OTAGO UNIVERSITY NEEDS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 204, 23 May 1919, Page 8

OTAGO UNIVERSITY NEEDS

INADEQUATE ACCOMMODATION. The Ecv. A, Cameron, IS.A., Chancellor of tho Otago University Council, in the course 'erf his remarks at a deputation yesterday to the Minister of Education, referred to tho difficult position in which his council found themselves in connection Vitli the very inadequate accommodation at tho Otago Universilr to meet tho requirements of the .students in physics, chemistry, anatomy, physiology, and biology. He said that unless a nuw department for physics and an adequate extension of tho buildings at present used for the other departments were provided at once tho council wouljl be forced to shut out large number of shidonts, and thus destroy the opportunity for many young people, to pursue courses of study to enablo them to qualify ion the medical and scientific professions. The accommodation that now exists, and which was provided some years ago, (ell short of rhe present-day requirements. Mr. Cameron stated that the great influx of students to tho Otago University was due to the high standard of work now being carried on in that institution, ?.nd \also to the fact tha,t students, who ordinarily may have proceed?*! to universities at Jloiiie, were now being attracted to ths Otago University. Tho imperative need for providing further nceommodat'on vas shown by theifact that last jear (lie number Of students in attendance was 660, while this year they numbered over SOO.

In support of the Chancellor's remarks, Bγ. Limlo Pexguson said that tho position so far as the department of .anatomy and physiology was concerned had become very acute. The dissecting-room was constructed to aocommodate 83 students; now there were 135, besides some 40 massage students. In September tho number of students in the dissecting-room would bo about 175, in addition to the massage students, and without further accommodation it TVill be absolutely impossible + o carry on iho work. -Temporary accommodatiou would be provided during tho lasc term of this year by tho utilisation uf the uuseura as part of the dissecting-room, but it was essential -that further dissecting-room accommodation should be provided before the commencement of the autumn sission in March next. Dr.. Ferguson si-id his α-eniarks applied also In physiology, and pointed out that these large classes would overcrowd in 'the following year the accommodation for pathology and bacteriology. Immediato action would require to be taken-to relieve this c<nige_stion. As the Government had been semiing to the university returned soldiers vjlh bursaries and increasing the number of students by granting bursarios and other facilities for medical study it was essential that it should provide Hie necessary accommodation and equipment for their instruction.

In the course of his reply, Mr. Hanan etated that before expressing an opinion ho deonied it necessary to pay a visit to Dunedin and see for himself the conditions under which the students were working, and inquire into the nature of the proposed extensions. lie hoped to be able to undertake a visit to the South Island in tho course of a week or so.