CO129-478 - Public Offices & Others - 1922 — Page 707

OF

21

already covered, the University should be made worthy of the position of British trade in China.

And, there, to rebut any possible charge of extravagance in present management or of exaggera- tion as to future needs, it may be best to quote the estimates of other authorities-always bearing in mind that, when a largely British staff is employed, costs cannot be less than in corresponding institutions in Great Britain.

First, then, there may be quoted the estimate of the Vice-Chancellor of a Northern University in England, who recently declared in public that the minimum budget for an efficient modern University might be placed at £130,000 (say $1,000,000). He, however, was concerned to defend the interests of the institution with which be is connected, an his estimate may, perhaps, be regarded as a biassed one. A second case, that of a University College in the South, whose application for a fall Charter was recently referred to the Committee of the Privy Council, is therefore more in point. The application was rejected, with the intimation that the minimum income upon which it could be usefully renewed was £80,000 (say $650,000).

The lesson of the Colonial Universities is the saine. While many amongst them can claim to rank no higher than respectable colleges, a limited number are qualifying for comparison with the more efficient British Universities. All those included in this limited class are, however, possessed of ample resources. Amongst them may be mentioned an

700