UNIVERSITY COUNCIL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22987, 16 September 1936, Page 13

UNIVERSITY COUNCIL

MONTHLY MEETING The monthly meeting of the Otago University Council was held yesterday afternoon, and was attended by the Chancellor (Mr W. J. Morrell), Sir James Allen, Sir Lindo Ferguson, Pr Stanley Batchelor, Messrs F. Mitchell, James Wallace, L. D. RitchA. Steel, J. Robertson, Dr R. J. T. Beh, and Dr James Fitzgerald. APPOINTMENTS The Director of Education wrote stating that Dr Fitzgerald had been Reappointed a member of the council. — Received. The honorary secretary of the Otago branch of the Royal Society of New Zealand wrote stating that the society had reappointed Messrs G. Simpson and J. S. Thomson as its representatives on the Committee of Management of the Museum. —Received. Mr J. S. Fleming wrote accepting appointment as a co-opted member of the dental faculty for a further year.— Received. Dr G. Barnett wrote accepting appointment as second assistant to the professor of surgery.—Received. GENERAL Dr Soper wrote recommending that advanced students in future be required to pay a deposit on apparatus, the amount to be £3, except in the case of intermediate students, who should pay 10s. Further, all students other than intermediate students should purchase outright certain apparatus at an estimated cost of £l.—The recommendation was approved. The librarian of the Medical School wrote reporting that the British Medical Association had forwarded a cheque for £3O, being subscription at the rate of £lO per annum for the years 1934, 1935, and 1936 inclusive.—Received with thanks. The Lord Lyon, King of Arms, Edinburgh, wrote stating that the University Arms were not registered, but that if the University was founded by Scotsmen It might' be possible to register them with him, as was done in the case of Knox College, Dunedin. The fee would be £47 10s.—Received, the writer to be thanked. The dean of the medical faculty wrote requesting the council to print a report compiled by Dr Dawson on the second series of 1000 midwifery cases. A report was printed in 1934, Request agreed to. Mr F. R. Meldrum wrote stating that he was not seeking an extension of his appointment as assistant in the chemistry department beyond January 31, 1937, since he had been granted the Michael Baker Scholarship, and was proceeding to England.—The resignation was accepted. The honorary secretary of the New Zealand Standards Institution wrote stating that the institution had been formally dissolved, since its functions were being taken over by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research.—Received. A letter was received from Mr E. H. M'Cormick resigning his appointment as librarian to the Hocken Library, as he had been appointed to the position in the archives division of the Internal Affairs Department.—lt was decided to accept the resignation with regret and to express the council's appreciation of Mr M'Cormick's work. ROWING CLUB

The Otago University Rowing Club wrote asking the council to grant them a loan of £3OO to provide a shed and slipway and a new four-oared boat. It was stated that the Students' Association was putting aside £4O annually towards paying off the loan provided the Rowing Club raised £lO annually for the same purpose. The chancellor said that he personally had a great deal of sympathy with the request. He thought that they might encourage the club, and he would suggest that the request be referred to the Finance Committee with power to act on receipt of a communication from the Students' Association. Mr Mitchell said that the council might at once agree to the request, but Mr Wallace said that he would oppose this proposal, as a considerable sum of money was involved. It was decided to refer the request to the Finance Committee. ANOTHER HOSTEL WANTED

The Board of Control wrote pointing out that there was peed of another hostel for men students, which should provide accommodation at a lower rate than Selwyn and Knox. The chancellor said that he had no doubt that the council had every sympathy with the provision of a further hostel, so far as their means would allow. It would, however, require private benefactions or, what was unlikely, in the present circumstances, a grant from the Government. It might be doubted how far any hostel which was not endowed would be able to give terms substantially lower than those of the existing residential hostels. Mr Mitchell: Both of these are heavily endowed. It was decided to receive the letter. ASSOCIATION OF COUNTRY EDUCATION

A summary of the report of the A.C.E. for the months of June and July was submitted by Mr Robertson. The chancellor said it was very gratifying that the total credit balance was now so large. Dr Fitzgerald wanted to know how much money was paid by the association for radio talks. The registrar said he thought it was a guinea a talk. Dr Fitzgerald thought that some of the speakers might be given lessons in elocution. (Laughter.) - It was decided to thank Mr Robertson for his summary WORKS COMMITTEE

The Works Committee reported as follows:

The architects submitted the following statement:— Lower Studholme House. The plumbing contractor has replaced 253 ft of spouting, but the architects recommend that a further 50ft of spouting and 24ft of downpipe be replaced, while sundry other work was required. —The chairman and architect were authorised to have the work completed. Beverly Trust Property.—The present authority for repairs to this property was £l4O, but a further expenditude of £4O was required to complete the work.—The chairman and architect were authorised to act in this matter, and expenditure was also authorised for a new bath, estimated cost £9, plus cost of fitting. . Painters.—The authorisation for painting work had been somewhat exceeded, and instructions were asked whether the men's services were to be retained. They pointed out that much necessary work still remained to be done. —it was resolved to recommend the Finance Committee to give authority for the services of the painters to be continued. Chimney at Medical School.—An estimate from Messrs Quennell and Sons was submitted for lengthening the chimney at the new Medical School by 6ft, the cost being £2l 10s—It was resolved that the chairman be authorised to have the work proceeded with, further prices to be obtained if he considered such action desirable. Library.—The architects 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.—lt 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. Payment certificates amounting to £BS 10s 9d were passed for payment. The committee reported that it had considered a request from the Students' Association for better lighting of the quadrangle. This request was strongly supported by the Board of Control—lt was resolved that the matter be referred to the chairman and architect with power to act. The report was adopted. MAHENO AND MARAMA HALLS The following report was submitted to the Works Committee by Mr Mitchell and Dr Bell with regard to the utilisation of the Maheno and Marama Halls:— "In terms of instructions from the Works Committee, we have gone into the matter of utilising the MahenoMarama 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 onen space at the top of the stairs curfained 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 juilding 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 suit able 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 is recommended to adopt this report. The report was adopted. FINANCE AND WORKS COMMITTEES The Finance and Works Committees 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 covering their more urgent requirements. The committees considered the question of central heating for the chemistry and geology block.—This matter was referred to the Budget Committee for report, the architects to submit a revised estimate to cover the heating of the basement. The committees considered steps to be taken for filling the position now occupied by Dr Mullin. The Otago division of the B.M.A. reported that they 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, the registrar to confer with the chancellor and chairman of the Medical Committee in drawing up the advertisement. Authority was given for payment of an account to the Otago Hospital Board for installing basins, etc., in the Dominion and Plunket clinics. The amount of the account was £73 14s 2d, and the estimated expenditure previously passed was £57 10s. A letter was submitted by the dean of the Medical Faculty, forwarding copy of a letter from Miss E. Alexander resigning her post as artist to the Bacteriology Department.—lt was resolved that'the resignation be accepted as from August 31, that Miss Alexander be thanked for her services, and that the best wishes of the University be tendered to her for her future happiness.

FINANCE COMMITTEE ALONE

The Finance Committee reported having 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 Chemie, and that if this is 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 international 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. The committee considered steps to be taken for filling the position which would be vacated by F. R. Meldrum on October 31.—The committee resolved that the post be advertised at £3OO per annum, duties to commence on February 1, 1937. Statement of the Beverly Trust Account for the half-year ended June 30.—A credit balance of £531 lis 2d was noted. It was resolved to write to the Minister of Customs asking that duty be remitted on medals imported for award to students. • The report was adopted.