THE UNIVERSITY OF ANNUAL REPORT Report of the Proceedings of the University for the year ended 31st December, 1949.

To His Excellency, Sir Dallas Brooks, K.C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O.,, Governor of Victoria.

May it Please Your Excellency, I have the honour, in accordance with Section 43 of the Uni­ versity Act 1928, to submit to Your Excellency the following report of the Proceedings of the University during 1949. 1. Student Numbers: The first falling off in numbers, since the post-war inflation, took place in 1949 when the total number of students was 9,254 compared with 9,497 in 1948. This was the direct result of the reduction of ex-service entries from 3,770 in 1948 to 3,460 in 1949. The 1950 enrolments are bound to recede sharply and 1951 will probably see the lowest point of the recession in as much as our recent surveys, which are similar to those prepared by the Universities Commission for all Australian Universities, indicate that numbers will start to rise again in 1952. The restrictions on entry remained as in 1948 and applied only to the second year of the Medical Course (42 students who had passed First Year being deferred till 1950) and to the "extra-Victorian quota" in the first year. 2. Staff: The size of the University can be measured to some extent by the number of those on the pay-roll, which increased from 1,344 in 1948 to 1,534 in 1949 (1,186 full-time and 348 part-time). The Council is glad to acknowledge the value of the services rendered to the community by this army of workers of all grades. Only the continuous and self-sacrificing loyalty of members of the Staff has enabled the work to be done at all—but examination and research results all testify that the work has been done well. 3. Buildings: The era of temporary buildings is still with us. The new huts for Architecture were completed during the year and, while the exterior still bears the imprint of its origin, the interior has been so designed and furnished as to provide excellent drawing offices and studies. 477 478 ANNUAL REPORT, 1949 Some slight extensions of existing temporary buildings are in progress to provide for the return of students and teachers from the Mildura Branch in 1950. The only permanent addition has been the recently started, northern, brick extension to the Central Library. 4. Finances: The uncertainty regarding the future basis of the University's revenue, referred to in the 1948 Report, in view of the diminution in fees and subsidies received from the Commonwealth Government, was relieved to some extent by the provision of £408,000 by the State Government in its 1949-50 Budget, an increase of -£104,000 over the previous year's total and 2£ times the amount provided only three years ago. In this way the Government of Victoria has again affirmed its intention to maintain the efficiency of the University insofar as monetary grants will do this and the University is extremely grateful to the Government. Rising costs, particularly in salaries and wages, have precluded any substantial development. A new salary scale for sub-professorial ranks was introduced in mid-year which provided small but immediate increments with the promise of additional aid in 1950 when increments will be £40 annually instead of £25 and maxima would be £100 higher. The Prime Minister, before the change in the ministry in December, appointed a small committee to report on the finances of all the Aus­ tralian Universities. With the support of the Universities and their State Governments, it is hoped that a factual report will lead to a permanent basis of Commonwealth aid on a scale approaching that of the British Universities, subsidized so realistically through the University Grants Committee. A five-year plan on the British pattern would do much to stabilize Australian Universities and allow them to develop along their own distinctive lines with an assurance that whatever was well begun would come to fruition. 5. Council: I was re-elected as Chancellor in March and thus began my ninth year as titular head of the University. According to convention the Deputy Chancellor, Dr. L. S. Latham, retired after two years in office and was succeeded by the Hon. T. D. Oldham, State Attorney General and Prices Commissioner. Mr. J. A. Seitz ceased to hold office on his retirement from the position of Director of Education and the new Director, Major-General A. H. Ramsay, ex officio succeeded to the vacancy. Professor Turner resigned on leaving for a year's leave at Cam­ bridge and Professor Gibson replaced him in April. Sir Walter Massy-Greene, Chairman of the Finance Committee, resigned from the Council and Mr. Ian Potter has replaced him. Mr. Herbert Taylor was appointed Chairman of the Finance Committee. The Rector of Newman College, Very Rev. J. M. Murphy, retired as a College Head from the Council in December and Mr. S. L. Prescott, Master of Ormond, succeeded him. ANNUAL REPORT, 1949 479 In June Sir Alan Newton felt impelled by failing health to resign from the Council and its committees and, soon afterwards, the'University and his many friends heard of his death. Though a member of the Council for only two years, he had wielded a strong and wise influence, particularly in medical matters, and tributes paid to him at the memorial service in St. Paul's Cathedral indicated how greatly the whole com­ munity mourned his death. In December, Sir John Latham retired after being a member for 28 years and Chancellor from 1939 to 1941, when he resigned on his appointment as Minister to Japan. Sir John lectured in Logic and then in Law from 1904 to 1919 and greatly influenced the University's development over many years. His learning, wisdom, energy and kind­ ness have placed the University and many of its members greatly in his debt. The Council has recorded its sense of pride in and gratitude for his many services. Sir John Newman Morris was appointed b}' the Standing Committee of Convocation to the vacancy caused by Sir Alan Newton's resignation and Dr. Lucy Br}'cc was elected by Convocation to the vacancy on Sir John Latham's retirement. Other retiring members, Mr. Justice Fullagar, Sir Edmund Herring, Dr. L. S. Latham and Mr. J. G. Burnell, were all re-elected unopposed at the December biennial election. 6. The Professors: Professor Amies received the honour of C.M.G. for distinguished public service and was elected a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh. Professor W. Macmahon Ball became the first occupant of the Chair of Political Science. Professor C. H. Down was appointed to the new Chair of Con­ servative Dental Surgery. Professor Sir Bernard Heinze received the honour of knighthood in the New Year Honours and the Universitv of Western conferred on him the degree of Doctor of Music. Professor P. L. Henderson took up duty in the Department of Mechanical Engineering in succession to Professor Blackwood. Professor B. Higgins resigned from the Ritchie Research Chair of Economics and returned to his former chair at McGill University, Montreal. Professor J. A. La Nauze, formerly Reader in the Faculty of Economics, was appointed to the Chair of Economic History, a third new Chair. Professor H. K. Worner was elected a Fellow of the Institute of Metallurgists, London, and a Fellow of the Australian Chemical Institute. 7. Honours: In addition to the honours conferred on Professor Sir Bernard Heinze and Professor Amies, the University noted with pleasure the knighthoods bestowed on Sir John Behan, for 28 years Warden of Trinity College, and Sir Raymond Priestley, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Birmingham and our own first salaried Vice-Chancellor. 480 ANNUAL REPORT, 1949 8. Associate Professorships: The following Senior Lecturers were promoted to the rank of Associate Professor: Mr. G. J. Thornton-Smith (in charge of the Department of Sur­ veying) . Mr. H. H. Dunkin (in charge of the Department of Mining). Mr. W. A. Rawlinson (Biochemistry). Mr. H. A. K. Hunt (Classics). Dr. C. B. O. Mohr (Physics). Dr. E. R. Love (Mathematics).

9. Resignations: Mr. J. R. Bainbridge resigned as Commonwealth Research Fellow in Engineering. Mr. M. Brown, Academic Secretary, was appointed Assistant to the Registrar of the Australian National University. Mr. C. M. H. Clark, Senior Lecturer in History, was appointed Professor of History at Canberra University College. Mr. W. E. Cremor, Guidance Officer, was appointed as Government Representative on the Teachers' Tribunal. Dr. F. J. Fenner, Haley Research Fellow at the Walter and Eliza Hall Research Institute, was appointed Professor of Microbiology at the Australian National University. Mr. R. M. Johnson resigned his position of Lecturer in Civil Engineering. Dr. F. N. Lahey, Senior Lecturer in Organic Chemistry, was appointed to a similar position in the University of Queensland. Miss K. A. O. Law, Lecturer in Biochemistry, was appointed to the staff of University College, London. Dr. T. E. Lowe, Senior Lecturer in Pathology, became the first Director of the Clinical Research Unit at the Alfred Hospital and later Director of the Baker Institute for Medical Research. Mr. C. E. Palmer, Senior Lecturer in General Science, was appointed consultant in meteorological matters to the United States Air Force in the Northern Pacific Area. Dr. R. T. Patton retired from his position of Senior Lecturer in Botany. Mr. J. J. Pratt, Senior Lecturer in Psychology, was appointed Chief Educational Officer (Research) with the Commonwealth Office pf Education. Associate Professor Sawer was appointed Professor of Law at the Australian National University. Mr. M. Shaw, Senior Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering, was appointed Professor of Mechanical Engineering in the University of Queensland. Mr. D. Taylor, Senior Lecturer in Philosophy, was appointed Professor of Philosophy at the University College of the Gold Coast. ANNUAL REPORT, 1949 481 10. Appointments: Mr. W. M. Ball, Professor of Political Science, (p) Mr. L. E. Baragwanath, Lecturer in History. Mr. D. Broadbent, Lecturer in Electrical Engineering. Mr. T. Brownlee, Senior Lecturer in Electrical Engineering, (p) Mr. G. Buchdahl, Senior Lecturer in Charge of General Science. Mr. J. V. Buley, Senior Lecturer in Surveying. Mr. R. Cartwright, Lecturer in Education, (p) Mrs. N. Christesen, Lecturer in Charge of Russian, (p) Mr. R. O. Cherry, Lecturer in Physics. Mr. B. Christa, Lecturer in Russian, (p) Mr. C. M. H. Clark, Senior Lecturer in History. Mr. A. E. Coates, Stewart Lecturer in Surgery. Dr. D. Cochrane, Senior Lecturer in Mathematical Economics, (p) Mr. T. P. Dobson, Lecturer in English, (p) Dr. C. H. Down, Professor of Conservative Dental Surgery, (p) Mr. N. F. Dunbar, Lecturer in Physics, (p) Mr. H. H. Dunkin, Associate Professor of Mining, (p) Mr. F. E. Emery, Lecturer in Psychology. Dr. W. D. Falk, Senior Lecturer in Philosophy. Dr. J. A. Forbes, Lecturer in Pathology. Mr. H. A. J. Ford, Senior Lecturer in Law. Mr. G. C. Gaze, Senior Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering, (p) Mr. C. J. R. Gorrie, Senior Lecturer at Veterinary Research Institute, (p) Mr. S. B. Hammond, Senior Lecturer in Psychology. Dr. J. G. Hayden, Stewart Lecturer in Medicine, (p) Dr. I. C. Heinz, Senior Lecturer in Pathology. Dr. P. L. Henderson, Professor of Mechanical Engineering. Mr. E. K. Horwood, Lecturer in French and German in the Faculty of Science, (p) Mr. H. A. K. Hunt, Associate Professor of Classics. Mr. K. H. Hunt, Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering. Dr. J. E. Isaac, Senior Lecturer in Economics. Mr. R. M. Johnson, Lecturer in Civil Engineering. Dr. P. H. Karmel, Senior Lecturer in Economics. Mr. J. A. La Nauze, Professor of Economic History. Mr. P. D. Langley, Lecturer in Psychology. Dr. J. O. Lavarack, Senior Lecturer in Histology and Embryology, (p) Dr. E. R. Love, Associate Professor in Mathematics, (p) Dr. A. M. McBriar, Senior Lecturer in History. Miss L. McConchie, Lecturer in Physical Education, (p) Dr. C. B. O. Mohr, Associate Professor in Physics. Dr. J. C. Nixon, Senior Lecturer in Ore Dressing. Dr. K. H. Pausacker, Senior Lecturer in Organic Chemistry, (p) Mr. W. A. Rawlinson, Associate Professor in Biochemistry. Mr. N. M. Richmond, Senior Lecturer in Political Science, (p) Dr. W. M. Rose, Senior Lecturer in Pathology. - Dr. J. Smit, Lecturer in Dutch, (p) Dr. E. F. M. Stephenson, Lecturer in Chemistry. (p) = Promotion 482 ANNUAL REPORT, 1949 (p) Mr. R. J. Storer, Senior Lecturer in Mathematics, (p) Mr. G. J. Thornton-Smith, Associate Professor in Surveying, (p) Dr. W. J. Tuckfield, Acting Professor of Dental Prosthesis, (p) Mr. D. M. Van Abbe, Lecturer in German. Mr. A. G. Willis, Senior Lecturer in Zoology. Dr. E. R. Wyeth, Senior Lecturer in Education. Mr. E. E. Ward, Senior Lecturer in Political Science. 11. Members of Staff on Leave Overseas: Miss D. Coverlid, Lecturer in German, visited England and Wes­ tern Germany where she lectured on Australian history, social and cultural life to German Universities and senior schools in the British Zone. Mr. R. I. Downing, Senior Lecturer in Economics, attended a meeting of the Population Commission of the United Nations at Geneva. Mr. F. E. Emery and Mr. S. B. Hammond, Lecturers in Psychology, went to Paris for training in connection with the U.N.E.S.C.O. project for investigation of social tensions. Mr. R. Featherstone, Senior Lecturer in Architecture, left in August for America and Europe as a Carnegie Fellow. Professor Greenwood was awarded a Nuffield Foundation Travel­ ling Fellowship to study latest developments in Metallurgy in England and in Europe. Dr. V. D. Hopper, Senior Lecturer in Physics, was also awarded a Nuffield Foundation Travelling Fellowship and worked under the direction of Professor Oliphant at Birmingham. Dr. E. R. Love, Senior Lecturer in Mathematics, took up a fellow­ ship which he had been awarded before the war at Trinity College, Cambridge, and attended an International Congress of Applied Mathe­ matics in London. Associate Professor Macartney went to England to study develop­ ment in the teaching of English and in the field of dramatic art. Miss L. McConchie, Lecturer in Physical Education, attended a world congress in Sweden and Denmark and went to England to study specialized training of Physical Education Teachers at Liverpool. Dr. D. W. McElwain, Senior Lecturer in Psychology, went to England on a Nuffield Foundation Travelling Fellowship to study the psychological testing of adults. Mr. J. L. O'Brien, Senior Lecturer in History, was awarded a Rockefeller Travelling Scholarship for study in England. Mr. N. H. Rosenthal, Director of Visual Aids, visited Europe and the United Kingdom. Associate Professor Sawer attended the banking case before the Privy Council as constitutional adviser to the Commonwealth, and left for U.S.A. in October to take up a Carnegie Travelling Scholarship. Professor Scutt, our senior professor, visited Oxford and Cambridge during his sabbatical leave. Associate Professor Shaw spent most of his leave in the United States of America and three weeks in England, studying research and (p) = Promotion ANNUAL REPORT, 1949 483 teaching in Pharmacology and standardization and control of therapeutic compounds. Miss R. Sugden, Lecturer in Chemistry, visited England. Professor Sunderland visited medical centres in U.S.A. and England and attended the International Neurological Congress in Chicago. Professor Turner went to Cambridge having been elected to a Dominion Fellowship at St. John's College. 12. Distinguished Visitors: Mr. H. R. Checseman, retiring Director of Education in Malaya, visited the University. Sir Kenneth Clark, Slade Professor of Fine Arts in the University of Oxford, delivered two public lectures early in the year. Professor L. S. P. Davidson, Professor of Clinical Medicine in the University of Edinburgh, visited the University while in Melbourne by arrangement with the Melbourne Permanent (Medical) Post-Graduate Committee. Mr. Tyrone Guthrie, English playwright and producer, lectured on "Producing Shakespeare." Dr. A. L. Hagedoorn, formerly of the University of Leyden, gave a public lecture. Professor F. S. C. Northrop, Sterling Professor of Philosophy and Law at Yale University, gave a series of five lectures with the title of "Foundations of World Order." On 19th January the degree of Doctor of Laws honoris causa was conferred on Lord Nuffield by the Chancellor. Professor M. Oliphant of the University of Birmingham discussed the potentialities of atomic power for industry in a public lecture. Dr. B. P. Pal, Joint Director of the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, gave a lecture on "Agriculture in India." Sir Geoffrey Taylor, Yarrow Professor of the Royal Society, and Sir Norman Haworth, sometime Professor of Chemistry in the. Uni­ versity of Birmingham, gave public lectures. Both were visiting Australia under the auspices of the Australian National University. Professor K. C. Wheare, Gladstone Professor of Government and Public Administration at Oxford, gave a public lecture and met the Victorian Rhodes Scholarship Selection Committee. 13. Obituary: Mr. H. W. Allen, Senior Tutor and Vice-Master of Ormond College for 37 years and representative of undergraduates on the Council from 1931 to 1939, died on 13th August. Mr. Edward Goll, chief-study teacher of piano at the Conservatorium of Music, died on 11th January, and a former chief-study teacher of violin, Mr. W. Gude, died later in the year. Dr. E. Heymann, Associate Professor in Physical Chemistry, died suddenly on 23rd November while on leave in Chicago. Dr. C. H. Mollison, Government pathologist and part-time Lec­ turer in Forensic Medicine from 1905 to 1942, died on 6th April. 484 ANNUAL REPORT, 1949 Sir Alan Newton died on 4th August. He was a member of Council and Honorary Director of Clinical Studies and as Stewart Lecturer in Surgery he had set high standards of teaching. Dr. A. E. V. Richardson, first Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture, and recently Chief Executive Officer of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, died on Sth December. Miss M. E. Scott, Demonstrator in Chemistry since 1909, died on Sth December, 1948. Sir Sidney Sewell, a member of the Faculty of Medicine and past President of the Royal Australian College of Physicians, died on 12th March. Mr, S. S. Yashounsky died suddenly on Sth April after only one year as Assistant Lecturer in Russian. 14. Nezv Departments: Two departments were constituted as separate entities—Mining under Associate Professor Dunkin and Russian with Mrs. Christesen as Lecturer-in-Charge. 15. Nezv Developments: The State Government has provided £31,500 for the erection of a School of Animal Husbandry at the State Research Farm, Werribee. This institute will be under the control of the State Department of Agriculture but a definite section of the laboratory and other facilities will be allocated for the use of the University staff. The Melbourne University Regiment has been revived and went into camp at Mt. Martha in January. 16. Mildura Branch: 1949 was the third year of the emergency period for which the Branch was opened in April, 1947, and, as numbers had fallen from 560 in 1947 to 450 in 1948 and 330 in 1949, it was evident that the post-war pressure which made the Branch necessary was now relaxing. Estimates for 1950 in the first years of Medicine, Dentistry and Engineer­ ing, the courses provided at Mildura, were as low as 250, less than half the 1947 figure, and the key departments of Physics and Chemistry, because of a similar reduction in first year Science, felt able to handle the students who, otherwise, would go to the Branch. As the original reason for establishing the Branch had virtually disappeared, those who most appreciated the cultural advantages of Mildura (most of the University and all the country districts of Victoria) then sought other reasons for retaining it. The Professorial Board, after carefully investigating the possibility of transferring other courses, very reluctantly reported that staffing difficulties and the inevitable duplication of classes rendered the prospect impracticable. The State Government reiterated its promise to finance the Branch if the original term of three years was to be extended, but the University Council felt impelled to state in the middle of the year that the Branch would have to close. Though finance was not the deciding factor, it was estimated that the annual loss on Mildura, £90,000, would be reduced to £22,000 by the transfer of teaching to Melbourne. ANNUAL REPORT, 1949 485 All those who were associated with the Branch greatly regretted the shortness of its life. The provision of first year University teaching for upwards of 600 students in the first year of its existence, with a due maintenance of standards, and for somewhat reduced numbers in the two following years, with a consequent improvement in academic stan­ dards, has been acclaimed as an exemplary contribution to post-war development in the University sphere. To the Warden, Dr. J. S. Rogers, and his staff, the University will remain extremely grateful. 17. A.N.Z.A.A.S. Congress at Hobart: The 27th Congress of the Australian and New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science was held at Hobart from 12th to 19th January, 1949. About 100 members of the staff of this University attended and the following were elected Presidents of sections: Dr. C. E. Eddy (Section A—Astronomy, Mathematics and Physics). Professor Tiegs (Section D—Zoology). Associate Professor Fitzpatrick (Section E—History). Professor Burnet (Section I—Medical Science and National Health and Section N—Physiology). 18. Benefactions: The following gifts and bequests were received or promised during 1949: £3,045 from the estate of W. P. Greene for the promotion and encouragement of cancer research. £3,709 from the estate of H. B. Higgins. £1,500 from Mr. Norman Myer for research in Physiology. £5,000 from Mr. Victor Kimpton for the Agriculture School build­ ing and Kimpton theatre. £1,000 from an anonymous donor for the building of a Child Development and Research Centre. £2,000 from Dunlop Rubber Australia Ltd., for research scholar­ ships in Chemistry and Physics. £1,000 from the Victorian Chamber of Manufactures.

I have the honour to be, Your Excellency's Most Obedient Servant, CHARLES J. LOWE, Chancellor. 24th February, 1950.

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Title: University of Melbourne Calendar 1950

Date: 1950

Persistent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11343/23441

File Description: 15_Chancellors Report for 1949

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