E.—7

16

All the schools at the College appear to be rapidly expanding. This increase in the numbers of students is not a local matter, but appears to be general all over the English-speaking world. To my mind this points to a realization by the public of the advantages of higher education and to a demand for such on the part of a larger section of the than in the past. If this view is correct the Board must, be prepared for a very considerable increase in its activities and responsibilities in the near future. When the additions to the College buildings were completed some four years ago it was stated that the buildings were sufficient for a generation. The College is, however, already cramped for room, and the existing buildings cannot at present accommodate the staff required to give the education demanded by the students. The number of students who .completed matriculation at Canterbury College in the year 1914 was 78, in 1919 the number was 112, and in 1920 it was 168. As a result I fear that the time is not far distant when the Board may find itself in financial straits in endeavouring to satisfy the requirements of the community in matters relating to higher education. This is one of the few businesses where increased trade invariably means increased expense and increased losses. The Board is faced with the difficulties arising from the high cost of living in the same way as all other public bodies are. Although its revenues from endowments have increased, practically every servant of the Board has received an increment, to his salary to help to meet such cost. This fact, taken with the urgent necessity of expanding the activities of the Board so as to bring the education provided up to modern requirements, makes it very necessary for the Board to look to other sources of revenue than that derived from endowments, students' fees, and Government grants. The first of these sources is necessarily limited ; with regard to the second, everybody desires to bring University fees within the reach of the poorest students, and therefore it is not advisable to raise further revenues by increased fees. Government grants must also be limited, as the demands upon the Minister of Education for capital expenditure, from one end of New Zealand to the other, run into millions. The universities in the United States and in England are appealing to public-spirited citizens to endow them with further moneys. Altogether twentytwo colleges in Amercia are asking, for £20,000,000 in subscriptions, and in almost every instance the object is to pay to the professors a wage proportionate to. the services rendered. . The slur cast on. Canterbury that hardly any of the educational institutions have received private benefactions in the past has been to some extent removed in 191!). Since the beginning of last year the College has received benefactions far exceeding all those received in its previous history. John Connal bequeathed £1,000 to found scholarships in modern languages, and a further £1,000 contingent. Thomas William Adams, for many years a very valued member of the Board, made a handsome bequest, consisting of £2,000 in cash, and land of the present value of £3,000, for tin; purpose of endowing a School of Forestry. The bequest is charged with an annuity to Mr. Adams's widow, so that during her lifetime there will not be sufficient income derived from the bequest to establish, a lectureship in forestry. Robert Bell gave £1,000 to found scholarships in journalism, being a first instalment of £3,000. During the year the Board decided to establish a lectureship in journalism, and called for applications to fill the position; so far no appointment has been made, but it is hoped that this will be done in the near future, and that a School of Journalism will be established at the College. Professor Maemillan Brown gave £1,000 for bursaries in memory of his late wife. Former pupils of the late Charles Cook contributed £550 for a scholarship in'his memory. Only one, however, of the five benefactions mentioned is for the purpose of endowing the revenues of the College, and it is in that direction that the College can be best assisted by the public. The endowment of new Chairs of learning will enable the College to extend its activities in such directions as benefactors may wish. The salaries paid to professors and all other members of the College staff in 1918 amounted to £11,492, in 1919 to .£13,058, and the estimates in 1920 are for £14.778, but the Board has already authorized additional increases to those provided in the estimates, and there are likely to be considerable increases again before the end of the year. How, then, is the College to accommodate the increased number of students in the future unless considerable benefactions are made to it for endowment purposes and also for buildings? The acquisition of the present High School buildings will provide a portion of the extra buildings required for the School of Engineering, and should provide additional rooms for lectures and for the new Chairs of Education and Economics. It will not, however, be possible for the College to get possession of these buildings until the new High School is completed at Ricearton, and if the College continues to expand, the High School buildings will not long suffice. Further buildings must be erected, or it, might be more feasible to erect entirely new buildings for the School of Art and allow the College to purchase the present School of Art buildings for University purposes. The Government granted to each of the four colleges in 1919 a further grant of £2,500 with a view, it, is said, to the salaries of the staff being put on a more equitable basis. This grant does not become available until after March, 1920. The Minister of Education also has promised to find money to extend the School of En^inecring School of Engineering and School of Art.— [See E.-5, report on Technical Education.] The Workers' Educational Association. —Two new tutorial classes and three study circles have been formed. Great interest has been shown by students in the various classes, but the attendances have been somewhat- irregular chiefly owing to "overtime." This has always been a difficulty in connection with the association. The Government has granted further financial aid, so that the association will in 1920 be able to extend its operations. In some cases students in economics have left the city economic class bcoause their particular " ism " did not meet with the approval they expected. The fact that the movement is an educational movement and not a propagandist movement has lost it some students.