Met Last Week

The committee met for the first time on February 25. Salient was told that this meeting was of a procedural nature and that the universities are now being asked for submissions for the first general review.

The chairman of the University Grants Committee will chair the committee, which will be composed of the following:

Four lay members of the University Grants Committee; Mr. Charles Hilgendorf, Ashburton; Dr. H. C. Holland, Auckland; Mr. H. L. Longbottom. Dunedin; Sir Arthur Nevill, Wellington.

A lay member of a council of a university institution appointed by all councils: Mr. C. H. Perkins, Christchurch: Mr. Atkinson (State Services Commission).

A non-voting member appointed by the Government.

And Mr. K. J. Maidment, vice-chancellor of Auckland University, another non-voting member, appointed by the vice-chancellor's committee.

The non-voting members will be able to attend all meetings, participate in all discussions, but are not responsible for reports and may publicly disagree.

Victoria University is ready to submit details of staff shortages as soon as the committee wants them. Salient was told by an Administration official.

However, even with prompt action by all universities, a report is a long way off. Even the second meeting of the salaries committee is two or three months away.

Meantime, Victoria begins its shortest-staffed year in its history.