25
H.—l
the assumption that the only available teachers, of whom a large staff would be required, would be engaged in such active general practice that they could not devote the necessary attention to the instruction of medical students. 2. That the expense of organizing a complete medical school sufficient to impart sound education would be out of proportion to the probable number of students that would benefit by it, so that either the fees would have to be made so high as to be prohibitory, or Hie college funds would be unduly burdened for the education of medical men. It may be pointed out that this objection is alternative to the first, as it assumes the necessity of providing a special and highly-paid staff of teachers. 3. That a medical school would be taken advantage of only by students resident in its immediate neighbourhood, as students from other parts of the colony would still resort to the medical schools of established repute in Great Britain ; the extra expense being more than counterbalanced by the better professional standing which they would attain. After a careful consideration of the evidence on this point the conclusions at which we have arrived may be thus summed up : 1. That the New Zealand University oiight not to prescribe a curriculum for a complete medical course until provision shall have been made for affording within the colony such medical education as will be recognized by the Medical Council of Great Britain. 2. That, while it is improbable that for some years funds will be available for the establishment of a complete medical school, and although it is even undesirable on various grounds that action in this direction should be immediately taken, it ought to be borne in mind that the time is not distant when a complete medical education must be supplied within the colony. 3. That the recommendation made in the interim report, to the effect that it is not, as a rule, advisable to establish more than one technical or professional school of the same kind in the colony, is especially applicable to the case of a medical school; and that therefore it would not be wise to devote public money to the creation at more than one educational centre of any professorship or lectureship intended to provide medical instruction such as does not come within the present arts course of the University. The objections stated above to the establishment of a complete medical course apply with much less force to the proposal to give a certain portion of the medical course in one or more of the University colleges, utilizing for this purpose certain of the chairs that are established in connection with the arts course. It is, however, shown to be absolutely necessary that such a partial course should be recognized as equivalent to the corresponding part of the curriculum in such medical schools as can complete the student's education and confer a right to practise. This scheme is approved of by witnesses from various parts of the colony, and, in its main features, is already in force in the University of Otago, which has obtained recognition of its medical classes from the University of Edinburgh. We are of opinion that similar recognition should be obtained from other medical schools in Great Britain. In the University of Otago the lectures of the Professors of Chemistry and of Natural History stand related both to the Faculty of Arts and to the Medical School. The special provision for the Medical School consists of a chair of anatomy and a lectureship in systematic surgery; and the lectures in these subjects, and in chemistry and zoology, are recognized by the University Court of the University of Edinburgh. In 1878 the number of medical students was five, and in 1879 the number Avas also five. The Canterbury College is in possession of a reserve of 4,630 acres for the purposes of a medical school, but this reserve is at present producing no revenue. There is a Medical Council, an advising body composed of a certain number of College governors and an equal number of medical practitioners ; but for want of a special income no instruction in medical subjects is yet given. The Professors of Chemistry and of Biological Science, connected Avith the Faculty of Arts, would form part of the staff of a medical school if such a school Avere established. Dr. Turnbull stated in his evidence that he believed i twelve students would at once enter upon attendance at a medical school in Christ- q church; and he gave the names of seven out of eight youths avlio at the time when it Avas contemplated to establish such a school Avere ready to commence medical studies.
int. Hep., End, ii- 4C3J> 4655-
4—H. 1.
Use your Papers Past website account to correct newspaper text.
By creating and using this account you agree to our terms of use.
Your session has expired.