UNIVERSITY PROVISIONS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 127, 29 May 1918, Page 2

UNIVERSITY PROVISIONS.

FOB SOLDXER STUDENTS. THE FACTS OF THE CASE. The matter of provision mad. , by the University of New Zealand to safeguard the interests of soldier students was the subject of some remarks by the Rev. A. B. Chappell, Registrar of Auckland University College, this morning, when he 1 informed a Pressman that ample provision has been made to meet all possible cases of hardship arising when students either enlist or are called up. In fact, so far i from the regulations being "cast iron,"' they are extremely flexible, anJ are administered in such a -way as to avoid any injustice being inflicted. LEGISLATION. The registrar calle attention to the fact that there was enacted in 1915 the New Zealand University Amendment Act, providing as folio we:— "Notwithstanding the provisions of the principal Act, or the Arte amending the same, and of the University statutes, it shall be lawful for the Senate of the University of New Zealand, during tho i continuance of the present war, and with- j in a reasonable time after a state of war j has ceased to exist, to confer and award I degrees, diplomas, certificates of profi-1 ciency, scholarships, prizes, bursaries, and j exhibitions, and to declare that students have passed in any section or sections, or subject or subjects, with or without | having kept terms or complied with the I statutes or regulations of the Univereity of New Zealand, upon euch tests, certificates, or otherwise as the Senate may deem sufficient: Provided that tha powers conferred hereby ehall only be exercised by the Senate in favour ofi students who hare enlisted for service in j the war, and who prove to the satisfaction of the Senate: (a) That by reaeon of their enlistment they have been prevented from complying with all or any of the provisions of the said Acts, statutes, or regulations, or have been otherwise prejudicially affected in the course of their studies by such enlistment; and (b) that they have attained such a standard of proficiency that but for their j enlistment they would have qualified to > receive the degree, diploma, certificate! of proficiency, scholarship, prize, bursary, j exhibition, or pass that they wish the Senate to grant them." "That enactment," Mr. Chappell said, "was prior to the calling up of men by ballot, so in 1917 that amending Act was I extended by the Statute Law Amendment Act, Section 11. That section states: 'The expression "students who have enlisted for service in the war," in section 11. of the University of New Zealand Amendment Art, " 1915,' 6haH be deemed to include students who' have already been or shall hereafter be called up for service with the Expeditionary Force under the Military Service Act, 1916, and the expression" "enlistment" shall be deemed to include such, calling up.'" ITS ADMINISTRATION. As to the administration of the statute, Mr. Chappell declared that the educational authorities concerned had been scrupulously careful, while safeguarding the application of the new provisions, that no injustice should be inflicted on any student. The provisions were published, and widely availed of, , many students enlisting or called up. or even away on service, had applied for the concessions. Their cases were referred by the Senate to the professorial boards of the colleges, and on their recommendation, in the case of their own etudents, scholarship emoluments and bursaries had been retained for the benefit of the men on service, and a lar?e number of degree passes had been granted without the students having to keep terms or sit for examinations. 0 As to the particular case under appeal, Mr. Chappell had no comment to make, his wish being to disabuse the mind of the public of tha impression as created by ; the comments during the hearing of the ippeal.