UNIVERSITY EDUCATION.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 67, 19 March 1919, Page 8

UNIVERSITY EDUCATION.

FINANCIAL AND OTHER NEEDS. PROPOSED P.EPORT TO SENATE. SPECIAL MEETING ARRANGED. The representation to the Government of the needs of University education generally were referred to at a meeting of the Auckland University College Council yesterday. The Rezistrar of the University of New Zealand, Wellington (Mr. Norris) •wrote under date March 0, stating that a special committee of the Senate ie preparing for consideration at the April meeting of the Senate a report on the financial ueeds of the University and the Colleges for presentation to the Government. The draft report of the committee, which was referred back' to it for report to the April meeting, recommended that the Government bodies of the affiliated Institutions ibu asked to prepare detailed statements ♦of their immediate needs, such as buildings, libraries, and equipment, and dealt with the question of raising the salaries ot University teachers, and the provision of adequate and competent assistants. the making of adequate financial provision for such special schools, as medical, dental, engineering, and agricultural, and the provision of funds for University extension work on the lines of the W.E.A. movement. The Senate passed the following resolution with a view to ena-bling the committee to lay the facts as to the salaries and work of teachers lief ore the Government: —'"That the Government bodies of the affiliated institutions be asked to furnish to the Senate by March 31 for consideration at the April meeting the following particulars in the case of each teacher: —

The -alary of the teacher, and whether he has any (and if so, what) interest in the class fees; the number and salaries of his assistants; the work, including lectures and clasees, of the teacher and assistants respectively : the average attendance at lectures or classes."' The writer asked for information asked for in the resolution, and also a detailed statement of the immediate needs ot the College for consideration by the committee and incorporation in its report to be presented to the Government after consideration by the Senate. It was felt that a careful and well-thought out report by sucli an impartial body as the Senate on the needs of the Univer«t" and the .Colleges was likely to receive the sympathetic consideration ot the Government.

The chairman said that the information sought would, no doubt, assist the Senate to make recommendations deemed to !>e in the best interests.

Professor Segar, who attended the recent session of the Senate, said it was the earnest desire of the Senate to have the reports on the needs of the different colleges so that all the requirements could be presented to the Government in concise form. The speaker added that when the Hon. .1. Hanan lirst became Minister of the Crown, he was in favour 01 spending every penny on elementary education, but Ids views had changed considerably. He now saw that the University was necessary in order to secure well qualified teachers, and he was willing to aasist all he could in assuring the needs of the University and affiliated colleges, for which reason the lion, gentleman wanted the special reports in question, so that he would Ih> in possession ot full information to back him up when he laid the claims before the Cabinet. He thought before the Council made its rejjort it would be wise for the Council or a. committee to consider it. Already, he observed. Wellington,,, was making a claim for special recognition in agriculture. The Auckland College had its needs too. a« for instance, the architecture branch, and there were other matters; otherwise, where would Auckland come in if the Senate had other reports with suggested recommendations and none from Auckland.

The Hon. G. J. Garland said he felt that it was time something was done ~»vith regard to domestic science in the founding of a chair or classes. The Education Board's lady supervisor hart taid that the teachers going in for this ■branch of work would bo "greatly improved if they could attend the University of Dunedin. where a chair had been offered, but this v.-rs costly. For instance, a woman with several of a family could not. afford, even with the bursary granted by the Education Board, to go away down there for that useful training, and to take advantage of such a chair. If they could not establish another chair the speaker considered they could get a leeturehip. The subject was part of the curriculum ot the Technical and Grammar schools, and it was a subject in which education in this province urgently required development.

Mr. Leys said it seemed to involve questions affecting the whole policy ot the Council.

Professor Thomas said ho understood that the scarcity of teachers tor domestic science ivas pressing. He also thought it wjis most important that there should be a department in each ot the four Universities for the. study of agriculture, which was our chief industry. The need for trained agricultural instructors was also worthy of consideration, and all these matters could be dealt with in the general report placed before the Senate.

On the motion of Hip chairman it was resolved to hold a special meeting on Monday to formulate replies to the Senate. A Iptter from the Registrar, AVnllington, dealing with salaries, was aNo read, and will bo considered alon£ with the special business at tl:fc special Electing.