THE POOR PROFESSOR.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16853, 5 June 1920, Page 7

THE POOR PROFESSOR.

(Bv EAchard Oliver in London 'Thuly .' •-. Mail.")

Mr Rockefeller has, by his munificence, drawn attention to the most in- j adequately-rewarded industry in the British Empire—that of the university teacher. Upon that subject I am able to write with practical knowledge. Before the war I was on the staff of one of tb© most important universities in this country. ,-My. students and my friends called me'''Professor," and if ever J becomo a viscount or an earl I shall never feel that I have earned titles as I did that which was given to me because of- my aeademio attainments. For there was no luck or * 'get-rich-quick about the reward of my It was gained by burning much midnight oil, by passing many examinations, and bv* no little sacrifice of the ordinary pleasures of youth. It is, however, not of myself that.l wish to write, but of the professors in the .universities of Great Britain to'l?here is one man of whom I am thinking especially. He has an international •reputation as a scientist. _ He trains students for medicine, and pure science. He is a man of the finest character: perhaps his character is too ■fine for this commercial age. He receives a salary of about £700 per annum. Many of his medical and engineering students pass that annual' income at half his a-ge. But he is a Fellow of the Royal Society, and he is recognised as being among tho most eminent half a dozen scientific researchists of this country. On!y nobody buys his research; he just gives it all tor the benefit, of humanity. If he were a bachelor and had only himself to consider he would, because of iiis fine emtio ok upon life, be perfectly happy. But sometimes I think about his wife and his family. It is not easy to manage a household budget on £700 a year .when there are several mouths to feed and the present rate of income tax to pay. For a university professor cannot produce original research work and give lectures to honours students in a science which is rapidly developing if ho is worried about petty financial problems of everyday life. There is, of course, that much larger problem which the increased cost of living has brought before us. We must, as a nation, encourage these men who train our youths in science. Wo shall soon fail in the race for industrial supremacy if we do not have the youths instructed and inspired in tho best scientific traditions.

The universities cannot, in these days, offer inducements sufficient to attract well-qualified moil. Recently an advertisement was published which, offered £700 a year for the services of a professor in a scientific subject. There was not a single applicant for the post. The largc_ industrial works provide moro attractive openings. These are the days of trade unions nnd combinations—the individual can do so little to improve a whole profession. But the temperament of tho teacher and tho man of the study is contrary to tho emplovment of such methods. He has no leisure to spare from his work; he has but little knowledge of the ways of the world. His only hope is that wealthy men, such Sir Rockefeller, will give large sums for the^endowment of learning! Failing that, the last remedy—a bad one, but a bad remedy is better than none at all —is help from the State. Apart _ from the fact that such help must increase taxation, tie warning provided by the Germans must never be forgotten in this land of freedom. For the State in that country not only paid .the professors, it also prostituted their intellects. It held them in bond* age. To tho eternal credit of our own British professors it can be said that very few of them would accept such conditions of service. The least we can do for them is to give them freedom from monetary cares. For the labourer is worthy of his hire. I