Australian Universities.

Hokitika Guardian, 3 September 1921, Page 4

Australian Universities.

(.H'KSTHIN (»r A VKTI’.HI N All V c-oi;i.kok. WKU.IXOTON. Alin- •'!!.

During his recent visit to Australia, Mr T. K. Sidey. M.l\. took :i specisil interest in university education. Mo found tiiore was no domestic scieiuo chair in connexion with any of the Australian univrsities, hut. on the otiier band, there were such chairs as Agrieiillure, and Veterinary Science. That New /calami up to the present had not adopted the subject of veterinary science, he said, was of special interest, to Otago. because if a veterinan colic,.,* was to stablislied. it should he in (ounce!ion with the Medical Sehool. and a former Government had decided lhat stieh a school should hi* established in Dunuliii; indeed, the present professor of physiology had been ippoinied on condition that he Humid le aide to ua. b animal ns well as buman phxsiolocy. Mr Sidey found that there were two. veterinary schools in Australia, one in Melbourne, founded by Iboh.-sor («ilintli, and amuher in Sydney. It was however. in»w admitted that one smb school would have been mill'u dent for Australia, because there are only a limited number of openings for students }*:r- dug out from tliese colleges. He found that the sib's for these schools ha.! to he from three to four acres in extent. V. liile the buildings and equipment co<t about £’JO.fHN> each in prew:ir times. When the Sydney buildings were completed the cost there would run into over £3O. OHM. If a school were started in Dunedin, the stall* over ami above what, could In* supplied by the present Otago I’niversitv would require another professor, and four m- live lecturers. The openings for qualified v<»terinaiN surgeons would however. be few. ami the school would serve mainly for tin* training of officers of the Agricultural and Stock Department. It would 1 1* 1 found that it would be eheaprr I r the New /calami (lovernineiii to avail it-01l of the teaching already pio. videil in Australia, and a scheme might be evolved by which New Zealand student:’- could be assisted to take a course there. Sm b students could spend one year at lie* Dunedin Medical School, and four years in Australia. To establish such a school in Xew Zealand would involve an expenditure ol not less than Cl’-V-O a year, so that in tin present financial condition of the Dominion, the establishment of such a school would only he justified by private benefaction. If £*J.*>.ooo could he .found in this way. and the sum could be raised to £‘>o,ooo bv (hivcrntueul subsidy, that would be sufficient to start the school. After ill,? hill'd and buildings were provided for, then* would b ( . some additional revenue from fees. At

present. limvcviT, there \v:is «1 ili\ s*j i*» nht;iinm<r t Sit* nionev t ]i; 1 1- \v:>s re 'ri ‘ vj punvd for <>r<Un;iry sellouts ;i ll < 1 univt r ’] it i« *s. so tll.'il llu* institution of voter ■ , innry mile m* w.ms beyond tin* of }>• :n t ir.il polities. „ students :it tin* universities of Adel lido, : .Mo!b« uriny ::in! Sydney !i:ivc inere i «*d . i yy 'iiniowliiit. simiJjir proport inns to tin* ; itic reuse :M the* Now Zuuhiml I’niversiiy. I Tin* number h ;is doubled in :drnost every instance since I‘MA. This r- di ,, r. ! :s' lorist i< also of e.ieli of the A ii«cr:i|i;in nii diojil schools. The oener.d inn cose | is hugely nitributnlde to t lie-provision | of free secondary education. It must

j :i>- Mr Sidey. lie rnt'iienisod 1 y llii' | New Zealand tlinornnient tli.it ntltli- | lionul :i: ■ -i>)lltnochit ion must. Ik- provided ! ill tin- lu|i ns veil :is nt (In- liottnm of iMlr cilui :t: iiin:i 1 system. hi .Yew Srulli i Wiiles tlie (Invornnieiit lias passed mi . Ai l pi'Dvii 1 in<r a. el-ant uf 0.01)0 a year fur sis years, nialiine; allom-tlier a sum uf CdOIMMM). tu In- devoted oxeliisivelv (u university Iniildinos. hi Mel-le-iiriie I lie (uiverninont itself is outline | up iidilitiimiil university building's. and spending.' £170.00(1, wliieli is being' sup-liTi-iiipiitedliTi-iiipiited li.v tlie I'niversity C'ouneil from eerlain reserve funds.