UNIVERSITY EDUCATION.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXV, Issue 39, 15 February 1904, Page 2

UNIVERSITY EDUCATION.

AN IMPORTANT PROPOSAL. Air Jackson Palmer brought before the notice of the Council of the Auckland University College on Friday afternoon a somewhat important matter. He moved: "That it is advisable we establish a school of mines in Auckland, of J law at Wellington, engineering at : Christehurcli. and medicine at Dunedin; J that we communicate with the other j universities of the colony and request their co-operation in securing grants from the Government for each College for the purpose specified." Mr Palmer contended that it was better for each College to teach a special subject thoroughly. These were days of specialism, ! and for that reason his proposal shoul' 1 commend itself. The chairman (Sir G. M. O'Rorke) I thought that it would be better to ask I for a grant outright to start a School of Mines in Auckland. Mr Palmer said his idea waa for the University to confer and decide which subject would be most suitable for each particular College. The chairman said there might be opposition to taking the Mines School from Dunedin. He knew that Professor Thomas strongly advocated having a special mining professor in connection with the College. It would mean a large addition to the buildings* that might cost about £2000. Mr W. Coleman seconded Mr Palmer's motion, and said it was highly desirable that a School of Mines should be started in Auckland, as it would tend to benefit an important industry. It would also open up a means of students earning a living. To secure -the necessary aid from Government it would require all the Colleges to combine. For that reason he advocated a conference. Dr. McDowell said he would support a School of Mines being started in Auckland, but while there was one at Dunedin he did not think the Government would duplicate it here. He would therefore support the motion to see if matters could not be arranged between the various Colleges. If they could nt get a School of Mines, they might have a School of Commerce, as they had at present in Birmingham. Mining was perhaps of the most present utility. It was important they should have these special schools, one for each of the four separate communities. The Government might institute bursaries or scholarships to enable students to go to the different colleges. The motion was then adopted.