GRANT WITHDRAWN

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17527, 23 July 1931, Page 6

GRANT WITHDRAWN

EDUCATION PROFESSOR GOVERNMENT CRITICISED At a meeting of the Otago University Council this week a letter was,rereceived from the Minister.of Education stating that tho Government was unable to reconsider its decision to withdraw the grant for the salary of thh Professor of Education.

Mr. Stephens said he thought that the council should express strong indignation at the Government having done wlmt no private person would dream of doing—broken a definite pledge. lie would move in this dircc--1 ion.

Air. Rennie seconded the motion. The council had recently raised the salary of the Professor of Education,-he said, is it did not consider that he was in the same position as the other professors. It would not have committed itself to this expenditure if it had known that the Government would take the action it had done. t Mr. G. It. Ritchie: I think we are pretty well over-educated as it is. It, would not do any great harm if we did without the Professor of Education. 1 commend the Government for its action.

Air. Thomson opposed the motion, lie said the Government was in a bad way. Grants to hospitals had been lowered, and he thought it would be unbecoming on the part of the council to pass tin- motion. Mr. Stephens pointed out that the circumstances were not parallel. Hospitals had not been requested to appoint a permanent officer, and promised his salary if they did so. The appointment of the Professor of Education was made in pursuance of a direct promise made by the Government. It would not have been made otherwise.

The motion, on being put to the meeting, was carried, with four dissentients.