Why I'm a Salford Fan—by Maggie

Black Flags and a draped black coffin greeted Mrs. Thatcher when she arrived at Salford University today to open a new profit-making industrial centre.

They were carried by more than 300 students, standing in silent protest against massive university cash cuts which have hit Salford particularly hard.

The Students' Union told her in a statement that the cuts—44 per cent less money—would result in a loss of 600 jobs, 1,200 student places and the axing of at least 30 courses.

As she went into the building Mrs. Thatcher spoke briefly to one of the student leaders.

Later she said: “I have come to this university because of the cuts it is facing. It would not be right for me only to go to those universities which were doing all right.

“I know that Salford feels very deeply about the cuts, but I have a great deal of faith in Salford University and what it is doing. The university excels in the field of technology and I am really quite a Salford fan.”

She said it was vital that the university developed its technology along commercial lines so profitable businesses could flourish in the market place before ideas were taken up by other countries.

Mayor's Plea

The industrial centre was set up in 1969, originally in two offices in a building occupied by one of the university departments. Within a year seven staff were employed and an annual turnover of £5,000 was achieved.

Last year, with a turnover of around £300,000 and a staff of 27, the centre moved into its new quarters which Mrs. Thatcher opened today.

The problems of local finance were raised with her when she was greeted at the centre by the Mayor of Salford, Coun. Ivor Zott.

One development produced by the centre which interested Mrs. Thatcher particularly was a gadget which lets home owners monitor gas consumption.

The digital display unit, which is to be given a trial by North West Gas, even enables a household bill to be worked out to the minute at the touch of a button.

Another exhibit Mrs. Thatcher saw was a scheme, sponsored by Greater Manchester Council, in which household refuse collected from bins is converted by a process developed by Unist into usable oil.

Later Mrs. Thatcher visited a firm she had a hand in setting up, Hiltcroft Precision Instruments, on a pilot scientific park at Pendleton.

The company was started by the university with the help of Salford City Council.

It has received substantial funding from the Department of Industry, the British Technology Group and Barclay's Bank. Already it has achieved a first-class reputation in the pharmaceutical and packaging industries.

Mrs. Thatcher was later due to visit the National Computing Centre in Manchester to launch a new project, and then the Kellogg factory in Trafford Park. She was lunching with Conservative party members.