CHAIR OF ECONOMICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2895, 8 September 1909, Page 28

CHAIR OF ECONOMICS.

FURTHER DISCUSSED BY UNIVERSITY COUNCIL. POSTPONEMENT OF SCHEME NEGATIVED. At Monday's meeting of the Otago University Counoil the question of estaoIrshing a Chair of Domestic Science in the University was further discussed. The Vice-chancellor (Mr J. Allen) said the committee appointed at the las-t meeting to deal with the establishment of the proposed chair had met, and was of opinion that if anything was to be done it should be done at once, so as to allow a start to. be made next April. It had therefore sent this cablegram to Mr Studholme, in London: — "Accept your offer; make an appointment four years; must arrive not later than last week in March ; 6alary of £500; will allow for travelling expenses; full particulars by letter." The reply from Mr Studholme was : " Have received telegram of 13th August ; will do as requested ; writing next mail." Professor Shand : Does Mr Sludholme get power to make an appointment for four years? It is most extraordinary, surely, that Mr Studholme should have been given power to appoint a lecturer for Otago University for four years. The Vice-chancellor said that was the decision of the committee. It was partly Mr Studhdme's money they were using. Mr Stud'holme appointed a lecturer for Canterbury College. The Rev. Mr Cameron said the original professors of the University were all appointed in that v.-ay in Edinburgh. Professor- Shand eaid he thought Mr Cameron's statement was wrong. He understood they were appointed by the council in Dunedin. The letter sent, to Mr Studholme and signed by Mr Allen was as "follows : — A cable was sent to you to-day as follows: Accept your offer; make an. appointment four years ; must arrive not later than last week in March; salary of £500; will allow for travelling expenses; full particulars by letter. The University Council decided at a special meeting to accept your generous offer, and directed me to express their thanks to you. The cablegram means that the council would be glad of your feeryices in selecting the nrst professor, either from the United States or Europe as you think fit; the appointment to be for four years, but the v council trusts that you will see your way to extend your offer for the additional year, as a Citizens' Committee has guaranteed £150 for four years. With subsidy from Parliament, your offer and the citizens' will amount to £700 per The session begins the first week in April, 1910, and it is desirable the professor should arrive the last week in March. The cablegram places the salary at £500, and the council thinks that sufficient, but leaves it to your judgment to increase this to £600 if the offer of the additional amount will secure an exceptionally gifted person who cannot be secured for less. . Travelling Expenses. — The council will pay travelling expenses up to £60, and in addition £100 will be available from the Citizens' Committee funds for the profeesor to visit -domestic science schools in America. England, or Europe, according as she may be European or American, so that she may come with tin* very latest knowledge to advise the council here. The council would be pleased if you would advise them where the moneys for travelling expenses should be made available. . . The council would be glad if you would have an agreement on the lines of this letter signed between yourself (ais representing the council) and the appointee. The council would also be glad if you would forward any additional particulars a.<? to domestic science schools in England or elsewhere, with information as to their courses of work. This is required to frame the application to the New Zealand University for recognition of the degree. Dr Church protected against the undue haste that was being shown in tho appointment of this professor. He had no idea tho council coukl delegate to Mr Studholme the power to choose a professor. Tf in order he would give notice of motion— '' That the council rescind the previous resolution come to with regard to the establishment of a Chair of EconoThe Vice-chancellor said that Mr Studholme had already been* advised by cable to act. and if he was not to go on the council should advise him to that effect at one?. If Dr Church's motion was to be dealt with at all it should be taken at once. , . Dr Church sai<i he was willing to put his motion in this form :— " That a committee be sat up to inquire and report to the council- -U) Whether it is intended by the Education Depaitment to make it compulsory than every femab teacher shall qualify in domestic science; (2) what revenue might leasonably be expected io be produced in the way of fees if the department does ;nake domestic science a compulsory subject; (3) from what other source than from the fees of female teachers it is expected that a revenue will be derived, and what support might reasonably be expected from any such other source; (4) whether the potter of the Senate to confer degrees of bachelor, master, and doctor of scienc© under ' The New Zealand University Act, 1903,' includes a power to confer similar degrees in domestic science; (5) whether there is a reasonable probability that the Senate would contVr such degrees, if it has the power to do so, or if it has not the power to do so, would it take the necessary steps to obtain legislative authority therefor ; (6) whether the people of New Zealand would lie l-kely to take advantage of University teaching in domestic science if such teaching would not qualify for a University degree, and whether, if a Lnivcrsity degree is deemed to be unnecessary, it would rot more effectually promote the knowledge of domestic science if the money intended to be applied in the institution" and support of a chair at the Otago University were applied in the extension of the t-pacbing of domestic science at a tpchipn.il -thcol or schools; (7) -whether the loc.il yu.iia.ilor" de->ire that the guarantee trnen hv them shall involve a course of study qualifying for and leading to a ckgipp, "01 whether they aie satisfied that a piofo,=or be appointed and a chair establishml IWoic that and other matters which nuy .11 isp fiom 'lie consideration of the leport arc definitely settled." Professor Shand asked what was the minute of the council authorising the committee to take the step it had taken. The Vice-chancellor read tho minute as follows :— " Resolved, that this council co»«

aiders £500 sufficient salary for the next professor, and that power be given to a committee to give £600 if, after due inquiry, they think "it desirable: that tho committee l.aye power to act with lespect to other details m making the appointment ; and that a letter of thanks ba sent to Mr Studholme." Professor Shand said it was clear, then, that the action of the committee was ultravires. The committee itself might have power to appoint, but it could not delegate its po;ver to anyone else.- It was a maxim of law that delegates could not further delegate their power, and the action of the committee was theiefore, entirely irregular. For himself, he was certain fchat ninetenths of the intelligent part of the community were against the proposal to establish the proposed chair, and under these circumstances no step should be taken with haste The Vice-chancellor. I think it. is absolutely in accordance with tho minutes Professor Shand : The * minute does not give the committee power to appoint a professor. The Vice-chancellor : The committee has power to act In all matters of detail in the appointment Professor Shand: But it 'has no right to further delegate \ts power. Even if it had power to appoint, it had no power to allow anyone else to appoint. The Rev Professor Hewitson pointed out that it was 17 days since Mr Studholme's cable came to hand, and if a committee was to be set up to consider all the questions in the motion they would require to stay Mr Studholme's hand in the meantime. The reaspnableness of Mr' Hewitson'* remark appealed to tfie council, and it was resolved to alter the motion to read: " That a cable be sent to Mr Studholme asking hitn to delay making an appointment, until he hears further from th« cc oil." i rofesso? Shand seconded this motion. The Vice-chancellor said he thought it was perfect nonsense to cay the committee* action was illegal. It was either a question) of getting the ohair established in April next or waiting for a year or more. The committee was of opinion — and the majority of the council was also of opinion — that the ohair should be established, and) that it should be established at once and not allowed to hang over for * year or two. It was essential, therefore, to cable to Mr Studholme asking him to make tha appointment, otherwise, if the school was to start in April, there would be .no time for the new professor to visit Europe, op America, as £h<i cas» might be. He recognised there was a difference of opinion regarding the establishment ' of the ohair, Some people, he was aware, contended that the syllabus was fix«d. But. as a matter of faot, it was jiot fixed. It was only a, •suggested eylkbus, which had been drafted and approved by the Education Department. To say that nine-tenths of the were not in agreement with tho proposal was not in accordance with fact. He knew there was a difference of opinion, of course, and he recognised that, to at certain extent, it was an experiment. So was nearly everything they were doing in educational matters. The motion was put and lost. The votingwas not recorded, but it is understood tha* Dr Church, Professor Scott, and Profes=o# Shand supported the motion.