UNIVERSITY SENATE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 22, 25 January 1913, Page 9

UNIVERSITY SENATE.

PERMANENT COMMITTEE FORMED. SPECIAL REPORTS ADOPTED. ■■p.,, ~i-;i!.tr> continued its session? this _ 0 - n ; r the ( I'.anceilor (Sir Robert pre'iJin-. The Fellow? of the ;.ir-i-nt »ere: Professors J. Macir. i.M P.ruwn, Ohilton, Bcnham. Marshal' F. n. Brown. Hunter, and J. Rankine Brown. Hon. J. A. Tole, -Mr. Gor-! don. Dr. McDowell, Rev. Mr. Cameron, ■Mr Til'bs. Rev. Mr. Evans. Hon. Dr. Collins. Mr. H'Xrben. Mr. Yon HaaFt, aiui | Sir Maurice U'Korke. ,\ DISTINCT SCIENCE COURSE. Professor Marshall moved: "That all Bachelors of Arts who desire to take the foziv* "' Bachelor of Science be 1 required to 'keep terma at a University College for. an additional two years and to pass ex-j ain jDaiii<n in four of the following sub-i jeiis: Applied Mathematics, Chemistry, I Pin-ica! -eience. Botany. Zoology. Geo- 1 Iptr'v. ctiier than those in which examina-j tions havi , been passed previously. Ifj i'ure M'lhematies has not been passed j previously, this subject must be taken ■ in hen of one of those mentioned previously. If Chemistry and Physical.: Science have not been taken previously,l' these subject? shall be compulsory for ! such candidates."' There was no;. Dr. ■Marshall said, suf- 1 ficitPt distinction between the two de- - rrre?- of Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor j of Science, and. further, it was too easy I ' ior n student to chanjre from one to an- t other. » Dr. Brnham seconded the motion. p ro fo*sor Hunter deprecated the ten- l dency of the motion to separate so entirely the degrees of Arts and Science t that" it would prevent a student from j I takin? his M.A. decree in Science. i " Dr. Ch'lton submitted that the change s proposed by the motion was too abrupt.. Xhere were" many students who were i; taking some .science subjects in their,' Arts course, but who were not sufficient"! l ]v scientific to take a course entirely 0f. 3 Science subject?. The proposal would - seriously discourage the study of c Science. Mr. \>n Haast moved as an amendment that the question be referred for consideration by a special committee to ( n jx> =et up ior the purpose, and this i course was agreed to by Dr. Marshall,j and endorsed by the Senate. Other mo-j tions referring to the same question of jfc the differentiation between the Arts and; Science courses were similarly disposed of. li

THE MATRICULATION STANDARD.

NO CONCESSION GRANTED.

ConsUeration of the standard of the matriculation examination was continued yesterday afternoon. Professor Hunter deprecated the adoption of the principle of compensation in any subjects at all. If the standard was too high, then it ought to be lowered, although he was not prepared to admit that'it was too high. It a student did Treil in a:l subjects but one, then it might be fair to follow the procedure adopted in the other examinations, and allow the candidate to ait ajrain in that subject. Mr. yon Haa=t apposed the motion. He contended that the standard must be kepi; up at all costs. He was. sure that to introduce such a scheme as tliat proposed would give a very serious setback to the university.

Profe.-snr Rankine Brown also opposed tie motion. He claimed that if the Senate would stand firm, the country would j-et be gratified that there had been no yielding to tie demand to lower the standard required.

Dr. Gulton moved as an amendment that a special committee be set up each year by the Senate to consider the results of the examination, and that this committee be empowered to deal with the question of compensation. Mr. Hogben supported Dr. Cbilton's suggestion. Professor F. D. Brown said that he was inclinpd to support Dr. Fitchett'e motion, tint he wisDed the privilege of compensation to be applied only to students exceptionally proficient in some particular subject. He therefore suggested that the proposal be amended so as to provide for a principle of compensation ibased on exceptional merit. Dr. Fitehett's motion was lost by seventeen '. jtes to five, and Dr. Chilton's amendment was agreed to. Inconection-svitlifhe same matter the Piev. A. Cameron has given notice to move in the direction of providing that candidates who fail in only one subject may be allowed to sit in* that subject alone to complete matriculation. LAW COMMITTEE'S REPORT. EXAMINERS FOR NEXT YEAR.

The La\T Committee in an interim report submitted to the Senate that the letter and telegrams received from candidates relative to their examination called for no action by the Senate. With resard to a letter from a prospective candidate for the degree of Doctor of laws, relating to previous publication of a thesis before being submitted to the University, the committee was of opinion that a question ol principle appmng to other doctorates was involved, and remitted the matter to the eenate.

The Committee recommended that Uurles Ikturhi, LL.D. (Dublin) be appointed examiner in Roman Law. International Law, and Conflkt of Laws. t\i Committee also recommended mat th" following Examiners in Law be appointed for 1913:—Contracts: H. f- Ostler, LL.B.. Wellington; Prc-perty (Part 1.1 : C . C. Hutton. M.A., LL.B , wwetrai; Property rPart II.): F. Jitfhett. M.A., LL.D.. Wellington; Evidence; P. L Pvi , MA Wellington; CrimiMJ Law: Hon. J. A. Tole, 8.A., LL.B., f*; Auckland; Procedure: J. L. Stout fn7' , T We " ington: Torts: H - D - Bajn " jo«. LL.D.. Auckland: New Zealand "V* for Barristers and Solicitor adMttej elsewhere): H. H. Ostler. LL.B Industrial Law: T. Xeave SA, LL.B., Wellington; Rights and . rb n - Tmetpps under Wills and R- e-cen-ers (both Elementary and Advancea): S:r J. G. Findlav." LL.D.. X.C "jMMgton; Law of Bankruptcy: L. Cohen Wanganui; I.aw "of' Joint I, k Companies: C. B. Morison, WeJS*S a '- Mercantile Law: H. P. Richmond, 8.A. ; LL.B., Auckland. TO AVOID DEL-AY AND RELIEVE A.VXIETY. tT, P + rOfes?Or J " Bro-wn moved "™J a permanent Examination Comrawee enn-istin? of the Hon. Dr. Co\i-;; v , Fitchett. Mr Ho<rben, Rev. Mr rl TCn Haast " Professor Hunter, .tae ehanceUor, and the mover, be set UP—tiM-ec t-o form a quorum: that such have full power to deal with and decide the result? of the Law and ■^? n ? r e^ c Professional Examinations Cn < Ls'l lCal Emn "natior..s. and that the gnual meefcmg of Senate. Professor S^ n f% rSed that should be girea m c earliest possible official noti-

fieaUon of the results of their examinations. The setting up of such a Committee as he proposed would simplify administration, and ■would be more satisfactory in every way. Mr yon Haast seconded the motion on the understanding that the reference was only to local examinations, and that the committee was under the direct control of the Senate. Dr. Fitehett ipointed out that ewe was necessary in passing the motion in such a iorm; it was surely not intended to g-:ve s'.icli a committee power to "decide" the rremlte of the examinations. The committee could do very useful work in formulating the resuite of the examinations. At .his suggestion the motion was amended, with " Professor Brown , * c-oneent, to provide that the committee have full power to deal with and formulate results about which no quostion arwes, so that the certificates may be issued without delay. In this form the proposal was adopted by the Senate. ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS IN CONDUCTING EXAMINATIONS.

l.«WH.tl , *u Or l,, aad Pcriod3 Committee I submitted the following recommendations j concerning questions submitted to it for ( consideration : — (1) That the attention of the Examiner in English for decrees, honours, and seniorscholarships be called to the necessity of giving some choice of questions in Ins papers, and to the necessity of marking the quantities of the vowels in the Anplo-Saxon passages set. (2) That in the definition of paper fw.) section (1) in the Pass Degree English there be inserted at the beginning of the parenthesis at the end of the words: "The sentences of Anglo-Saxon prose will bt taken from Sweet's Anglo-Saxon Primer." \ (•'!) That the office be directed to see that the cycle of English books and periods for 1913 and 1914 be copied exactly in the Calendar, with all the instructions attached.

(4) That it is permissible for candidates to take the Master of Arts or Master of Science examination , at the end of the year following the passing of the examination for the Degree of Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science without necessarily being candidates for Honours.

(d) That with regard to the question of oral examination in Modern Languages the existing terms of the Statute should not be altered.

(6> That the candidate who had passed in History and Constitutional History and sat in November last for Repeat History only is entitled to a pass, provided that he has taken the two papers set according to the new definition for Repeat History and has satisfied the examiner, but not if he has taken History under the old definition of Repeat History, according to which it is only half a subject.

( 7 ) That in Pass Latin and Greek the prescription as to the study of history be deemed sufficient under the present circumstances; and that there be added to the prescription of the period in Pass English. French, and German, the following phrase: "and its connection with the general history of the period."

(8) That in reply to the petition of the student who was ill during his examination for a relaxation of the Dogre-e Regulation, it be answered that the Statute must be adhered to as usual.

(9) That Clause XII. of the B.A. Statute be amended so as to leave out the words "by passing in Pure Mathematics and in two other subjects of the examination for the UegTee of Bachelor of Arts."

(10! That in Pass Hebrew the prescription for 1912 be set for 1014, and for Repeat Hebrew the prescription for 1012 on page 145 of the Calendar be repeatpd. That in the Honours prescription for Latin (page 149. Calendar), the notes be incorporated in the definition of the papers, that the period for 19J3 be from 133 B.C. to 31 8.C.. Und for 1914 from 31 B.C. to 79 A.D.; that the notes in the Honours prescription for Greek be incorporated in the definition of the papers; and that the books in Latin for 1915 be in the Pass, Cicero De Ofiiciis, and Virgil Aeneid, Bk. 0; in the Honours, Pro Cluentio, Pro Murena. Pro Sestio. and Vir«-i ; Aeneid, Bks. 6. 7. 8: and the books in Greek for 1915 be in the Pass Herodotus. Bk. 7, Aeschylus. Prometheus, and in Honours Herodotus. Bks. 7. 8, and 9. Aeschylus, Agamemnon. Prometheus, and Persae. That the prescription in History be: Pass 1914 English History from 1760----IS2O' Honours,' 1913, European History from 1702-1760, and that the teachers of Historr in the University Colleges be a-ked to arrange for the April meeting a cycle of books to be read in the respective periods.

THE PROFESSORIAL CONFERENCE.

NOT TO BE AN ANNUAL FUNCTION

The intention of a proposal brought forward by Mr. yon Haast was to abolish the annual conference of representatives from the Professorial Boards of affiliated colleges. With this object in view lie moved that the resolution which provided for such conferences to be held in turn in each of the college centres, at times to be fixed by the Senate, be rescinded. He contended that it was quite unnecessary to hold such conferences yearly, and that the result was futile compared with the great cost ">. v ° lv edDr Fitchett seconded the motion. The conference was unconstitutional in the present circumstances, and the relation of the professors to the University would have to be placed on a .proper basis. Pr«fe«or Hunter moved as an amendment the recommendations submitted by the last professorial conference, to this effect: That the future constitution of the conference be made bhe primary subject of discussion at the conference of '1913; that the next conference comprise sevci representatives of each of the Professorial Boards, together with the hen of the medical, engineering, dental and mining schools, and the Dean of the Faculty of Law at Victoria College. The mover explained that his object in bringing the recommendations forward at the = pT eselit iime was to haVP th<? whole question settled at one debate. Mr Hogbeii seconded the amendment. Professor J. M. Brown supported the motion. Professor Rankine Brown advocated the holding of an annual conference of Professors, and submitted reasons why he believed that such meetings would be productive of a gTeat deal of good. Mr. Hogben contended that now that a beginning hud been made in the movemenf towards the reconstitution of the University it was not advisable to discontinue the annual conference. The Chancellor said that personally he had n ver been opposed to the consultation of professors upon academic questions. But. he urged, it was the experts in each subject who should be consulted. He did not want the opinion of a professor of mental science upon a question of law, or of a professor of mathematics upon a question of music. He did not want to see the professors excluded from the Senarte; he was in favour of special questions being referred to the different fa-culties. He was anxious for the welfare of the University; he was anxious to have expert opinion carried into effect, and be believed that the question of

alteration of the constitution wae " one that should be considered siowly and de■liberately.

The Rev. A. Cameron supported the abolition of the professorial conference, saying that there was no room for both, an annual professorial conference and a Senate, of which more than half the member;; were professors.

Professor F. D. Brown and Dr. McDowell favoured provision being made for periodical conference.

Professor Marshall, while stating that he proposed to vote for Mr. yon Haast's (motion, explained that he was keenly in favour of some form of adequately representative conference to be held periodically.

Professor Chilton explained that he desired to have a conference this year, but that he did not think that annual conferences were necessary. He thought perhaps that the setting-up of Faculty Boards would be a more useful move in 'the interests of the university.

Tlie Rev. Mir. Evans favottred the holding of at least another conference, and Dr. Benham also explained that, while he did not think that anual conferences were necessary, he did not wajit to vote in the direction of the abolition of all conferences.

Mr. yon Haast explained that the passing of his motion would not prevent a motion being submitted to iprovide for a more suitable form of '^inference.

The motion was adopted, it bein<* understood that steps will be taken to° proride for the holding of a conference more suitable in constitution.