EDUCATION CONFERENCE.

Feilding Star, Volume I, Issue 281, 1 June 1907, Page 4

EDUCATION CONFERENCE.

fBT BX.BCTAIC TEI-EGBAPH — COPTBIOB9.] [PBA PRESS ASSOCIATION.] London, May 31. The Education Conference discussed " Universities and the Empire." Lord Curzon, in apologising for absence, wrote: — "There would be no greater mistake than to treat the Universities of the colonies and other component parts of the Empire with aloofness. The conference's supreme merit is that it presupposes equality of interest and identity of purpose." Mr Arthur Balfour delivered an important speech, dwelling on the preposterous importance Universities attached to examinations. He regarded the post-graduate course as the highest .and most valuable work of the Universities. He hoped there would be a mutual arrangement between the Universities of the Empire not only to stimulate post-graduate research, but to encourage its prosecution by members travelling throughout the Empire, bringing about close community of interest in matters -of highest intellect. Ultimately the Conference resolved that it was desirable that a committee representing the Universities be formed to investigate the possibility of exchanging information among the Universities of the Empire relating to courses and standards. Sir Gilbert Parker hinted that if a Bureau of Information was established he would be able to obtain a certain amount of money support. Sir Phillip Jones said a Bureau of Information would bring about a much needed interchange of students.