" WILL PEG AWAY."

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 46, 24 February 1937, Page 11

" WILL PEG AWAY."

DEGREES WANTED.

DIVINITY STUDENTS.

REQUEST BY METHODISTS.

The desirability of the university colleges conferring degrees for theology and divinity was urged by Dr. H. Ranston, principal of Trinity Theological College, at the Methodist Conference yesterday.

Dr. Ranston said that students who wanted those degrees now had to go overseas. Years ago a deputation from various churches met a Royal Commission on university education in New Zealand. Evidence was taken in the main centres, and a recommendation was made that the University of New Zealand should confer the degrees. The matter was again brought up in 1930, and the Senate favoured the proposal. In llt.'io the matter was again considered by the Senate, but it was considered that the necessary amendment could not be secured. "Some of us have the feeling that if the Senate is determined the necessary amendment to the legislation could be effected," said Dr. Ranston. "The new Government might be more sympathetic than the old one. We are going to peg away at this until we get divinity degrees in New Zealand."

Dr. Ranston moved appreciation of the pronouncement by the Senate of the L niversitv of New Zealand in favour of the general principle of establishing degrees in divinity or theology, but regretting the statement that it does not consider it practicable to secure the necessary amendments of the University Act as would enable it to confer such degrees. It was considered that the Senate should again explore the possibilities of securing the necessary amendment.

The motion was adopted. It was further decided to ask the councils of the university colleges to arrange or permit to be arranged in the university centres series of lectures by competent persons on the fundamentals of religious faith.