LAW CLERKS AND STUDENTS

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 209, 3 September 1919, Page 10

LAW CLERKS AND STUDENTS

PENALISED FOR SERVICE. CONCESSIONS ASKED FOE. A matter of some importance to law clerks and students who are members of the R.S.A. was mentioned by Mr. Sexton at the meeting of the executive last evening, when he brought before the mcetinpa communication, containing some 37 signatures of law clerks and students, drawing attention to an injustice to these men.

"Prior to our enlisting in the N.Z.E.F.," it was stated, "we were studying law in this city. Taking into consideration the inevitable result of a student's long absence from his studies whilst serving in tlie forces, Parliament, by the various amendments lo the University Act, granted to the New Zealand Senate various powers, whereby this latter body was given authority to allow a student certain concessions in his examinations. In normal times the regulations required a candidate to pass in three subjects at any one exam., and unless he passed in all three he failed iv his section. Since the passing of the abovementioned amendments the Senate has, in many cases, credited students •with subjects in the law exams, which they would not otherwise have obtained, us in the following cases: (a.) Students who sat for exams, prior lo enlistment have, on their return to New Zealand, been credited with any subject iv which they obtained 45 per cent or over, (b) Students on their return to Xew Zealand have been allowed to sit for one or more subjects, and have been credited with any subject in which they obtained SO per cent. (c) Students have been allowed to sit at two exams, in the year instead of one, as formerly—-i.e., in November and March.

"Taking these cases as a precedent, we have been under tlie impression that we would be allowed to sit for one or more subjects at the forthcoming exams, in November, and tints continue until we hail eventually passed our finals. Besides our statutory authority for taking this view, the law lecturer'at the Auckland University College (Mr. It. M. Algie) was in agreement with us. You may well imagine our dismay when we were recently informed by the registrar of the college that no concessions would bo granted by the Senate to returned soldiers iv the matter of exams., and that if hoy stood in the same position as men who had never been away on active service. However, there seems to be several very conflicting interpretations of the ■Senate's decision, stud we would ask you it you would place the matter before your executive with a view to ascertaining the status of a returned soldier at the law exams."

They asked the Association's assistance in obtaining the following concessions: (1) That every returned soldier be credited with a pass in any subject in which he may be successful, irrespective of the total number of passes obtained at thnt exam; (2) that every returned soldie" obtaining 45 per cent in any subject should be credited with a pas's in that subject; (3) that the above concession* be granted to every returned soldier until lie is fully qualified. It was decided to communicate with the authorities in regard to the matter and to assure the students of the Association's support.