STARVED FOR MONEY

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 887, 3 February 1930, Page 10

STARVED FOR MONEY

APPEAL FOR INDEPENDENCE OF UNIVERSITIES MR. O’SHEA’S OPINIONS “At present our universities are being starved. In America these institutions receive many gifts of money because people recognise that the)" get. something from them that nothing else can give.” So said Mr. Rocke O’Shea, registrar of the Auckland University College, in the course of an address on “One Aspect of a University,” at the Rotary Club’s ■weekly luncheon today. Mr. C. J. Tunks presided. Being interested in the American attitude on the question of international war debts, he had written to America for a bibliography giving the American point of view, said Mr. O’Shea. It was interesting to note that Mr. Herbert Hoover, now president of the United States, had stated as Secretary of Commerce, in 1922, that the debts owing by Britain should not be cancelled. They were debts to the Government and the taxpayer, and would and should be paid some time. On the other hand, the universities of America, untrammelled by the governmental viewpoint, had argued that these war debts were perhaps legal, but certainly not equitable. “Americans, generally speaking, “hold the same Idea as that expressed by the universities,” said the speaker, who pointed out the fearlessness and freedom, from political domination of these Institutions.

New Zealand had taken a step back some time ago, when the annual statutory grant to the universities had been replaced by an annual appropriation. The matter had been quickly rectified by the Hon. H. Atmore, Minister of Education, however.

The speaker concluded with an appeal to place the universities of this country on a better footing that would enable them to be of greater service to the community.