E.—7A,

57

In reply to questions Sir Lindo Ferguson stated, " It has been pointed out that there is a good deal of clinical material in the other hospitals, and we have been urged to send all students to take a year's clinical work in Auckland, Wellington, or Christchurch. The people who urged that did not recognize the difficulties in getting practical teaching. If you send students away for any prolonged period they must be under the supervision of trained teachers." Dr. W. Marshall Macdonald, a member of the Council of the University of Otago, in reply to the question " whether clinical instruction could be advantageously taken at Auckland," said: " There are difficulties in the way; a student would be divorced from his school and his special teachers. I think that outside clinical work should be made use of, and that we should allow students to take part of their course under the very competent physicians and surgeons in Auckland and other towns. It would be wise to make use of the clinical material and encourage the men in other centres to take a personal interest in the Medical School and share in the teaching." We extract from a pamphlet, " Professional Education for the Children of the Auckland Province," tendered to the Commission by the President of the Auckland University College, the following opinion of Dr. E. B. Gunson, speaking on behalf of the Auckland Branch of the British Medical Association :— " The B.M.A. is strongly of opinion that by the time the six-year group of students (now in their second year) have reached their sixth or clinical year we should be prepared to undertake that teaching in Auckland for those students who wish to avail themselves of our undoubted advantages. This will entail a teaching staff and some special accommodation in the way of workrooms. The teachers are available. In this connection I would like to tell you that there has already been established in Auckland a post-graduate medical course, which has proved of immense benefit to country doctors. " In every branch of medicine and surgery, we have in Auckland graduates holding the very highest qualifications, men well fitted to undertake clinical teaching. In order that such clinical teaching may be given in Auckland, we consider that it is essential that there be established here an extra-mural school of clinical medicine under the aegis of the University. We understand that the authorities in Dunedin recognize the necessity of this step. At a recent meeting of the honorary staff of the Auckland Hospital a committee was set up to inquire fully into the matter, and to report, particularly in respect to requirements and the means to meet them. I can assure you that when this extra-mural school is established in connection with the University, and whether we are dealing with a dental or medical school, University status is essential, such an extra-mural school will not only be of the greatest assistance to Auckland students, but will raise the whole standard of medical work in Auckland." We consider that every effort should be made by the Faculty of Medicine to meet the wishes of the Auckland Branch of the British Medical Association. In regard to the special schools now contemplated or in the first stages of development, we have elsewhere expressed the opinion that one University agricultural school of high standard is demanded by the necessities of the Dominion, and that the proposal to develop and maintain three such schools will inevitably lead to a poor result for a great expenditure. If the Dominion desires to spend money on agricultural teaching over and above the cost of maintaining one firstclass school for training scientific agriculturists, researchers, and teachers, there is abundant opportunity in diploma courses for young people who intend to put their knowledge to use on their own farms, and in holding short intensive courses for farmers and their wives and daughters. As to the establishment of two University schools of forestry, we find it hard to understand how a responsible body could approve of such a proposal in the present stage of the country's development. A very important factor to be considered in establishing a necessarily expensive school is the number of trained graduates of the school which the country can profitably absorb. Employment in the Forestry Department of the Dominion would be the natural objective for the graduates. We learn from good authority that the Department could not absorb more than six graduates a year under the most favourable circumstances. It is, of course, possible with the growth of interest in afforestation that the growing of timber may come to be regarded as one of the profitable adjuncts of land-owning, and that a demand for education in forestry may arise; but that time is yet far-distant. As showing how differently the establishment of a special school, whose output should be necessarily strictly limited,

More than one University School of Agriculture a mistake.

Two University Schools of Forestry not needed in New Zealand.

B—E. 7a.