OTAGO UNIVERSITY

Evening Star, Issue 22445, 16 September 1936, Page 7

OTAGO UNIVERSITY

COUNCIL’S MONTHLY MEETING The Council of the University of Otago held its monthly meeting yesterday afternoon. Present:—The Chancellor (Mr W. J. Morrell), Sir James Allen, Sir Lindo Ferguson, Dr James Fitzgerald, Dr F. C. Batchelor, Professor J. 11. T. Bell, Messrs L. Deans Rftchie, James Wallace, J. Robertson, A. Steel, and F. W. Mitchell. The Director of Education advised the reappointment of Dr Fitzgerald as a member of the council. Advice was received from the Royal Society of New Zealand that Messrs G. Simpson and J. S. Thomson had been reappointed its representatives on the Committee of Management of the Museum. Dr 6. Barnett forwarded acceptance of an appointment as second assistant to the professor of surgery, Mr J. S. Fleming wrote accepting appointment as a co-opted member of the dental faculty for a further year. The council adopted the recommendation of Dr Soper (professor of chemistry) that advanced students in future be required to pay a deposit on apparatus, the amount to be £3, except in tne case of intermediate students, who should pay 10s; . and all students other than intermediate students should purchase outright certain apparatus at an estimated cost of £l. The Librarian at the Medical School reported that the B.M.A. had forwarded a cheque of £3O, being subscription at the rate of £lO per annum for the years 1934, 1935, and 1936. The council granted the request of the dean of the medical faculty that it should print a report compiled by Dr Dawson on the second series of 1,000 cases. A report was printed in 1934. The Secretary of the New ZealandStandards Institution advised that the institution had been formally dissolved since, its functions were being taken over by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. ACCOMMODATION REQUESTS. The Finance and Works Committee reported having considered a request from the professors of education and philosophy for additional accommodation for experimental education and experimental psychology.—lt was resolved that the writers be informed that the request submitted is quite beyond the council’s means at the present time, and that it be suggested to them that they formulate a more modest scheme cover- . ing their more urgent requirements. The question of central heating for the chemistry and geology block was referred to the Budget Committee for report, the architects to submit a revised estimate to cover the heating of the basement. MEDICAL SCHOOL LIBRARIAN. The Finance and Medical Committees reported, regarding the steps taken for filling the position of Medical School librarian, that the Otago division of the B.M.A. reported that it had not made any contribution towards the salary, and could not undertake to make a contribution in the future. It was resolved that the position be advertised at the salary of £2OO. CHEMICAL APPARATUS. The Finance Committee reported that it had . consulted with Dr Soper regarding his request in respect of library and apparatus, and resolved that inquiries be made as to the possibility of purchasing a second-hand copy of ‘ Beilstein Organische Cheraie,’ and that if this was not possible the question be again considered. Approval was given to the purchase of microchemical apparatus and an ultra-violet spectrograph (the cost in England being £2BO sterling, approximately), and of ‘lnternational Critical Tables’ (cost being £22 sterling). The committee gave further consideration to a request from the Board of Control for the provision of a small sum in connection with the entertainment of groups of students. The. amount of £5 annually was voted for the purpose, the money to be expended under the direction of the chairman of the board. It was resolved to write to the Minister qf Customs asking that duty be remitted on medal? imported for award to students. The report was adopted. MAHENO-MARAMA HALL. The Works Committee advised that the architects had reported on the two proposed schemes in respect of library extension. A separate building was superior from the point of view of the architects and the librarian in eight or nine ways. It was resolved that a copy of the architects’ report and of the librarian be circulated to all , members of the council, and that the architect have copies made of both plans. The committee considered a request from the Students’ Association for better lighting of the quadrangle. This request was strongly supported by the Board of Control. It was resolved that the matter be referred to the chairman and architect, with power to act. The following report was submitted by Mr Mitchell and Dr Bell with regard to the utilisation of the Maheno and Marama Hall:—“In terms, of instructions from the Works Committee we have gone into the matter of utilising the Maheno-Marama Hall premises to better advantage than at present, and have to report as follows: “ The building is apparently no longer used by the Officers’ Training Corps. The main hall is given up at the moment to badminton, and for use in this way a ticket is ■ obtained, at a small charge, from the Students’ Union office. The upper room, which is really only an open space at the top of the stairs curtained off from them, is by arrangement used by the Student Christian Movement daily and on one evening per week. The two lower rooms at either side of the entrance are now vacant, one being used for storage of carnival material. “As structural alterations to the building are not in contemplation, the only portion of the. building available for use by the University consists of the two rooms at the entrance. One of these has a lavatory and washhand basin attached, and would be suitable for an office for a professor or lecturer. At present it is simply a storeroom, and we recommend that it should be put in order to be used as an office at the beginning of next session. There is an urgent need for small classrooms for honours or advanced classes. This session a small honours class in Greek is being held in the large chemistry lecture room. The other. room attached to the Marama Hall might be adapted to take such a class. We recommend that no steps in regard to it be taken meantime, as it might be necessary to use it as a classroom next year. “ The question of heating would require consideration, as there is no heating system installed in the building. “ There remain the cellar and a room on the south end of the building, at one time used as a garage by the janitor, but these are of no value for the purpose of our inspection.’! The council adopted the report.