UNIVERSITY GOVERNMENT.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 47, 25 February 1927, Page 6

UNIVERSITY GOVERNMENT.

The newly constituted governing body of the New Zealand University has been holding its first sessions in Auckland during the past ten days, and has been considering important questions. It is too soon yet to say how the j new arrangement will work. The introduction i of new blood may be welcomed; on the other j hand, the policy of centralisation has more j opportunity now than with the old Senate. The Council has been handicapped by flaws in ; the Act of last year, by which it was constituted. It actually found that it had no power ; to pay the occupant of the newly-created officer of principal, who i< lo be the chief executive officer of the University. The j Council has put on record its dissatisfaction | with the way in which the legislation of last j year was handled. By this time no one should ! he surprised at what was done in that session •of indifference snd haste, but were the University authorities quite blameless in the ; matter? "Were they thoroughly active in ; putting their views before the Government? Of the changes that have been made, the creation of a principal is the one that arouses most public interest. The Council lias done well to decide that applications shall he called lor abroad, and that the salary shall be One could hardly expect lo get a really good man for less. It' possible, the • choice .-hould not fall among educationi>ts i who have taken a prominent part in the ■ warm University controversies of recent i years. On the other hand, to choose an j expert from abroad, who would come entirely j strange to our conditions, would be to take a j considerable risk. The field, in our I opinion, is native talent that ha< had | experience in other countries.