Sessional_Paper_1937 — Page 161

239

rent alone is considered. As a proof of this we understand that there has been a certain reluctance to occupy the quarters provided at the University. We are told, for example, that certain married quarters are at present occupied by individual bachelors while married officers live out and draw the highest allowance. Such a situation is in our opinion one that should not be allowed.

17. We also suggest that the Finance Committee should investigate the pos- sibility of erecting a block of flats in the University grounds for the use of the staff. The exact figure must depend on the numbers to be accommodated, but even on the basis of borrowing funds for the building we are satisfied that an approximate saving of $10,000 a year as against the present allowances would be possible. If the Shanghai mortgage portion of the en lowment fund can be realised, this would seem to be a profitable method of reinvesting that portion of the endowment fund.

18. Secondly there is the Sterling Superannuation Fund. Apart from the contribution made by the University, the interest allowed by the Bank on the sums paid by the contributors themselves has now to be supplemented by as much again from the general funds of the University to bring it up to 4%. In 1937 this will amount to about $18,000 and this figure must necessarily increase in future years. We suggest that the Bank deposit, less a small liquid amount, might be invested in the general funds of the University. With interest reckoned on a 31% basis we estimate that an annual saving of about $13,000 would be possible by such a process, and the only alternative to this would seem to be a reduction in the rate of interest allowed to contributors.

19. It will however be readily seen from a glance at the University's budget. that any such economies can only touch the fringe. Of the round million dollars which comprise the expenditure side almost exactly one half represents the emolu- ments of the staff on sterling rates of pay. It is here that any substantial reduc- tions, such as we have tried to show are imperative, must be sought. And what remains of this Report will naturally be largely concerned with this problem.

Engineering.

20. It is not difficult to see what were the ideals in the minds of the founders of the University 25 years ago when they insisted that an Engineering Faculty was an integral part of the scheme. China in 1911 was beginning to awake; her educational system was still woefully inadequate; and there was a vast field for development of railways and roads, waterworks, power plants and factories. What could be more fitting than that Great Britain, always in the forefront of engineer- ing matters, should provide in its outpost in China the means by which the engineers required for this awakening could be trained? There would be prestige; there would be something like benevolence; and there might be the indirect advantage of making China's pioneers think in terms of British standards and material when it came to purchase of plant.

21. How far has that dream of the founders been fulfilled? It is only 20 years since the first Engineering graduates of the University went out into the world, and it is in view of their present ages perhaps too early to judge fully of those indirect effects. But we have examined carefully the statistics of those 227 men who have graduated since 1916.

22. Bearing in mind the objects of the founders we must, we consider, eliminate the 35 graduates of non-Chinese race. Of the remaining 192 only 82 have obtained engineering posts in China proper and of these we observe that the majority are filling posts which are not at all commensurate with the cost of their education.

23. The cost of the Faculty for the month of January, 1937, was $13,500. This figure covers salaries only, with no allowance for the capital cost of buildings and of workshop plant, and with no allowance for administrative overheads, though the appropriate proportions have been taken of certain courses (Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry) shared with other Faculties. The total number of Engineer- ing students being trained during the same month was 118.