UNIVERSITY OF OTAGO

Evening Star, Issue 21751, 20 June 1934, Page 14

UNIVERSITY OF OTAGO

COUNCIL'S MONTHLY MEETING The Council of tlio University of Otago hold its monthly meeting yesterday afternoon. The Chancellor (Mr W. J. Morrell) presided, and other members present were Bishop Fitchett, Dr R. J. T. Bell, Rev. D. C. Herron, Sir James Allen, Sir Undo Ferguson, Dr James Fitzgerald, Messrs L. D. Ritchie, James Wallace, S. Rice, J. Robertson, C. M. Gilray, J. W. Dove, J. M. Butler, and W. R. Brugh. The Chancellor welcomed Mr Brugh, who had been appointed in place of the late Mr J. C. Stephens as representative of the various'school boards in the University district. Mr Brugh had many years of experience in educational work of different grades, and lie therefore came to deal with University business _ with a good deal of preparation. His business experience should also make his services valuable to tho council. APPOINTMENTS TO COMMITTEES. Bishop Fitcbctt and Mr Robertson were elected, on a ballot being taken, to fill two vacancies on the Finance Committee. Messrs Brugh and Rico were appointed to committees on which their predecessors had sat. THE MEDICAL SCHOOL. A request by the Dean of the Medical Faculty for improved ventilation of the lecture theatres was referred to, the Works Committee for a report. It was decided to make a grant of £5 from the Marjorie Macallum fund to aid a research by Dr Fogg. A request by the Dean for permission to obtain films at a cost of £IOO or £l5O was referred to tho Finance Committee with power to act. DENTAL FACULTY. On the recommendation of the Dean of the Dental Faculty, Mr D. T. Allen was appointed half-time demonstrator for the year ended May 31, 1935, in place ot Mr W. Hamilton. It was intimated tiiat there would be no award of the Leask Silver Medal. The Burt Medal was awarded to Miss Tattersfield, who was also appointed assistant in orthodontics in place ot Mr A. G. M. Clark for the year ending May 31, 1935. , MENTAL DISEASES. On the recommendation of Dr Hayes, Dr Malcolm Brown was appointed demonstrator at Scacliff in place of Dr Hunter; LOGAN PARK FENCE, A request by the Amenities Society that the fence enclosing the University ground at Logan Park be painted green was forwarded by the town clerk. The Registrar said, the fence was not the responsibility of the University. Messrs Dove and' Wallace considered that the work was not necessary. The request was declined. GENERAL. A resolution of thanks to Professor T. Hunter (Victoria College) for the preparation of his valuable and thoughtful address at the graduation ceremony was carried. The Classical Association was granted the use of the Museum lecture room. The Chancellor was thanked for his gifts of two volumes of facsimiles of Latin MSS. to the classical department. , At the request of Dr Beuhani, it was decided that the cost of binding several volumes of the ‘Journal of Natural History-’ bo paid from the Moritzson fund. which, the Chancellor stated, had a surplus of £l6O. Dr Andrews intimated his appointment to the Colonial Office Recruitment Committee. It was decided to refer to the Professorial Board for a report on the request by Dr Bcnham that the council continue his subscription to the Zoological Society of London and the Royal Entomological Society in order that the University may still obtain the proceedings of those societies. Pointing out that his special classes in experimental education had earned at least £6U for tho University, Mill. H. Ferguson asked for an expenditure of about £53 for tho provision of screens, etc. The Works Committee was given power to act. Dr Fitzgerald was reappointed as a co-opted member of tho Hospital Committee of the Otago Hospital Board. LEAVE OF ABSENCE. The special committee appointed to go into the matter of leave of absence to members of the staff recommended that the following statement be adopted by tho council: “ The council recognises with regret the fact that its own finances do not allow of any general system of furlough to members of the staff. It is, however, prepared, as in the past, to consider the granting of leave of absence in suitable circumstances on the application of individual professors, lecturers, or assistants. It has been pleased to learn in several instances that such applications' have been made possible by awards of travelling scholarships or fellowships made by foundations outside the dominion, which reflect great credit on the applicants. Experience has, however, shown that it would be of advantage to lay down definite principles in connection with the granting of such applications for the information and guidance of future applicants. “ (1) No application for leave (unless in altogether exceptional circumstances, of which the council shall lie the final judge) shall be granted lo members of the staff except after the completion of five years’ service. (2) The maximum period for which leave may be granted shall normally be one academic year.,' (3) No application for extension of leave originally granted shall be entertained unless special and new circumstances have arisen whicn make it desirable in the interests of the University that such extension shall be granted. An applicant for leave who is aware of any circumstances that make a future application for extension possible shall state such circumstances in his application. (4) The granting of leave for an academic year shall bo conditional on the applicant’s undertaking to remain in the service of the University for at least two years after return. (5) Every application for leave shall bo submitted to the council through the head of the department, who shall forward it to the council with his report thereon, through the chairman of the Professorial Board. Such report shall include a statement as to tho proposed arrangements, financial and otherwise, for the due carrying on of the work. The chairman, of the Professorial Board, in forwarding the report to the council, shall attach such comments as he may think necessary. The council will not,, unless in altogether exceptional circumstances, he prepared to sanction any arrangement involving additional expense lo it.” The report was adopted.

CARNEGIE CORPORATION’S' OFFER. The Finance Committee reported having received a report from Dr Bell and Dr Galway regarding the offer of the Carnegie Corporation in connection with gramophone records, etc. Dr Bell reported that the best room for listening to the records would be Dr Galway’s present music room, but that the records, cabinets, etc., would need to be jeept in another room. He suggested that the room at present used by Dr Elder be taken for this purpose, and that Dr Elder be given another room in the old physiology department. He further stated that Dr Galway was prepared to arrange for himself or senior students to supervise the use ot the gramophone and records. It was resolved to recommend the council to approve of these arrangements, and the registrar was instructed to write to the Minister of Customs asking that these goods be admitted into New Zealand without payment of duty. The recommendation was adopted. APPOINTMENT AT STUDHOLME HOUSE. Tho Finance Committee’s report stated that the Chancellor had reported having approved of the appointment of Miss H. Williams as from June 1 as working housekeeper at Studholmo House m place of Miss Burnside. MEMORIAL WALK. The Works Committee, having considered a request from the Amenities Society for provision for carrying the memorial walk into Leith street at tho back of the professors’ houses, and the removal of garage and kitchen garden, recommended that the Amenities Society he informed that no action could be taken regarding the memorial walk until the City Corporation informed the council of the line of the bank. The recommendation was adopted. WORKS REPORT. The Works Committee reported that work at the houses and flats in the Beverly property at an estimated cost of £l7O had been authorised, but authority was required for the expenditure' of approximately £l6O more to put the houses in good order.—The committee approved of the present authorisation, and the chairman was given power to act regarding the balance of the work. The architects submitted a report and estimates for the installation of an automatic stoker at the Medical School, it being resolved to recommend the council to install a double retort Robot at a cost of £247. The Works Committee’s, report was adopted. ■■ OFFER DECLINED. The Museum Management Committee reported having considered letters submitted to it by the council from Mr D’Arcy Mens offering his collection of works of art in" New Zealand woods at £I2OO. —Tho council adopted the recommendation to decline this offer. ZOOLOGY EXHIBITS. The recommendation of the Committee of Management that £lOl 10s be voted to Dr Benham for the purchase of exhibits in the zoology section of the museum was approved. INTEREST ON LOGAN PARK LOAN. In accordance with notice of motion Mr Butler moved: “That the council rescind the resolutions previously adopted fixing the interest to be paid by the Students’ Association on its loan for Logan Park, and that the council now resolve in respect of this loan (1) to charge no interest during any period when the university bank account is 'nob in debit; (2) to charge interest at bank overdraft rates during any period when the University account is in debit.” Mr Butler said that the students had raised money, apart from their fees, to the extent of £7OO or £BOO a year, and a large sum of money had been put aside which had been added to tbe £I,OOO donated by Sir Louis Barnett and subsidised by the Government. Actually tho total cost of Logan Park had been very large—about £10,500. Of this the cost of the stand was £6,500. and the other £4,000 was in respect of the ground. The Students’ Association did not wish to bo relieved of any responsibility so far as the grandstand was concerned, but it would take it as a favour if the council would rescind the motion regarding interest payments since this money under the’present arrangement would probably have been lying at the bank and not bringing in interest. Air Dove seconded the motion. Bishop Fitchett asked if the money had not been loaned would it have been earning interest. . Mr Wallace (treasurer) : It would have been earning interest. The motion was carried, but Mr Butler withdrew a second motion that clauses 1 and 2 be made retrospective. LIMITATION OF MEDICAL STUDENTS. The Finance and Medical Committees reported having considered letters from the University of New Zealand regarding the limitation of medical students. It was resolved that a sub-committee consisting of tbe Chancellor, Professor 8011, Dr Fitzgerald, and Sir Undo I'crguson be set up to report on the whole question to the Finance and Medical Committees.