L—l3a.

96

A. CAMERON.

I.'!. Mr. Sidey.] You liave been asked some questions on the subject of reform in the constitution of the University. Can you express an opinion upon the proposal that the Senate should consist of the members of the four Councils — of the governing bodies) —It would be altogether unwieldly, and members who may be elected for one class of work may not be the right men for other work. I have already stated that 1 approve of the present constitution. 44. You would object to an alteration? —Look how many men you would have. 45. Would you approve of a modification of that principle under which, although the whole of the members of the Senate would come from the Councils, the Councils would elect a portion of their number instead of sending the whole of them?— You would not get such wide representation as you have at present. I have not thought of that. I could not give a definite opinion. 46. You expressed the opinion that it is desirable to have the various affiliated institutions co-ordinate in some way? —Yes. 47. Would not that be a step in that direction? —Not that alone. 48. I do not say it would be complete co-ordination, but would it not Ik , in that direction) —Yes, largely. 49. How do you think it would be accomplished? —By an Act of Parliament. It would lie very difficult. Y T ou would have to guard against invading the individual rights of the University colleges. 50. What would be the advantage?—lt would take away the reproach that the University is merely an examining body. 51. But how are you going to co-ordinate more closely: have you any suggestion to make on that point?—No, I have no scheme whatever on that subject. lam not so advanced a reformer as to have a whole scheme prepared. 52. Do you not think that if the Councils of the individual colleges were also members of the Senate the position of Councillors of the local institutions would Ik , more sought after than they are just now?— That is quite possible; I cannot say. 53. The Chairman.] You have not considered it?— No. 54. .1//. Su/t'i/.] Coming to the question of the Medical School, you do not profess to speak specially on that? —No. 55. What is the method of appointment of your professors and lecturers? How do you appoint your lecturers?—We appoint after advertising for applications. 56. Do you consult the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board?— Not in the appointment of our staff—never. 57. In what way do you consult the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board?—We send them a list of the names of the men on our staff doing the work requiring a place on the Hospital staff, and we ask them to appoint our teachers, and they appoint them. 58. As the honorary medical staff of the Hospital?— Yes. 59. For how long are your lecturers appointed?—We appoint them, I think, for three or five years. I may say that one of our lecturers has held his position since 1884, one since 1885, and two since 1886. These are men who must be on the staff of the Hospital. 60. Has there been any friction between the Otago University Council and the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board?- —There were two cases. 61. When were they? —There were two eases, and in each case the independence of the Council was asserted and carried out. One case occurred before I joined the Council, about twenty-five years ago. Dr. Colquhoun will be able to speak more definitely on that. 62. What was the other case? —The other case occurred a few years ago—in 1909. 63. What occurred on that occasion?— Dr. Batohelor, who was the teacher of gynecology, resigned. Ho was also in charge of the Maternity Hospital, at which our students received their practical training. The Hospital and Charitable Aid Board proceeded to make an appointment, notwithstanding the request of the University Council that they delay until we had made our appointment. Without waiting they made an appointment. We advertised for a lecturer on gynecology, and appointed, not the person appointed by the Board, but another person. The question then came to be. How were our students to get their training in the Maternity Hospital? It was mutually agreed by the Council and the Board that the doctor who had been the assistant to Dr. Batchelor, and who was eminently qualified, should receive a small salary from us, and that he should do the practical training. Our own lecturer continued to give the lectures on women's diseases and still does so, and he is now in charge of the Maternity Hospital. These are the only two cases that T know of during the whole existence of the school—thirty-eight years. 64. Would it be correct to say that there was any feeling existing?—At present the feeling is of the most harmonious kind. The Hospital people seem prepared to help us in every way that is possible, and I am quite safe in saying that that feeling has been growing, and I do not know that it could be really more favourable than it is now. 65. And a member of the Board is a member of the Council?—Y'es, the Chairman of the Board. 66. What lectureship lias Dr. Williams got?—He is assistant physician in the Maternity Home. 07. At the present time is there no lecturer on the diseases of women and children?— There is no lecturer who deals with that specifically, but there are lecturers who deal with the diseases of children ; but we are asking that fuller provision be made in that respect. 68. There were references made to the capacity and qualifications of Dr. Williams for that position ? —Yes. 09. Witli regard to the standing of the medical students in the Old Country, can you tell us anything about that? —I can only say that students who have gone Home after finishing here, and who have been asked the question whether they thought it was a wise thing to have done'