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University would not be made a pretext for throwing upon us any of the general expenses of the hospital at prosent borne by the Colonial Budget. The stipulation may appear a superfluous one, but I believe that the conditions imposed by public bodies making grants either to Hospitals or to Medical Schools have involved a good deal of unravelling of accounts as between the Hospitals and the Schools in London. I should conceive that there will be no difficulty in obtaining a formal assurance from the Government that the presence of our teaching Staff in the hospital imposes upon us no pecuniary liability other than in respect of their salaries, allowances, etc. I should, however, hope that the Government might be prepared to go somewhat further. Ultimately, the scheme involves our placing five new full-time doctors in the hospital, while the assistance already given by will be materially increased. our Professor of Surgery
This will assuredly render possible some economies for the Government under the heading of staff. Legally, no claim against the Government is thereby created in our favour, and we are aware of the Government's feeling that its present com- mitments in respect of University expenses are as great as they ought to be. At the same time, it is no part of the scheme that the Government should profit financially, and I should venture to hope that it may be possible to obtain an assurance that an application for an increased grant for the general purposes of the Medical Faculty, of representing the *real economies effected by the Government, would be sympathetically considered.
12. In a similar sense, Dr. Pearce suggests in para. 2 (a) a stipulation that the annual Government grant to the University for general purposes would not, in the future, be reduced below I am not well informed as to the its present figure of $50,000. financial procedure of the Colonial Government, but I understand that the grant has been the subject-matter of a special notifica tion in the Gazette and that it continues to be payable unless and until it is abolished or reduced by what in effect is a legisla- tive act, from the risk of which we could only be technically pro- tected by a deed of endowment. Even were there any possibility of our obtaining such a deed, I imagine that any formal security we gained would be more than offset by the lessened probability of our obtaining additional contributions from the Government in the future. It is possible that all that is intended would be covered, were I authorised to inform the Foundation that the Government would not regard this, or any other private benefac tion, as a justification for a reduction in their annual grant.
• I speak of "real" economies, because expenditure on equipment importance for teaching rather than for hospital purposes might very proper be set against gross economies.
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Intermediate Sciences.
13.-I come now to what I believe are known as the Inter- mediate medical sciences-anatomy, physiology and pathology-- dealt with by Dr. Pearce in his paragraphs 1(b). 1(c) 1(d). As I understand. it is particularly in the study of these sciences, and to a smaller degree in that of the preliminary subjects of chemistry, physics and biology. that a student receives his first training in scientific method. Modern advances both in medicine and in these sciences themselves have also brought them into closer relation with actual clinical methods a point to which I have already alluded in connection with the increased resort to pathological methods in diagnosis. Cell activity tends to be in- Preasingly regarded as a complex of chemical reactions, and in the physician's outlook upon the body both in health and in iisease the cell is assuming an ever-increasing importance. It hence becomes essential that these subiects should be taught or, at least, studied-in a new spirit, and in order that the teach- ers should keep abreast of the very rapid advances in their respective subiects it is essential that they should not be entirely immersed in the routine of teaching. Much reading is necessary and, although the word "research" is liable to abuse, a good deal of work which is at least upon research lines. The more, too, Such. opportunities for discussion can be increased the better. as I understand. is the justification for the suggestion of assistants to the professors in each of these three subjects.
14. When one comes to consider the need for these assistants in relation to the needs of the University in other directions. I am not prepared to say that. were it a case of applying monies which were available for general purposes. I should feel in any way certain that these were the first matters to be dealt with. That. however, is not the question which now presents itself. As I have already stated. the proposals now under discussion, if carried through, will place the Faculty of Medicine temporarily in advance of our other Faculties: but single professors, each with one assistant. will still be dealing with subiects which, else- where. provide subiect matter for several chairs. I have no desire to place the argument too high, and I am satisfied that, if the present proposals are carried through. the further claims of the Faculty can then properly be mostponed to more urgent needs. Rut I am equally satisfed that. if left, wholly without assistance. suitable candidates will not be forthcoming for the Chair of Anatomy, nor for the chairs of Physiology and Pathology in the event of vacancies occurring.
15. The difficulty of finding suitable men for these posts of assistant is almost identical with that in connection with the clinical Chairs, and my remark: under that head are generally applicable. In Anatomy, part-time help already exists and might he continued as a temporary measure. In the other two sub- jects, we could only undertake to fill the posts when suitable
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