A REDUCED GRANT TO THE UNIVERSITIES.
[TO THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR.")
enclose a copy of a letter which the sister Universities of Birmingham, Durham, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester and Sheffield have addressed to the Prime Minister, urging, on grounds of national importance, the danger of any reduction in the grants now made by Government to the Universities and University Colleges of Great Britain. Since its despatch to the Prime Minister, the Vice-Chancellors of the Universities of Oxford, Cambridge, London, Bristol, Wales, Glasgow and Aber- deen have expressed their concurrence in it in a separate letter 'addressed to Mr. Lloyd. George.
The Universities have received official information that it is proposed to reduce the grant, which in the year 1921-22 was £1,500,000, by the sum of £300,000. The reduction now announced will greatly embarrass the- Universities in their work, especially in the development of advanced studies in Science, Medicine, Literature and Technology. It will also inevitably restrict the work of the Universities in Adult Educa- tion. I am desired to express the hope of the Universities con- cerned that you will be so good as to publish the- enclosed printed memorandum in full or in part, and, if you think fit, support it by your infiuence.—I am, Sir, &c.,
MICHAEL E. SADLEE
(Vice-Chancellor of the University of Leeds). [The letter to the Prime Minister points out that the State
grants are at the lowest level. The Universities, as. Mr. Chamberlain testified, rendered most valuable assistance during, the War, and now, organized on a popular basis, " they- supply practical needs of the Empire which cannot be met from any other source." Their funds are inadequate; to pay their teachers fairly they need at least £500,000 a year more. They have practised strict economy, and have raised the fees, which form a third of their income. They have collected from private benefactors £1,175,000 in three years. The local authorities have increased their grants from £74,268 to .2135,868, and it was understood that the State would make a corresponding increase. Germany, America, Canada are doing much for their Universities by public and private subsidies and gifts. The signatories conclude by saying that the work of the. Universities " is part of the life insurance of the nation." and that " to fail to keep up the premiums would be unwise." We heartily sympathize with the appeal against a form of retrenchment which would be the falsest of false economy. At the same time, we cannot help wishing that the Universities had made a much more wide and more serious appeal to private benefaction. The older Universities are bound to lose some- thing of their freedom—and that is one of their most valuable possessions—under the system of State grants.—En. Spectator.]
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