth year, m

groups of three, estimated , cost £l<X) per annum.

(d) Additional equipment should be purchased at a cost of £lOO in the first year and £25 annually thereafter. (e) Provision should be made for the travelling expenses of trainees who find it , necessary to travel from Dunedin to other centres to obtain training as midwives estimated cost, £5O per annum. (f) That as soon as possible a properly equipped maternity hospital (with 25. to 50 beds) should be erected. This should provide accommodation for an obstetrical tutor and six students. The tutor should be in charge of normal cases and paid £lOO per annum. A suggestion that the report be taken m committee wa 3 opposed by Mr Rennie The question, he said, was before the public in all parts of the country. The time had come for propaganda and publicity. The Chancellor said that the question of approaching the Government should be taken in committee. A Member: If we take that in committee, we might »s well discuss the whole report in committee. The council then went into committee, and the report was fully discussed. On resuming in open meeting the Chairman reported that it had been resolved to refer the report back to the special committee for redrafting. It had been further resolved that the committee be empowered to arrange for a deputation to proceed to Wellington to place the position before the Prime Minister and the Ministers of Health atid Education. MUSEUM EXTENSION. The committee set up for the Museum extension reported that a design had been submitted for a 'wing to be erected at a sum not exceeding £25,000, occupying the land in the possession of the council at the south end of the Museum. The design was satisfactory, and the committee recommended that the council should approve of the design; that the architects be instructed to prepare detailed plans; that a block of the design be prepared for propaganda purposes. The adoption of the report was moved by Professor Benham, who stated that it was the result of work by four members of the Museum Extension Committee and four members of the University Committee. The joint committee had approved of the appointment of a publicity committee to prepare material for the press and to gather further subscriptions to the fund.

The motion was seconded by Mr Morrell, who stated that they had every reason to be grateful to the committee for its untiring efforts for some time and for the success it had achieved. It was considered that this was a suitable time to put the project before the public. The report was adopted. GENERAL.

An address from the University to the Royal College of Phi .sicians, drawn up by professor Adams, was submitted to the council.

A request that C. J. C. Britton, now attached to the Auckland Hospital, be allowed to continue to hold the Fowler scholarship was agreed to.

The question of amending the Fegulations relating to the holding of scholarships was referred to the Finance and Medical Committees, and it was also decided that the medical faculty be asked to report to the committees as to the desirability of sixth year students holding scholarships. Four letters were received in connection with the position of assistant bacteriologist, and these were referred to the Finance and Medical Committees. It was decided to ask the professor of bacteriology to submit a report to the committees.