90

1.—13 a.

;G. HOGDEN.

45. You are aware thai another University college had the opportunity of establishing a. home-science course ! — Yes. 4f>. Apparently the Otago University has shown itself to be more enterprising? —Yes. It was probably easier for them; they have a physiology and other courses already. 47. Would you make any reference to Professor l.aby's statement as to why no subsidy was granted when he offered £50 for a research scholarship? —l have already referred to that in my statement. You will find the reference on page 15 of the typed statement. I say, "A suggestion was made by Professor Laby that the Eduoation Department was opposed to giving subsidies on voluntary contributions made to promote research. This is far from the truth. In the instance quoted by him there was at the time the application was made no vote on the estimates out of which subsidy could legally be paid; a special vote is required because there is no statutory provision for such subsidies. In my opinion, subject to necessary conditions, subsidies should be paid on voluntary contributions made to a college in the same way as they are paid in the case of a secondary school. " 48. The refusal of the Department to subsidize that £50 was placed in contrast to the subsidy which the Department had given, 1 think, to the Otago University for moneys raised for another purpose?— Yes, but there was a vote put on the estimates for those subsidies; the money was voted by Parliament. 49. Was the money that was voted by Parliament not by way of subsidy on voluntary contributions for other purposes) Yes, thai was so —on buildings. But also on a previous occasion, when there was a vote for buildings and equipment at the Victoria College, a subsidy was paid on the voluntary contributions in aid of buildings and equipment.

Friday, 12th September, 1913 Rev. Andrew Cameron, Chancellor of the University of Otago, made a statement and was examined. (No. 25.) Witness: Before I give my evidence I may say that in my "statement I make no reference to Dr. Hunter nor to his charges, for two reasons —namely, Dr. Colquhoun and I have come up to state the needs of the Otago University ; and, second, that I have no official intimation of what Dr. Hunter's charges are. 1 have seen nothing but what appeared in the Otago Daily Times. I believe that is much less than what appeared in the Dominion newspaper here. And I think that the Otago University Council has been badly treated in that charges have been made against the Medical School, and no intimation has been sent to the Council of these charges. I may say, however, that Dr. Colquhoun and myself will be pleased to answer any questions that we can upon the points that have been raised. Tlie Chairman: I am sorry that I cannot place a copy of Dr. Hunter's evidence before you, because it has gone down to him for signature, Hon. Mr. Alhn : We can get over that by sending the Council a copy of Dr. Hunter's evidence as soon as we get the copy, and then if the Council want to make any further statements in writing they can do so. but I do not think they will need to. Witness: There is one part, if it is correctly reported, to which I am prepared to give a very emphatic denial, and that is in regard to the appointment of teachers. As the statement appeared in the O/'ii/ci Daily '/'inns, Dr. Hunter attributed very largely what he called the bad teaching to the bad system of appointment. I am quite prepared to meet that. However, I will read this statement first. This deals with the financial requirements of the College—not only of the Medical School, but also of the other departments. The Council of the Otago University has deputed Dr. Colquhoun and myself to appear before you in support of the claims of that College for grants both for the extension of its buildings and for the strengthening of its teaching staff. The needs of the Otago. University have been fairly set out by the Inspector-General of Schools in his report on the University colleges of New Zealand, which I understand is now before this Committee, and our Council hopes you will give the recommendations made therein your favourable consideration. In May last the University Council appointed a committee to confer with the teachers in the Medical School a< to the pressing needs of the same. After conference with them on the 22nd May, and with Dr. Valintine on the 30th of that month, a report was presented to the Council embodying the recommendations of the faculty and the Inspector-General of Hospitals, Dr. Valintine. The Council also received reports from the teachers in the arts and science department and from Professor Boys-Smith, the head of our home science department, stating some of their more immediate requirements. At the Council meeting on the 15th July a resolution was passed directing the Chancellor to lay before tin . Minister of Education a statement of the pressing needs of the Otago University. A copy of that letter has. I believe, been sent to this Committee. The Medical School: In enumerating the requirements of the Medical School I wrote to the Minister as follows: "11 goes without saying that as there is only one Medical School in the Dominion it should be made as efficient as possible. On the quality of the medical practitioners graduating here the health of the whole community will largely depend.' . The result of our conference with the medical faculty and with Dr. Valintine is stated thus:— "The following is the report of the faculty: (1.) That the faculty considers the most urgent need of the Medical School to Ik , the provision of buildings to afford accommodation for full pathological and bacteriological departments,- public health, and materia niediea rooms, and enlarged premises for anatomy, chemistry, ami physiology. (2.) That the faculty considers that the next most urgent need be the appointment of a whole-time Professor of Pathology, and that Dr. Roberts should be offered the position. (3.) That assistants be provided for the Professors