UNIVERSITY OF N.Z.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2364, 21 January 1915, Page 7

UNIVERSITY OF N.Z.

ESE;OHANOELLOBi"iI)DRESS, (By Telegraph-Press Association.) . . Christohuroh, January 20. The University Senate of New Zealand met to-day. The Chancellor (Sir Itobert Stout) in his address said:—' "During the year we have passed and are yet passing through strenuous tunes. The great war in which our Empire is engaged las necessarily affected, our-higliest educational institution., Large numbers of our students have gone to the front to fight for our Empire, and others are preparing and are ansious to go. We met those anxioun to leave as best we could. Several medical students asked for a special medical examination and this w*a' granted to them: some'joined ambulance r corps. .The.Senate will be asked to'consider .what concessions, if any, should be made regarding honours students and .others who have left our shores as members of our Expeditionary Forces." He reviewed the provisions of -the [University Amendment Act, and touching on finance said: "It must be gratifying to all.our people that notwithstanding the present drain on our resources, and the financial pressure of the Empire, our finance is strong enough to allow such aid to our higher education. Compared with other countries similarly situated, our educational .expenditure is high, but who can say I that money properly utilised for educa4iou is ever wasted? Wo must, however, Temember that our educational expenditure is rising—and that we may meet with 'lean' years. I find from our lear Book that the educational expenditure from all sources in 1912-13 was ; 1 o 8 1 d ,' l ?T- head - Ltusfc Uncial 1 1 r i ( }? 13 ; 1 i ) I lt ™ £l 6s - 2d- per I™a1™ a ' , e , t ? tal amount being - £1,484 - 000, and this year there will be an increase. the Commonwealth of Australia the expenditure for 1919-13 was 17s. Bd. per head, .and last year it was 19s. 5d., so our expenditure is about rfo_ per .cent, more than that of our neighbours across the Tasman Sea Our expenditure out of Public Funds-that ?s, not taking into consideration endowments, etc.—was in 1898-99, 13s' 4d per head, and in 1913-14 it was £1 3s! In considering, however, such an expenditure wo should not overlook what we spend on things that profit not, for oxamplo, our expenditure on drugs, alcohol, and tobacco amounts to at least five millions a- year." Ee referred to the attitude of the Professorial Board of Victoria College Tn opposing the awarding cf scholarships by competitive and whollv written examinations, and said: "ft competition is evil m awarding scholarships, it cannot be a good thing in appointing Civil bervants. An estimate of receipts and payments, with a. comparison for 1913, is as folw'™F er, Zll a «™ nt8 ' 1914. receipts, £11,090 (£11,804): ordinary scholarship account, receints. £2429 (£2442) payments, £2600 (£2283) • Tinline schofc arstop account, receipts, £85 (£BS) payments, £60 (£6O). ''