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Report on the proceedings of the University for the year ended Slst December, 1968
His Excellency,
Major-General Sir Rohan Delacombe, K.CM.G., K.B.E., C.B., D.S.O., K.ST.J.,
Governor of Victoria.
Your Excellency,
The Council of the University of Melboume has the honour, in ac- cordance with Section 46 of the University Act 1958, to present the first part of its report on the proceedings of the University during the year 1968.
In addition to a general account of University activities Part One of the Annual Report includes a statement of income and expenditure in respect of the General Fund as submitted for audit.*
Part Two of the Annual Report, which will be issued later in the year, will be the audited financial statements.
I have the honour to be, Sir, Your Excellency's most obedient servant, ROBERT MENZIES Chancellor.
1. Introduction
In spite of the fact that 1968 was the middle year of a difficult financial Triennium and tlierefore not a year in which the announcement of changes or of new developments would ordinarily be expected, it was a year in which some important changes began to be consolidated.
The expansion of the Medical Faculty towards a clinical school equipped to enrol up to 240 clinical students in each of its years proceeded reasonably smoothly; and the development of the new course for the Bachelor of Science (Education) was carried forward to its second stage.
With the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor E. S. Hills, absent on leave for the whole year, the Vice-Principal, Mr. R. D. Marginson, absent as an Eisenhower Fellow from March until November; and with a new Vice-Chancellor, Professor David Derham, and a new Registrar, Briga- dier A. T. J. Bell, taking up their duties only in March, there was little that could be done to carry forward the re-organization of the University's senior administrative structure which had been begun in the preceding years. A number of important subsidiary steps to improve the University's administrative and other services were made nonetheless. Budgeting pro- cedures were reformed. A new Central Registry was firmly established which will be capable of providing an efficient record system, probably for the first time in the University's history. Pension and Superannuation schemes were reviewed and their reform begun. A long term scheme for the production of a Master Plan for the University's physical future was devised and, with the help of outside consultant experts, is under way.
Decisions were made to disband the Faculty of Applied Science but to
• In 1968, the separately issued booklet form of the Annual Report included for the first time an unaudited statement of income and expenditure as stated above. However this has been omitted from the Calendar reprint as the audited financial statement will appear in the 1970-71 edition.
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carry on its courses within the structures of the Faculties of Engineering and Science. The submission to the Australian Universities Commission for the 1970-72 Triennium was reviewed in detail and a supplementary submission prepared in time for the Commission's visit to the University in September 1968.
Amendments to the University Act and to Statutes of the University were carried through as part of a review of legislation designed not merely to bring University law up to date, but, in the long run, to improve its presentation and to make it more readily usable by all concerned.
Special mention should be made of the amendments to the University Act which affect the composition of the Council, and of amendments to the Discipline Statute. Council membership has been increased by adding a second member elected by the non-professorial academic staff, and by increasing the members elected by students from two to four. One of the additional student members is the President of the Students' Representa- tive Council, ex officio, and the other is a member to be elected by the research students. The Disciphne Statute was amended to make the work- ing of the Discipline Committee more flexible and to provide for student representatives on the Committee.
In August 1968, the University was host to the Conference of Execu- tive Heads of the Tenth Quinquennial Congress of the Association of Commonwealth Universities. Some 150 Vice-Chancellors and their wives gathered in Melbourne during the week before the full Congress meeting in Sydney.
The major financial problem which faced the University during the year arose out of salary and wage increases for non-academic technical staff which were of a magnitude which could not have been foreseen at the beginning of the 1967-69 Triennium, and which, it seemed, were likely to be followed by similar increases for other non-academic staff. A special case for a supplementary grant was prepared and submitted to the Australian Universities Commission in October 1968. At the time of writ- ing this report, however, no indication has been received from the Com- mission of what response, if any, is likely. If no special assistance is re- ceived, and if wage and salary increases for all non-academic staff become necessary, as seems certain, then 1969 will be an exceedingly difficult financial year for the University.
2. Council
I was re-elected as Chancellor in March, 1968, and Mr L. W. Weick- hardt was re-elected as Deputy-Chancellor in the following month. As I was out of Australia for several months during the year Mr Weickhardt acted on my behalf and Council and I must place on record our apprecia- tion of the extra responsibility he has carried during the year.
Professor D. P. Derham succeeded Sir George Paton as Vice-Chan- cellor on 1st March, 1968. The Hon. Sir Arthur Dean submitted his resignation at the beginning of the year having been a member of the Council since March, 1950. The Hon. Mr Justice Menhennitt was elected by Convocation in April to fill the vacancy left by his resignation until 16th December, 1969.
The Very Reverend Michael Scott resigned from the Council in May on taking up an appointment in the United Kingdom and in his place the
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Reverend D. M. Himbury, Principal of Whitley College, was co-opted for a term of office expiring 15th December, 1969.
Much of the work of Council is done through its main Standing Com- mittees and Council owes a special debt of gratitude to the members of these committees for the time and expert advice which they give freely to the University.
During the year Council gave consideration to its own membership, with a particular concern that staff and student participation should be as full as possible.
Recommendations were made for the addition of an extra representa- tive of the non-professorial teaching staff of the University, a represen- tative of graduate students and tlie President of the Students' Represen- tative Council ex officio to be made to Council membership and the necessary amendment Act was passed at the end of the year.
3. Convocation and the Standing Committee of Convocation
Mr William Oliver Harris, Q . C , LL.M., was elected Warden of Convocation for 1968. The annual meeting of Convocation was held in the Public Lecture Theatre on Friday, 29th March, 1968, preceded by a buffet dinner for members and their guests in the Union House. The guest speaker was Sir John Crawford, the Vice-Chancellor of the Australian National University, whose address entitled "The National University"
was heard with great interest by an audience of approximately 350.
The Standing Committee of Convocation met ten times during the year and considered 92 items of legislation. In some cases the legislation was amended by Standing Committee, in these cases the amendments were subsequently accepted by Council. The Standing Committee also exercised on six occasions its statutory power to make "suggestions" to Council with respect to the affairs and concerns of the University.
During the year there were ten casual vacancies on the Standing Committee, Mr M. O. Barrett. Mr J. C. Habersberger, Mr L. F. I. Haw- kins, Mr F. H. Johnston and Mr R. Mc. F. Southby were elected to fill casual vacancies for representatives of graduates in Commerce; Mr J. L.
Kepert was elected to fill a vacancy for representatives of graduates in Engineering and Architecture, Mr G. N. Smith was elected to fill a vacancy for representatives of graduates in Science, Mr R. K. Todd was elected to fill a vacancy for representatives of graduates in Law, Dr G. Penington was elected to fill a vacancy for representatives of graduates in Medicine and Mr W. F. Chappell was elected to fill a vacancy for representatives of graduates in Music and Education.
The Standing Committee has been and is being drawn into a greater participation in University affairs. Three of its members have been ap- pointed by the Council to important Standing Committees of the Council, one of its members has been appointed to membership of each of the faculties in the University and another innovation has been the practice adopted by the Registrar of making a report at each meeting of Standing Committee informing members of significant events that have taken place in relation to the University during the preceding month.
4. The Professors
Professor R. I. Downing was elected as Chairman of the Professorial Board for 1968 and Professor F. J. Willett was re-elected as Vice-Chair- man.
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The following professors retired early in 1968 and, in recognition of their distinguished service to the University, the Council conferred on them the title of Emeritus Professor: Professor Sir Arthur Amies (Dental Medicine and Surgery), Professor W. M. Ball (Pohtical Science), Pro- fessor I. R. Maxwell (English Language and Literature), Professor R. H.
Samuel (Germanic Studies), Professor D. F. Thomson (Personal Chair in Anthropology), Professor V. M. Trikojus (Biochemistry). Professor C. M.
Tattam (Geology) retired at the end of the year.
The following professors took up duties of chairs during 1968: Pro- fessor N. A. Beischer (Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the Mercy and Austin Hospitals); Professor D. W. Cameron (Organic Chemistry), Pro- fessor A. F. Davies (Political Science), Professor E. Dunsdorfs (Eco- nomics), Professor S. J. Leach (Biochemistry), Professor P. C. Reade (Dental Medicine and Surgery).
The Vice-Chancellor (Professor D. P. Derham) was appointed to a personal professorship, and Dr S. B. Hammond and Dr L. K. Stevens were promoted to personal professorships in the Department of Psychology and the Department of Civil Engineering respectively.
Dr. D. H. Michael, Reader in Applied Mathematics at University College, London, came to the University on a one-year appointment as a Visiting Professor in the Department of Mathematics.
The Council conferred the title of Honorary Research Professor on Emeritus Professor V. M. Trikojus in recognition of his conspicuous service to the University and his continuing research work.
5. The Faculties
Agriculture (Dean: Professor H. C. Forster)
There were 235 undergraduate students on course in 1968. Forty quahfied for tlie degree of Bachelor of Agricultural Science at the Novem- ber examinations. At postgraduate level 21 students were enrolled in the various departments and six in the course for the Diploma of Agricultural Extension. Degrees conferred were three Doctor of Philosophy, five Master of Agricultural Science; six were awarded Diplomas in Agricul- tural Extension.
No changes were made in the course for undergraduates. Pass rates were normal except in third year where the results were disappointing.
Developments at the University Field Station included extensions to student quarters and the erection of the Animal Husbandry Project Laboratory. The research effort continued at a high level.
Applied Science (Dean: Professor A. S. Buchanan)
The year 1968 has proved to be a year of decision and change for tlie Faculty. Since its inception under the guidance of Professor J. N. Green- wood nine years ago the Faculty has grown slowly to its present position with five rather unrelated courses and modest student numbers. For a number of years it has proved very difficult to obtain students of high academic standard and failure rates in consequence have been disappoint- ingly high. In the last year or two this position has been significantly improved.
Development of the Faculty has also been much hindered by Uni-
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versity financial restrictions which have precluded the establishment of Chairs in the disciplines under the control of the Faculty. In consequence a strong professorial group concerned with the Faculty and furthering its interests has not developed.
In view of these and other related factors the Professorial Board, on the recommendation of its Policy Committee (after much enquiry and debate), decided to ask Council to disband the Faculty and transfer its courses to other appropriate faculties. The Council accepted the recom- mendation and legislation is now being drafted to effect the transfer of the courses in Electronics, Metallurgy and Applied Chemistry to the Faculty of Engineering, and the courses of Optometry and Dietetics to the Faculty of Science. In each case the courses have strong affinities with the Faculty concemed. In the case of Engineering it is hoped to appoint an Associate Dean who will take special responsibility for the three courses in Electronics, Metallurgy and Applied Chemistry. The course structures will remain unimpaired and special attention will be given to maintenance of the humanities strand which has been a feature of Applied Science since inception of the courses.
In all, it is believed that the new arrangements will provide a satis- factory long-term solution for the problems of administration of the Applied Science courses and will ensure that effective growth and development will continue in a favourable atmosphere conducive to the teaching and research effort of each group.
Architecture (Dean: Professor B. B. Lewis)
As a result of the acute staff shortage, the quota for admissions to the combined First Year was reduced from 140 to 100. Whilst architectural student numbers have been forced down by the quota reduction, the number of building students has increased. The total undergraduate enrolment was 569. Overall student performance is improving, largely as a result of the Passing by Years provisions. Some individual pass rates, however, in Building Construction and Building Science, are causing con- cern. The lack of laboratory equipment and technical staff is, perhaps, responsible for the poor pass rates in the technical subjects.
The- major course revision, mentioned in last year's Report, is still under consideration by the Faculty. The commencement of the new course is planned for 1970. It had been hoped to include Town and Re- gional Planning in the new course, but the Board of Studies has ap- proved an entirely separate course reconstruction, commencing in 1969.
The Faculty has considered the time appropriate, bearing in mind the University emphasis on postgraduate studies, for the degrees of Master of Building and Master of Building Science, to be established. The legis- lation for the new degrees has now been approved and Faculty will be admitting candidates of proved ability.
Little time is available for genuine research, but a major part of the University Research Grant of the School will be spent on the construc- tion of an Artificial Sky, which will be invaluable for research and teach- ing in lighting effects on buildings.
The major building work in the School this year was the construc- tion of the lift tower and the installation of one lift. The tower incor- porates new staff offices and tutorial rooms, but owing to shortage of funds, the shell only has been constructed.
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The full time staff—student ratio is gradually improving as a result of the quota reduction; but in the undergraduate courses it is still over 1:28.
It is regretted that the grave shortage of teaching staff has forced the Faculty to reduce the quota, with a consequent eventual loss to the community of qualified architects and builders.
Arts (Dean: Professor H. F. Simon)
It is customary in the University to have matters of academic policy originating in departments debated at considerable length in Faculty or in one of its committees before making a recommendation to the Profes- sorial Board or to Council. Almost every other proposal goes directly from the department to the administration for decision. It is true that the ad- ministration will often seek a faculty view before arriving at such a de- cision, but the faculty's role has been consultative and it has certainly not played a significant part in the allocation of the University's income.
When the University was smaller there were great advantages in this direct contact between departments and the central administration. At this stage of the University's development, however, when this Faculty has a student population as great or greater than that of the Australian National University there must be advantages in some decentralization of decision making, notably with respect to budgeting processes, and for a direct involvement of the Faculty in these processes. It is not without significance, therefore, that the Faculty was successful in 1968 in devising a faculty budget which enabled it to meet the 6 75% cut for the Faculty as a whole. It should be stressed, however, that in the long run budgeting is possible on a faculty basis with satisfaction only if the faculty can be assured of its proper share of the University's income from year to year and so long as the resources to allocate this income speedily, efficiently and flexibly are made available to it.
Agreement was reached in the course of this year on tlie implementa- tion of an earlier recommendation for a common first year for Honours and Pass Students. Faculty also agreed, after prolonged discussion of pre- requisites, to accept a pass in a matriculation mathematics subject to- gether with a pass in a foreign language at the leaving level as an al- ternative to a pass in a matriculation foreign language
Total enrolments reached 3,050 equivalent full time students in 1968.
Included in this figure are 495 equivalent full time students enrolled for higher degrees, an increase of 55 from 1967.
Early in the year the Education Committee felt that their discussions would be a great deal more fruitful if they could draw on the services of students, not as observers but as full voting members of the Committee.
By a resolution of Faculty the constitution of the Committee was there- fore changed to allow for the co-option of three student members. It was agreed that the three students would be nominated at a special meeting of representatives of departmental student clubs and of the executive of the Arts Faculty Association.
The joint committee of the Arts Faculty Association and Faculty con- tinued to meet at regular intervals throughout the year.
There were further delays in obtaining the Australian Universities Commission approval for notional plans for Arts South early in 1968, but approval has now been granted for two six storey towers linked at the fourth and fifth level and authority has been given to proceed with
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working drawings. Unfortunately it is unlikely that the buildings can now be completed before the end of 1970.
We had also expected that Mathematics and Statistics would be able to move into Old Anatomy in February or March of 1969, thus giving some little rehef to the most hard pressed departments in the New Arts Building. But it now seems unlikely that this will happen before the end of 1969.
The Dean would hke to place on record the very great debt Faculty owes to his predecessor, Professor Jackson. He would also like to record his thanks to the Assistant Dean, the Faculty Secretary and the Acting Sub-Dean and to their staff for their devoted service throughout tlie year. Agreement has now been reached in principle to join the Faculty office and that of the Faculty Secretary. Physical provision has been made for this new office in the plans for the first floor of Arts South.
Dental Science (Dean: Professor H. F. Atkinson)
The better standard of students entering Dental Science has improved the pass rate in all years so that more students are remaining in the course. This has emphasized the need for more accommodation and staff at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Research activity has con- tinued to increase and as a result more grants have been attracted from outside bodies and the need for a graduate school in Dental Science has developed.
In order to increase tlie quota and remedy deficiencies in teaching, submissions have been made to the Australian Universities Commission.
In view of the shortage of dental graduates in Victoria, similar requests have been laid before the Ministerial Advisory Committee.
Economics and Commerce (Dean: Professor W. Prest)
During 1968, for the second year in succession, there was an increase in the number of enrolments both for the Bachelor of Commerce degree and for postgraduate courses. This increase occurred although the Faculty's quota of 350 equivalent full time students for first-year entrants remained unchanged. It should be noted, however, that the primary pur- pose of the quota is not to stabilize the overall enrolment, but to limit the size of the large first-year classes to the numbers that can be handled with existing staff and accommodation.
The Faculty's accommodation needs were indicated in the University's submission to the Australian Universities Commission. No further de- velopments have occurred during the year, but the needs are still urgent.
As a contribution to the solution of the problem of teaching large classes the Economic Geography Department has experimented with an in- dividual learning program for first-year students. Some relief has also been obtained in the Economics Department by the employment of additional temporary tutors financed out of salary savings.
During the year Mr G. A. Blainey was appointed Professor of Eco- nomic History, and Dr E. Dunsdorfs was appointed Professor of Eco- nomics with duties in die same Department. Miss M. M. Bayne retired after many years' service as Senior Lecturer-in-Charge of the Department of Economic Geography, and was succeeded by Dr R. K. Wilson who re- turned after two years' leave of absence in Papua-New Guinea. Mr R. A.
Samek resigned as Reader in Legal Studies in order to take a Chair at
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Dalhousie University in Canada, and was succeeded as Head of the De- partment by Mr St.J. Hannigan.
Reports on the Faculty's research projects will be included in due course in the University's Research Report. Here it may be mentioned that the year 1968 saw the successful launching of the Australian Eco- nomic Review by the Institute of Applied Economic Research. Arrange- ments were also made for the amalgamation of the Institute with die Department of Research in Social Studies. The Economics Department instituted new postgraduate courses for the degree of Master of Arts in Economics, by course work.
During the year the Faculty was host to Professor Mark Perlman of the University of Pittsburgh during his tenure of a Fulbright Fellowship.
Dr Peter Drake, Senior Lecturer in Economics, has been awarded a Nuffield Travelling Fellowship in the Social Sciences for 1969.
Much of the time of senior members of the Faculty has been ab- sorbed during the past year in discussions concerning the budget for 1968-69, and proposed changes in die undergraduate course. The latter proposals have been presented to Faculty and will be transmitted to the appropriate University bodies in 1969. The Dean expresses his thanks to all members of the Executive Committee and of the Course and Curri- culum Committee, and particularly to the Associate Dean (Professor L.
Goldberg) and the Sub-Dean (Mr J. H. Reeves) for their help and co- operation during the year.
Education (Dean: Professor A. G. Austin)
Within the Department of Education the demand for places in the first year of the Bachelor of Education course could not be satisfied, and forty graduates had to be referred to Monash University. However, the cessation of external tuition had the effect of reducing the number of ap- plicants for enrolment and re-enrolment in the second year of the course, and many country teachers now find themselves with incomplete degrees in Education.
During the year the Faculty approved a new structure for the second year course whereby candidates will proceed by taking units of study rather than subjects. This innovation, if approved by the Professorial Board, will come into operation in 1970.
Curriculum revision committees are currently planning changes in the structure of the first year Bachelor of Education course and the Master of Education degree.
The services of the Offices within the Centre for the Study of Higher Education were again used extensively by many sections of the Uni- versity. The Education Research Office has been engaged on an evalua- tion of current university selection procedures and the development of more efficient selection formulae. The University Teaching Office has prepared a multilith publication, Principles and Techniques of Under- graduate Examining in the University of Melbourne which has been circulated within the University and, on request, to other institutions.
Engineering (Dean: Professor M. E. Hargreaves)
As a result of a new policy of allowing students repeating first year the maximum possible exemption in practical work, thereby freeing places for new students, student numbers showed a slight increase. On
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the other hand, because this is the transition year for students completing diplomas under the new syllabus at technical colleges, the "block exemp- tion" entry into third year was much lower than usual.
It has been possible to make some innovations with respect to courses.
These include a postgraduate course in Biological Engineering conducted jointly by the departments of Microbiology and Chemical Engineering and the introduction of elective subjects in the final year of the Civil Engineering course. The treatment of Transport Engineering in third year courses has been expanded and a series of seminars on this subject arranged. Topics in the field of rock mechanics have been included in the subjects Mining Parts I and II.
Research has been maintained at a healthy level and the number of postgraduate students reached a record of 168. Again the financial con- tributions from industry, governmental and semi-governmental sources have been vital to this programme, and to our teaching. Such substantial purchases of equipment as have been possible have been made mainly with funds from these sources.
The notable building development is the construction of the Chemical Engineering building, unfortunately on a scale rather less than is ade- quate for the needs of the department. There is urgent need for extra for three other departments namely Electronics, Metallurgy and Civil En- gineering.
Staff movement during the year has been minimal. The present mem- bers of staff have apparently decided to see the Faculty through and they are to be complimented on their loyalty and the degree to which stand- ards have been maintained. Participation of many members of staff in the affairs of various technical societies and committees has continued at a high level.
The Faculty Workshop is a source of some concern particularly with respect to the construction of research equipment. The staff is in fact two less in number than it was four years ago, when the number of post- graduate students was only about half what is it now.
Overall the picture is of a successful holding operation, with every effort being made to maintain standards, but with some frustration that so little development is possible. More scope for tutorials and the further development of postgraduate teaching seem to be the most favoured features.
Law (Dean: Professor H. A. J. Ford)
The enrolment of the Law School remains high with 1,270 under- graduates and 16 postgraduate students.
The second stage of the new curriculum adopted by the Faculty of Law in 1965 was introduced in the third year of the Bachelor of Laws course. Mr. K. M. Hayne was selected as Rhodes Scholar for Victoria for 1969.
Some contribution to continuing legal education for the legal pro- fession was made in the fields of Company Law, Contract and Taxation.
A Visiting Fulbright Lecturer, Mr Sidney Picker Jr, conducted a very successful seminar on Intemational Trade Law as part of the teaching in Pubhc Intemational Law. As soon as staffing permits the addition of a specialist in this area to the permanent staff it will be possible to provide regular teaching in this field. Teaching in Restrictive Trade Practices was
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also introduced in 1968 as part of the honours programme in Mercantile Law.
Members of the full-time staff continued to provide research services for outside bodies such as the Law Society for Asia and the Western Pacific, the Chief Justice's Law Reform Committee and the Trade Com- mittee of the Law Council of Australia. A number of research projects within the field of natural resources law are in progress.
The pressing need to reduce the size of classes in many subjects remains and it is hoped that more teaching resources will be provided for the Law School so as to reduce the unfavourable staff-student ratio which now obtains.
Medicine (Dean: Professor S. Sunderland)
Since 1958, departments of the Faculty of Medicine have moved to the south-west comer of the campus as new buildings were completed.
The final stage in the transfer of the Medical School involved one major move for the remaining departments which, in 1968, occupied the triradiate building with its elegant facade to Grattan Street. The design of this building divides the departments into three wings — Physiology in the north, Anatomy in the east, and Pathology, Experimental Neurology, and Faculty Administration in the west. The University now has a well- integrated centre for medical training and research and as the Medical School enters the second century of its existence it finds itself, in its physical concept and design, admirably placed to meet the challenge of the years ahead.
The number of students in the course continued to rise as the expan- sion programme moved into its second year. The number of students in the second year of the course increased by 42 reaching a total of 218.
Under the expansion programme, the Austin Hospital will accommodate the increased number of students in the clinical years of the course. So that the hospital would be experienced in the teaching of students before accepting the numbers expected under the expansion programme, a few students were again accepted into the fourth year at that hospital in November, 1968.
The high pass rates in the later years of the course were maintained, but Faculty is still concerned by the lower pass rates in the first and second years of the course.
Research continued at a high standard but many worthwhile projects had to be curtailed due to lack of adequate funds. The Medical Research Committee received applications from departments for approved projects amounting to $422,840 whereas the sum of $173,320 was available.
Competition for postgraduate medical scholarships continued to be keen and because of this keen competition many excellent candidates did not gain scholarships.
The Mathison Memorial Lecture and Halford Oration, which are held triennially, were delivered in 1968 by Professor Rubbo and Professor Lovell respectively. Both lectures were well attended by members of the medical profession and the public.
Music (Dean: Professor G. F. Loughlin)
The student enrolment in the Faculty was 266. Of this number 256 were undergraduates, whilst ten were working for postgraduate degrees, including two Doctor of Philosophy students. There were 78 Arts students
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taking music as a subject for Bachelor of Arts or Master of Arts. The Bachelor of Music and Diploma in Music enrolment represented an increase of 36 on the 1967 figure.
There have been few staff changes during the year, Mr Roy Shepherd was appointed Acting Vice-Director of the Conservatorium during Dr Percy Jones' absence on leave. Mr Nigel Butterley of Sydney was in 1967 the first winner of the Albert H. Maggs Composition Award. This is to be the commission of a major work to be written for the University.
The winner of the 1968 award is Mr Larry Sitsky of Canberra.
Under the continuing agreement between the University and the Aus- tralian Broadcasting Commission, another summer festival of four con- certs was presented by the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra in the Sidney Myer Music Bowl.
Conservatorium public concerts have included a wide range of works, comprising orchestral music, concertos, settings for choir and orchestra and chamber music. Australian composers represented were Margaret Sutherland, Percy Grainger, Peter Sculthoipe, George Dreyfus, Keith Humble and Ian Bonnighton. Lunch hour concerts in the Wilson Hall have continued as a part of the University's musical life. Workshop activities are being maintained in the Grainger Museum, and the regular student recitals on Mondays have produced some interesting perform- ances.
The work of the Australian Music Examinations Board has been further extended this year. The number of Victorian candidates was 16,381, this figure showing an increase of 246 on the number in 1967. The importance of the examination system to music in this State is inestimable.
The Faculty Library is a most important centre of study, but it is too small for its purpose. The present accommodation, which was allotted years ago by changing the position of the Library within the building, is now quite inadequate to meet the needs of staff and students. The Faculty wishes to express its thanks to the German Consulate General for kindly lending to it a Wagner Pictorial Exhibition. The Faculty is also grateful to the French Embassy and to the International Gustav Mahler Society for the loan of a number of important scores. Gifts from several generous donors are much appreciated.
The present Conservatorium building is unable to fulfil the require- ments of a modern Music School. Accommodation is cramped and in short supply; there are no practising rooms and there is no sound- proofing system. We are without a staff common room, the administration is on two floors and it is impossible to run the institution on a proper departmental basis. It is to be hoped that new accommodation and an enlargement of the staff establishment can be provided in the forthcoming Triennium. In this way a situation which is having a bad effect on morale, including that of the students, will be rectified.
The Dean wishes to express his appreciation to the University Council for its continued support of musical activities, and to thank the members of his Faculty and of the staff for their splendid co-operation during the year.
Science (Dean: Professor J. S. Tumer)
The new course for Bachelor of Science in Education was conducted in both first and second years during 1968. Thanks are due to the Secon-
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dary Teachers' College for the very considerable assistance being given by way of provision of staff at many levels and the re-imbursement of maintenance expenditure. The Faculty is specially indebted to Mr D.
Driscoll of the College who has acted, in effect, as Sub-Dean for die course. Professor A. Buchanan has also given a great deal of his time as Chairman of the Bachelor of Science in Education Steering Committee.
The points score system, introduced for the Bachelor of Science in 1967, is proving popular with students, to whom it offers a greater choice of subjects. However, it has accentuated the already difficult problems of time-table and accommodation.
The Faculty arranged to accommodate students of Optometry and Dietetics when the Faculty of Applied Science is disbanded.
The Honours course is now replacing the first year of the Master of Science to a very large extent and a thorough revision of the regulations for Honours and Master of Science has been carried out during the year.
Most departments were very active in research and during the year members of the Faculty published 256 papers and continued with the training of 122 Honours, 213 Master of Science and 220 Doctor of Philo- sophy students.
At the end of the year Mr Malcolm Hill did not put forward his name for re-election as Sub-Dean, and after a year's sabbatical leave he will return to the Department of Industrial Science as senior lecturer. Faculty would wish to place on record its appreciation of Mr Hill's immense energy and competence. Miss Eunice McKenzie should also be thanked for her untiring work. She has been elected Sub-Dean for 1969.
Members of the Faculty are doing excellent work in teaching and research but there is undoubtedly a lack of co-ordination between departments and a real need for a thorough overhaul of course structure.
It may be necessary to split the Faculty into two sections, one dealing with biological and one with physical sciences, and possibly to have separate quotas for these. It is to be hoped that a full-time Dean can be appointed in the next Triennium.
Veterinary Science (Dean: Professor D. C. Blood)
The year has been one of considerable activity and development in the relatively new School of Veterinary Science. The fervent demand for entry to the undergraduate course, either at first or second year level, persists, apphcations far exceeding the accommodation available. In consequence, an extremely high academic standard is required of aspiring veterinarians. Among those who gained admission were several students from other soudiem states not yet provided with veterinary schools. As may have been expected, high pass rates were maintained in all years of the course.
Some course changes have been made, more particularly in the teach- ing and training in animal husbandry. Policy concerning faculty passes and supplementary examinations has been changed and it is planned to review further the curriculum in the coming year. Additional prizes have been donated for the later years of the course.
Research activity has increased, projects being undertaken in a wide range of subjects, resulting in a steady flow of candidates for higher degrees.
The feasibility of increasing intake and accommodation of students
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is being investigated by the Austrahan Universities Commission in con- junction with enquiries into the needs of other southern states.
There has been a normal rate of resignations and new appointments to staff. A visiting professor from the United States spent most of the year in the Department of Para-clinical Sciences. Staff and Faculty members gained several honours during the year, including one New Year Honour.
The courtesy title of "Doctor" has been approved by the Australian Veterinary Association for use by all veterinarians. However, this does not extend to university business, in which titles appropriate to academic status are used.
6. The Library
The library book stock at the end of 1968 amounted to 549,099 volumes, a net addition of 26,802 volumes to a total at the end of 1967.
Income from private sources was relatively small ($12,100 in 1968), but the hbrary did receive a grant of $25,000 from the American Council of Leamed Societies (to be matched by the University by 1971) for the expansion of the American Studies section of the library. The collection of fine prints in the Baillieu Library has increased largely through the trans- fer on indefinite loan of 3,500 prints from the Print Room of the National Gallery of Victoria in 1967.
The new Brownless medical hbrary, opened in 1967, continued to pro- vide excellent facilities for medical readers and the transfer of stored medical material from the Bailheu Library gave some temporary relief . to die latter. The services provided by the library have increased enor- mously. The growing demands of undergraduate students, the increase in the number of graduate students and the continued pressure of inter- library loans imposed considerable strain on the library's resources and staff. Library lending increased to more than 383,000 volumes, an increase of 45% over the previous year. Door entries to the library rose to 1,667,000.
Work began on the extensions to the Baillieu Library building which were approved for completion in the Triennium 1967-69. Because of rising costs it has been necessaiy once again to reduce the scope of the original scheme, most particularly reducing the north-western extension from five to three usable levels, thus almost eliminating the capacity of the extension to house additional book stock. The south-western extension will chiefly provide additional reading spaces, while the north-western extension will provide space for the Research Collection to be moved from the existing building, thus enabling 700 additional reading spaces to be provided.
The library continues to process a number of noted collections ac- quired in recent years (the capital Hotimsky collection of Russian books).
Further details, together with an indication of the library's services and the difficulties experienced in "expansion" are set out in the Annual Report of the library which is available on request.
7. Research
As mentioned in the 1967 Report, the research section of the University was greatly helped in its difficult situation in 1968 by a vote of $100,000 from the Victorian Govemment. This enabled the Standing Research Committee to offer 72 new research grants when it had been feared that only twenty could be offered. As a result, numbers of students enrolled for
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postgraduate degrees in 1968 fell only by 96 to 1,198 from the 1,294 en- rolled in 1967. The 1,198 was made up as follows:
Doctor of Philosophy students—Full-time 307, Part-time 141, Total 448.
Master students—Full-time 375, Part-time, 375, Total 750.
The number supported by grants and scholarships from University funds fell from 298 to 196 but the number of students holding Common- wealth Postgraduate Awards rose from 178 in 1967 to 213 in 1968 al- though the number of new awards was approximately the same in the two years. (For 1969, it is pleasing to note, new Commonwealth awards have risen by 20%, to 104, and the total held in the University is 285.)
During the year it was necessary to make a report on the total amount of money available for research in the University and it was interesting but somewhat alarming to note that while the total for 1967 came to
$3,440,000, only about $900,000 of this was available for distribution by the University itself. The larger part was given for work on specified projects and to a large extent was not available for the encouragement of postgraduate students and their work.
In spite of efforts towards brevity in reporting, the annual Research Report of the University increased once again in size from 556 pages to 649. The quality of work done was also once again indicated by the award, by United Kingdom judges, of three 1851 Exhibition Scholarships to Melbourne University students. Only fourteen of these scholarships are given to universities throughout the (British) Commonwealth.
8. Buildings
1968 saw the completion of the last of the 1964/66 and the commence- ment of most of the 1967/69 projects. The major single activity for the year was the completion of the Medical Centre, housing the Departments of Anatomy, Pathology, Physiology, Experimental Neurology and Medical Administration. The building was completed on the 3rd June, 1968, and as some sections of departments had been able to move in before this date,' teaching commenced on time on the first day of second term. Site works around the building are now being carried out and it is hoped that these will be completed by the middle of 1969.
After five years work was completed on the new Students' Union in October, 1968. Alterations to the western end of the building had been made to incorporate a completely remodelled cafeteria. And over the last two years an entirely new building, including the first stage of a tower block at the eastern end, has been completed.
In the same area of the grounds the new Administration Building, to be known as the Raymond Priestley Building, neared completion. The building is expected to be finished at the end of March and the various administration departments which have been for many years dispersed throughout the grounds will move into the building during April 1969.
Completion of the Union and the Administration Building and tlie consequent demolition of the Accounts Building will enable the recon- struction of two very important areas of the grounds. The University's Grounds Committee is proceeding with plans for full reconstruction of the two new quadrangles formed by these buildings; the Old Commerce Lawn and the new Administration Courtyard. It is expected that these works will be completed during mid-1969, returning these areas into a pleasant precinct in close proximity to the Students' Union.
0 ANNUAL REPORT
The Chemical Engineering building for which grants were available in the 1964/66 Triennium and the 1967/69 Triennium proceeded during 1968.
Reconstruction of the Law School is proceeding although adverse tenders delayed the commencement of the construction of the new Council Chamber and two Case Theatres for the Law School. This work will commence in February, 1969. The work for the mechanical ventila- tion and heating of the Law Library will commence towards the end of the long vacation 1968/69 and refurbishing of the areas vacated by Ad- ministration will also be completed in 1969. The next stage of the exten- sions to the Bailheu Library commenced in 1968 to provide additional reading space and a new tower at the northern end of the Library. These extensions are expected to be completed by November, 1969.
One of the University's major problems in this building programme, the Arts South block planned for construction across the main drive, is at last proceeding smoothly after very involved and lengthy negotiations throughout 1968. The Australian Universities Commission has now ap- proved the sketch plans. Working drawings are proceeding with a view to call for tenders in July 1969. Construction would then be completed in early 1971.
Another major problem has been the re-allocation of space in the Old Anatomy and Old Pathology buildings. Plans are proceeding for the demolition of the Old Physiology, Pharmacology and Anthropology build- ings on the north-east comer of the campus. The Old Medical Lecture Theatres have aheady been demolished to clear the site for the Physics Complex; the major part of our request for the 1970/72 Triennium. The University is proposing to allocate space to the following departments in Old Anatomy: Mathematics, Statistics, Computation, a small area for Electronics, and central services sections such as Duphcating the Porters and Stationery Store. In Old Pathology space is proposed for Business Administration, Metallurgy, Education, Psychology, Pharamcology and a small section of the Registrar's Faculty secretariat. Work is expected to commence in this area in mid-1969.
A contract was let for extensions to University House just before Christmas 1968 and the work is expected to be concluded by approxi- mately July 1969.
At Mt Derrimut additional wings to the student residential accommo- dation were completed early in 1968 together with the Animal Husbandry Project Laboratory. The Biology Laboratory is expected to start in early 1969.
1968 was also a major year for hospital building projects.
At the Royal Melbourne Hospital additional student accommodation is being provided and it is hoped that extensions for Radiology and a new lecture theatre will be commenced in early 1969.
At St Vincent's Hospital a clinical teaching building was under con- struction throughout 1968 and this is expected to be completed in the early part of 1969. The extensions to the Clinical School for residential accommodation were completed in mid-1968. At the Austin Hospital, the student teaching building was completed in May to accommodate Uni- versity departments and the first intake of students. Tenders for the main building were received just prior to Christmas 1968 and a contract has been let for construction on the Joint Hospital and University Building
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which will incorporate a six-floor University teaching building; construc- ted on a podium under which will be die Hospital's departments of Casualty, X-Ray and Inpatients. The second stage of the Hospital's work will be to construct a ward block which will be linked to the University's building.
Construction at the Mercy Hospital is proceeding, and work should commence in 1969 on a new hospital building for the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital to incorporate the department of Ophthalmology.
The University is purchasing land in Carlton as funds become avail- able and is hoping for the support of the Australian Universities Com- mission for funds for further purchases to enable re-development of the area.
9. Finance
The Finance Section of the 1967 Annual Report explained the cir- cumstances in which the University found it necessary to take steps to reduce the level of its full establishment expenditure estimates for 1967 by $768,500, of which only a little over half could be expected to result from unavoidable vacancies in established positions.
In order to spread the reduction as evenly as possible over all depart- ments, it was decided late in 1966 that the reduction target for each department should be an amount equal to seven per cent of the total of:
( a ) the estimated 1967 salaries for all positions on the department's establishment at October 1966,
( b ) the department's allowances for part-time teaching staff and for overtime.
(c) the departmental recurring vote for running expenses, at the 1966 level.
It was clear at the time that the limitations of the University's re- current income would require those reductions to be imposed throughout the 1967-69 Triennium.
Accordingly, provision was made for departments to plan their reductions on a triennial basis and, subject to approval, to vary the incidence of the total reductions requirement for the Triennium as between the years 1967, 1968 and 1969. In a number of cases, unexpected vacancies resulted in higher reductions than had been planned for 1967, and the resulting unused funds were carried forward in a separate fund to meet the reduction targets and expenditure of the departments concemed in the remaining years of the Triennium.
Although the University's recurrent income under Section 3 of the Universities (Financial Assistance) Act increased by $ 1 4 2 million in 1968, $720,000 of this increase was provided specifically to meet the additional cost in 1968 of the academic salary increases which had been approved to commence from 1st July, 1967. The remaining $700,000 rep- resented an increase of 4 8% of the University's original recurrent income approved for 1967 under Section 3 of the Universities (Financial Assist- ance) Act 1966.
When the detailed estimates for 1968 were considered in the last quarter of 1967, it was clear that the University would face very sub- stantial increases in expenditure in 1968, in addition to those resulting from the operation of the academic salary rises for a full year (as com- pared with six months in 1967).
A N N U A L REPORT
These increases in expenditure resulted from a number of factors, including:
( a ) the planned expansion of the Medical Faculty, particularly by the estabhshment of new departments located at die Austin Hos- pital Chnical School and by expansion of pre-clinical depart- ments at the University itself.
(The planning for the expansion of the Medical Faculty had com- menced in 1963, with the approval of the State Government and the Australian Universities Commission, in order to meet the community's need for more doctors. The expansion was designed to increase to 240 the number of students entering the second year of the Medical Course, as an alternative to the estabhshment of a third Medical School in Victoria, which would have been a much more expensive operation);
( b ) expected increases in the salary rates of non-academic staff (in- cluding the effect of a full year's cost for the total-wage increase approved from July 1967);
(c) general increases in costs as a result of inflation and price rises;
( d ) increased costs of building services, particularly following the occupation of the new Medical Centre and other new buildings;
(e) the necessity to provide some funds for meeting emergency staffing needs in academic departments in 1968;
(f) the need for a small number of new positions in the Central Ad- ministration (particularly for the development of the Central Registry and the Administration Computer Services Section);
and
(g) limited increases in the allocations for research and for grants towards the expenses of members of staff attending conferences of learned societies or going overseas on study leave.
As these increases exceeded the additional income available to the University in 1968 by over $100,000, it was decided to delete from the 1968 budget the amount of a little over $100,000, which had been pro- vided in each of 1966 and 1967 as grants to departments for the purchase of apparatus and equipment. By this means, the total of overall reduc- tions necessary on the 1968 full-estabhshment budget was kept to
$771,500, or very slightly above the reductions which had been planned on the original 1967 full-estabhshment budget.
As set out earlier in this section, funds which had accrued in depart- mental budgets as a result of fortuitous vacancies in 1967 were carried forward in a separate fund, to meet the reductions targets and expen- ditures of the departments concemed for the later years of the Triennium.
This had been a departure from the University's previous practices in relation to departmental budgets, and had been approved at the end of 1966 in order to temper the severity of the 7% cuts imposed for 1967.
In 1968, a review of those budgeting procedures led to a decision that funds becoming available in departmental budgets after Slst July, 1968, from fortuitous vacancies and odier unplanned reductions, would revert to the General Fund for reallocation.
It was clear diat the reductions targets would have to be maintained
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for the whole Triennium, but it was hoped then that sums which re- verted to the Central Budget as a result of fortuitous vacancies would enable tiie University to begin remedying some of its more striking anomalies and deficiencies.
In the event, these funds had to be reserved to meet the 1969 costs of salary increases already approved, or expected to be approved, for non-academic staff.
Shortly after the 1968 budget had been settled in December, 1967, the Commonwealth Conciliation and Arbitration Commission handed down its decision in the Metal Trades Case.
The University is not a respondent to the Metal Trades Award, and apart from some classifications which are subject to determination by State Wages Boards, the salary scales for non-academic staff have been based on community levels.
The University Council decided therefore that adjustments to the salary scales of technical staff should not be considered until the policies of the Commonwealth and State Governments in relation to their em- ployees were known.
At the same time it was appreciated that the effect of the increases approved in the Metal Trades Case would be to raise community salary levels sooner or later, and in turn this would lead to substantial increases in the University's salary scales for non-academic staff.
Concern as to how these costs could be met from the University's in- come (which had been determined in 1966 on the basis that increases in the 1967-69 Triennium would be at a much lower level) dominated thinking on budgets throughout 1968, and is still the most important factor in our financial planning for the balance of this Triennium.
In July, 1968, a consent award was made in the Technical Officers' Case before the Commonwealth Pubhc Service Arbitrator. As a result of this award, technical and drafting staff employed in the Common- wealdi Public Service, the C.S.I.R.O., and the Austrahan National Uni- versity received substantial increases retrospectively to January, 1968.
After consideration of this award and of a claim from the General Staff Association, the University agreed to increase salary scales of technical staff by an average of 13 3%, effective from 1st August, 1968, pending the result of the approach made to the A.U.C. for additional funds.
This increase and other probable salary rises which were expected to flow to members of the non-academic staff as a result of other cases before the Arbitration Commission and other authorities were estimated to cost between $500,000 and $700,000 in 1969.
The Budgets Sub-Committee knew that, if an increase of this mag- nitude eventuated, the University would face a huge deficit in 1969 unless additional govemment grants were received or substantial funds could be reserved in 1968 and carried forward to 1969.
In the light of the additional grant approved for the Austrahan Na- tional University in respect of increases in non-academic salaries, it was decided to make an immediate approach to the Austrahan Universities Commission for additional funds for diis University in this Triennium.
The submission was sent to the A.U.C, on 1st October, 1968. It was argued on the basis that salary increases already approved or in prospect were so very much higher tiian those which were thought to have been
A N N U A L REPORT
taken into account in die determination in 1966 of the University's re- current income for the 1967-69 Triennium that the circumstance pre- sented an "exceptional case" within the terms of the statement made in the Senate by the Minister for Education and Science on 21st September, 1966. At the time of preparing tiiis report, the University has not re- ceived advice as to the decision on this submission.
As the year progressed, it became clearer that substantial amounts from departmental budgets would become available for reallocation as a result of fortuitous vacancies and other unplanned reductions in the last five months of the year. Additional amounts would also be available from the unspent balance of die Contingency Provision and from savings on some expenditure items.
As no reply had been received from the Australian Universities Com- mission to. our request for additional grants to meet salary increases, and as a substantial deficit appeared certain in 1969, it was decided that planning at that stage should provide for the carrying forward of the balance in hand at the end of 1968 for use in 1969.
The 1969 Estimates presented for approval in December 1968, in- cluded a full year's cost for the technical staff increases approved from 1st August 1968, and for the total-wage increase approved from 1st November 1968. The Budget also included an allowance of $210,000 for an estimated increase of 10% in the salary scales for non-technical, non- academic staff from die beginning of 1969.
On this basis, and even after reducing the full-establishment estimates by $800,000 for required departmental reductions and by a further
$200,000 for reductions expected to result from fortuitous vacancies, the Budget showed that estimated expenditure would still exceed available income by over $370,000.
The review of the 1968 Estimates indicated that sufficient funds would have accrued at the end of 1968 to cover this estimated deficit in 1969, and the Council decided to appropriate for this purpose $370,800 of the 1968 balance in the General Fund.
The actual income and expenditure of the University General Fund for 1968 is set out in the statement included at the end of this reportf In summary, this statement shows:
1967 1968 Total General Fund Income $15,669,885 $17,183,952 Less General Fund Expenditure and Nor-
mal Appropriations $15,669,885 $16,773,680
Excess of Income over Expenditure $410,272 Less Amount Appropriated towards meet-
ing the Estimated Deficit in 1969 $370,800 Balance of the 1968 Surplus carried for-
ward for reallocation in 1969 $39,472 In considering this statement, two points should be kept in mind:
(a) The University's recurrent income is determined for three years in advance, and 1968 was the second year of this Triennium.
While specific amounts are provided each year from the total t Not included in Calendar edition. See prefatory note,
UNIVERSITY CALENDAR
grants approved for the Triennium, it is necessary for the Uni- versity to plan its expenditure so that income and expenditure will be in balance for the whole three year period. As happened in 1968 this sometimes involves planning for a surplus in one year of die Triennium in order to meet the probable deficit in a later year.
( b ) Although it proved possible to plan for a surplus in 1968 to meet requirements in 1969, this involved withholding funds which could have been reallocated to great advantage in remedying anomalies and deficiencies which exist in the University, and which have been accentuated by the cuts in departmental budgets in recent years.
Turning from the 1967-69 Triennium to the next Triennium, the University's representatives had the opportunity in September, 1968, of presenting to the Australian Universities Commission our case for additional funds for the years 1970-72.
For the 1967-69 Triennium, recurrent income provided under the Universities (Finance Assistance) Acts, together with substantial ad- ditional funds made available by the State Government, will amount to approximately $51 5 milhon. A continuation of income for three years at the 1969 level, however, would total $54 6 million.
The University's requests, as presented to die A.U.C. last September, totalled $74 7 million for the three years 1970-72—an increase of almost 37% over the amount which would be received if the University's re- current income (including the additional amounts made available by the State Govemment) continued for these three years at the 1969 level.
Some of the increases requested are set out below (the figures shown are totals for the three years):
$ 1 5 milhon to improve allocations for research and postgraduate training,
$ 1 6 million allowance for an increase in the rate of the University's Contribution to Staff Superannuation and Provident Fund Schemes in respect of existing positions and for additional mem- bers of staff in existing positions to join such schemes,
$2 0 million for teaching and research equipment and hbrary re- search materials to remedy existing deficiencies in these areas,
$0 4 million for equipment for the new Engineering Laboratories,
$0 6 million for meeting additional expenses of Chnical Schools in Teaching Hospitals,
$3 6 million to meet the cost of specified new developments in academic departments,
$ 0 6 million for the additional operating costs of a new scientific Computer,
$2 6 million for other new staff positions, mainly to remedy existing deficiencies.
As a result of salary increases in 1968 and 1969 for members of the non-academic staff, the University will end die Triennium with expendi- ture running well above the level of income. The University is also anxious to begin remedying some of the deficiencies which have been accentuated by cuts enforced in the current Triennium.
For tiiese reasons, our Submission requested a very much higher in-
ANNUAL REPORT
crease in recurrent income in the first year of the Triennium tJian the increases requested for 1971 and 1972.
Following correspondence late in 1968 between the Chairman of the Australian Universities Commission and the Chairman of the Australian Vice-Chancellors' Committee, all Universities were invited to revise their submissions to take account of salary increases in 1968 and 1969 which proved to be greater than had been predicted in the original sub- missions and which will affect the estimates submitted for die 1970-72 Triennium.
The University has increased its request for funds for the years 1970, 1971 and 1972 by a total of $ 1 3 million to allow for salary rates in these years at higher levels than was expected earher because of the higher salary increases in 1968 and 1969.
10. Student Affairs and the Union
The re-building of the new Union House continued throughout 1968 and was completed by the end of the year, bringing into use in successive stages the Union and Guild Theatres, lounges, the Rowden White Library and office accommodation for the Students Representative Council, the Union Council, Farrago and the Union staff. The two floors in the tower block with accommodation for meeting rooms for clubs and societies and a games area, offering facilities for art and rehearsal rooms, billiards, chess and cards, were completed during third term.
The Rowden White Library and Ewing Gallery were formally opened by Sir George Paton on 19th September, 1968. The occasion also marked the naming of the new council chamber for the Students Representative Council, as the George Paton Room.
The Rowden White Library—which from its opening quickly demon- strated its popularity with students—incorporates some of the architec- tural features of the old hbrary. It houses the original nucleus of books including those given by the late Sir A. E. Rowden White and other donors, and offers additional space for the expansion of the Library which continues to grow with the help of a fixed grant from the Union Board and die generous support of Miss Doris Kilbum. Two music rooms, adjacent to the Library, offer facihties for groups and individuals listening to records. Miss Sue Mackinnon was appointed Librarian in August 1968.
At the end of March, Mr David Gourlay took up his duties as Warden of the Union. Mrs Deidre Stockdale succeeded Mr Charles Coppel as Chairman of the Union Board of Directors and Dr Robert Hall, Under- graduate Representative on University Council, joined die Board in August in succession to Mr Paul Mulqueen. Mr Bruce Hartnett, Presi- dent of die Students Representative Council, was succeeded by Mr Brian Burdeldn and Mr Ian Renard, Chairman of the Union Council, by Mr Uldis Ozolins. Mr Gregor Macaulay was elected to the Board in July for a term of two years as the first Director under the new provisions of the amended constitution of the Union which allow for two directors to be elected by Union Members, one being elected in each year for a two year period.
Professor R. F. Henderson gave notice of his resignation as Hon.
Treasurer towards the end of the year and is to be succeeded in 1969 by Mr K. A. Middleton. Mr R. R. Priestley, Vice-Chancellor's Representative on the Board, who will be absent on sabbatical leave during 1969, in-
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timated that Professor J. D. McCaughey, Master of Ormond College, would take his place on the Board. In December, Mr Ian Robinson suc- ceeded Mrs Stockdale as Co-opted Member. Honorary Life Memberships of the Union have been conferred on Professor Henderson and Mrs Stock- dale in appreciation of their services.
During the year, die reconditioned Union Theatre was fully used by student dramatic groups, the Melbourne University Film Society and by visiting outside groups. The smaller Guild Theatre, equipped and fur- nished by the Town and Gown Guild, was officially opened by tiie Vice- Chancellor on SOth May, 1968, at a luncheon attended by Guild members.
In November, as a result of a review by the Board of theatre pohcy and the future development of student drama, it was decided to create a new appointment—Director of University Theatre. The Director is expected to promote and co-ordinate dramatic activity in the University and the setting up of a theatre workshop and actors' studio in the Union.
Mr George Whaley, formerly co-founder of the Emerald Hill Theatre and recently a member of the Melbourne Theatre Company, was appointed to the position.
A notable feature of student activity throughout the year was the fact that Union Nights, organised by the Union Council, attracted widespread support and participation. Thirteen Union Nights, with an average attendance of approximately 1,500, were held in 1968. The programme normally included films, a dance, discussion groups, play readings and talks by visiting speakers. The number of clubs and societies affiliated to the Union rose to seventy-one, a figure considerably higher than any previous year.
11. University Sport
In 1968 the use of the facilities for recreation purposes increased. In local competition University clubs achieved better results but in Inter- Varsity performances were shghtly down on previous years. However, Melbourne continues to be in the forefront of Inter-Varsity competition.
The increased use of facihties for recreation, Inter-Faculty, Inter-Col- legiate and Pennant competitions has taxed our very hmited ground facihties to the utmost. The relief of this position is receiving serious con- sideration by the Recreation Grounds Committee.
Mr Ralph Doubell became the first Melboume University sportsman to win a Gold Medal in Olympic competition when he won the 800 metres event at the Mexico City Olympic Games.
Two other matters have received the close attention of the Sports Union and Recreation Grounds Committee in 1968; the restoration of the running track by using oil as a component part which has been a great success and the decision to build a Sports Medicine Unit for the treatment of sporting injuries.
The Sports Union has made every effort to assist outside organizations.
The Physical Education Section of the Education Department, the Mel- bourne Teachers' College, the Victorian Amateur Athletic Association and various youth organizations have all made use of University facilities.
12. Graduate Union
The year past saw intense activity by the Graduate Council in the preparation of a Memorandum and Articles of Association for the incor- poration of the Society as a non-profit company hmited by guarantee. The
