GRADUATES' ASSOCIATION.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 84, 8 April 1905, Page 6

GRADUATES' ASSOCIATION.

ANNUAL MEETING.

The annual meeting of the Auckland Graduates' Association was held at the College last night, Dr. H. Dean Bam ford presiding. The annual report noted the great progress made in University matters in Auckland during the past year with great pleasure. The report was adopted. Dr. Bamford was reelected president of the association, Mr H. D. Mahon vice-president, Mr Maxwell Walker secretary and treasurer, and Messrs Kent and R. Mcllroy the committee. Mr T. U. Wells was rerlected graduates' representative on the Council.

Mr F. E. Baume, M.H.R., in some remarks on the past year's doings, said that the new degrees instituted by the Sonate marked a mdst progressive step, since they brought the University into e'.oser touch with the nctual daily life of the people. Regarding the degree in divinity proposed, he-said that this did not necessarily imply a training in any particular class of thpology-'-the/ degree would be conferred for knowledge of theology in general, critical and historical. He considered the requirements of the Commerce Degree were too severe, the matriculation standard being ample in mathematics for the degree. This commercial training by the Universities was becoming more and more valued and appreciated by commercial men throughout the world. He was glad the annual attack on Latin had failed. The chair of History would require the best man available, for it was a most important subject. Some of the history books in the primary schools, he remarked, were wrong in that they made disparaging references to different religioue beliefs, so that if there were a difficulty in preparing a book for the primary schools it would be readily understood that considerable difficulty attended the introduction of the subject into the University. The dental, degree would give dentists a University standing in the community. If the College were to have a School of Mines, it would find a site for it, and he was glad to see that his efforts to make the Government understand the necessity of doing something for the College had been attended with success.

Mr H. D. Mahon said that the multiplicity of examinations was too great, and- he considered that the matriculation offered a fair standard for Civil Service entrance examinations.

After other members had spoken, a vote of thanks was accorded " Mr Batime for his interest in the affairs of the College, and for his address. The meeting then closed.