Victoria University is currently facing a severe staff shortage. The deputy vice-chancellor, Professor I. D. Campbell, recently revealed that the University was "short of more than 60 teaching staff," and that there is "no hope of filling all the vacancies before the start of the teaching year."

Vacancies at that time included eight chairs, two in psychology, two in law, and one each in physical chemistry, geophysics, education and sociology.

In addition there were about 16 senior lectureships, 19 lectureships, about 20 junior lectureships and a librarian's position vacant.

Inquiries made by Salient to the administration failed to justify any reduction in these figures.

Professor Campbell says that few applications have been received and that part-time staff will have to be used.

This will mean that classes will be larger and present staff will have to bear a heavier burden.

In some cases, particularly where faculties lack professors, administration problems wili spiral.

Professor Campbell believes that the staff position has worsened since last year.

This has arisen despite better study facilities for staff in Rankine Brown building and the salary rises of 1963.

No Applicants

He says that the number of applicants for teaching positions in New Zealand universities is far too small to meet the current expansion programme.

Between August, 1964, and mid-July, 1965, out of 184 positions advertised 76 were not filled, he says.

Professor Sinclair also says that the Association of University Teachers made submissions to the Government in July, 1965, but nothing has been done.

The University Grants Committee has set up a committee to review university staff salaries and related matters and to report direct to the Government giving recommendations where necessary.

A spokesman for the University Grants Committee told Salient that the new committee will be an independent body accepted by the Government as the sole investigating authority within its terms of reference.

The committee will:

(a)	Undertake for Government a general review of salary scales of academic staff at intervals of not more than three years commencing 1966. Reports of these reviews will be published by Government.
(b)	Advise Government from time to time on any matters relating to the salaries of academic staff and other conditions of employment which it (the committee) considers relevant.

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.