DENTAL SCHOOL.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 March 1924, Page 4

DENTAL SCHOOL.

DIRECTOR THREATENS TO RESIGN; DUNEDIN, March 18 At a meeting of the University Council to-day a lengthy discussion took place on the proposed new Dental School, very warm feeling being at times displayed. Contrary to previous practice the whole discussion was taken in open council. In a strongly worded letter Dr Pickcrill said that under present conditions it was obviously impossible to do justice to either students or patients. The position was no longer an honest one. lie could no longer retain both his present appointment and his .self-re-spect, and unless something could he done at once so as to keep faith with the students he proposed to ask the council to relieve him of his position as director.

The Vice-Chancellor, M r T. K. Sidey, who presided, said that the £‘38,000 asked for was the absolute minimum and the council could not avail itself ol the grant of £25,000. The net result of the commission of investigation was a delay of sis months. Now they were Unvaried by another postponement in order ,to await the decision of the Senate after Easter. How was the Senate to affect the position? Sir Henry Ferguson and Dr Denham reported on what happened at the meeting of the Senate in Christchurch, the latter stating that- there had not been a word mentioned in committee or Senate as to any kind of reduction in the provision for the Dental School. The new Dental School never came uiv dcr discussion.

Mr L. D. llitchie criticsed the Otago delegates for suggesting that part of the dental course might lie taken elsewhere than at Dunedin, and for not foreseeing that the resolution to bring the matter before the April meeting of the Senate would be used as a means of further delay. Dr MacDonald said that every weapon placed in the hands of Auckland people had been forged in Dunedin, and the Dental School had never had fair treatment from the council.