University Endowments

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1058, 23 August 1930, Page 8

University Endowments

HOW THE SOUTH IS FAVOURED LIBERALLY endowed ill their youth by the Provincial Land Boards, and remembered in the wills made by the early settlers (for the most part men from England and Scotland and holding strongly to the university spirit and traditions), the Universities of Otago and Canterbury are today in the happy position of holding an advantage over the North Island in regard to bequests and endowments.

In the South Island today there are numerous educational reserves providing a source of income for the universities, and evidence of the forethought of the early Southern settlers. But in the North wars and differences with the Maoris kept the land in an unsettled state for many years. Eventually, when the land was sold, little was reserved as a source of income for the schools and universities. Otago, of course, is quoted as a glowing example of public generosity. The Presbyterian Church Board of Property has given something like £90,000 in land and money to the Otago University. The Sidey family has also handed over generous sums in the interests of higher education. Sir John Roberts is another benefactor who has frequently made gifts to Otago University. Last year 4,802 students attended the four universities in New Zealand. New Zealand’s bill for education last year showed an increase of £115,434 over the previous year. After the expenditure on buildings is deducted, the cost of education in New Zealand is £2 9s 3d a head of the population. Each university receives a Government grant every year, but this does not in any way meet the demands made for funds, which mu3t be met by bequests and endowments. The Otago University was founded in 1869, and now wears a mantle of dignity and age; Canterbury followed in 1873, Auckland in 1882 and Victoria in 1897. Auckland, of course, has the most-recently constructed building, completed only a few years ago, but even now there are signs that the university block is not large enough to accommodate the number of students. and a move is afoot to erect an arts block in Symonds Street.

Public and private bequests, scholarships and endowments have been lavished on the Otago University. A complete list of all of them would require a large amouht of space.

The following are some of the biggest benefactions: Presbyterian Church Board, £95,796: Trustees of the Dunedin Savings Bank (over a period of years), £14,450; Wolff Har ris, £2,100; Arthur Beverley, £15,400; Thomas Hocken, £10,000; John Sidey, £10,000; Sir Thomas Sidey. £1,400; Mrs. M. Glendining, £8,000; W. Fels (three), £7,700; Sir Louis Barnett (three), £IO,OOO.

Although Auckland lias received many gifts of books, instruments, etc., the University here has not received many large money bequests. Some of the principal ones were: £3,000 from property belonging to the wife of Mr. Justice Gillies, £2lO in 1890 from the Auckland Amateur Opera Club for music, £2,000 from A. D. Lubecki for scholarships, £4,000 from the executors of the late J. AI. Mennie for teaching commercial subjects, £20,000 from the Logan Campbell bequests, £3,000 from the estate of the late Lissie Rathbone, £2,200 public subscriptions to found the Sanders, V.C., Alemorial Scholarship. £1,300 from Sir James Gunson for the School of Agriculture, £SOO from the estate of the late Hon. J. P. Campbell, £I,OOO from John Court for the Agricultural School and £4OO from the Students’ Association. The Hon. Sir George Fowlds gave over 2,000 valuable books.

In recent years Victoria College University has received a considerable number of gifts and benefactions. These include:

£IO,OOO with which to establish a school of Economics from the late T. G. Macarthy, £IO.OOO from the estate of the late Sarah Anne Rhodes to be devoted to the education of women. £IO,OOO from Sir Walter Buchanan for founding a chair of Agriculture, £3,000 from the trustees in the estate of Lissie Rathbone for scholarships and between £60,000 and £70,000 from the estate of the late W. Weir for purchasing a site for the college hostel.

Although Canterbury has not been very generously treated in regard to bequests, its land endowments are large. The largest bequests are:

Board of Governors, staff and friends, £2,000; John Connal, £1,000; Thomas W. Adams, £2,000 and 90 acres of land; Robert Bell, for diplomas in journalism, £3,000; Professor J. ATacmillan Brown, £1,000: subscriptions to the War Memorial Window, £2.000; Lissie Rathbone estate, £3,000: Mrs. J. P. Gabbatt, £3,000; Professor W. P. Evans, £2,000.

Despite the amount of money spent on education in New Zealand, there is comparatively little available for scholarship purposes. The highest scholarship the most brilliant student can win to enable him to go on to the university is valued at £2O. This means that only a small percentage of students can continue with a university course unless they are assisted by their parents. Otago leads in the number of scholarships and fellowships at her disposal. These number 25. Canterbury comes next with 9, Auckland S and Victoria 6.