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THURSDAY, APRIL 21, 1921. 



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University Grants in the Civil Service 

 Estimates. 



IN view of the recent economy campaign, the 

 debate on the Education Estimates for the 

 present financial year, on April 12, was awaited 

 with interest, but apparently the economists did 

 not get the same support in the House of Com- 

 mons as was given in certain quarters outside. 

 The Estimates were passed without alteration, 

 and the vote for grants in aid of Universities and 

 institutions of University rank was agreed to with- 

 out discussion. This means that there is an addi- 

 tion of half a million to the annual University 

 ^rant, together with a special non-recurrent grant 

 of 500,000/. for superannuation purposes. 



Under the heads of education, science, and art 

 (Civil Service Estimates, Class IV.) the total 

 estimate for the United Kingdom for the year 

 1921-22 is 67,038, 295L, of which sum 1,500,000/. 

 is allocated to Universities and institutions of 

 University rank. That is to say, these higher 

 institution? will receive about one-forty-fourth 

 'of the total estimate. On the face of it this 

 seems far too small a proportion, and a closer 

 examination confirms the view. The fact is that 

 -the Government has been slow to recognise the 

 necessity of greater financial assistance for the 

 Universities, and perhaps the Universities have 

 not been importunate enough on their part. 



While this additional annual grant will be wel- 

 comed, it is scarcely necessary to say that it is 

 insufficient to meet the present needs. University 

 teachers are notoriously underpaid, so much so 

 NO. 2686, VOL. 107] 



that grave doubts are felt as to the supply of 

 adequately qualified teaching power in the future. 

 Even if the new grant were solely devoted to 

 increases in salaries it would be insufficient. For 

 example, with the same allocation as last year, in 

 the case of one of these institutions it would mean 

 no more than an average all-round increase of 

 about 20 per cent. With University salaries at 

 their present level such an increase would most 

 assuredly not meet the exigencies of the moment. 

 But the salary problem is not the only one with 

 which the University is faced. Other pressing 

 financial needs will have to be met, and, while 

 the new grant will tend to ease the strain, one 

 cannot but feel that it is hopelessly inadequate. 



It is illuminating to compare this state of affairs 

 with the provision made by the Government for 

 the Civil Services. On p. 7 of the Estimates will 

 be found a statement regarding the rate of bonus 

 applicable to salaries and wages. This rate 

 ranges from 130 per cent, of the pre-war re- 

 muneration in the case of small incomes to 45 pCr 

 cent, in the case of the larger incomes, the maxi- 

 mum bonus payable being limited to 750Z. per 

 annum (500Z. in certain cases). Thus, to take one 

 example, the estimated bonus for the Administra- 

 tive Staff of the Board of Education for the year 

 1921—22 is 209,915/., which works out as an 

 average all-round increase of about 67 per cent, 

 upon pre-war salaries and wages. Similarly the 

 bonus proposed under the heads of administration 

 and inspection for the United Kingdom is not far 

 short of half a million, with almost the same 

 percentage increase. This is the sort of provision 

 the Government makes for its own Services. 

 Having in mind the index figure for the cost of 

 living, we are not prepared to say that this pro- 

 vision as a whole is excessive. Our contention 

 is that in the present financial strain it is the duty 

 of the Government to give special assistance to 

 the Universities, and at least to treat them as 

 liberally as its own Services. 



If it is argued that the Government has in- 

 creased its subsidies it must be remembered that 

 the field over which the grants have been dis- 

 tributed has been gradually extending. An in- 

 spection of the Estimates on p. 54 shows that 

 four London medical schools are receiving for the 

 year 1921—22 in the aggregate 26,030/. over and 

 above what they received in the previous year. 

 If we interpret a footnote correctly, this 

 slice out of the grant is to make provision 

 for clinical units. No doubt this is a neces- 

 sary object, but it is seriously to be ques; 

 tioned whether it was one of the purposes 



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