TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1910. THE MEETING OF THE SENATE.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 13646, 1 February 1910, Page 6

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1910. THE MEETING OF THE SENATE.

It was anticipated that tho meeting of the Senate of the University of New Zealand this year would be of more than usual interest, and the anticipation has not been, falsified. The Chancellor was absent from the meeting, being at present on his way out from England; but he had sent a few notes to form introductory matter to the ' programme of business. One Teported on the proceedings at university commemorations in Cambridge and Geneva, at which the Chancellor had represented the University of New Zealand. Another contrasted capping ceremonies in New Zealand and Europe, to the disadvantage of the former. Another dealt, in a manner that was rather aloof from the actual facts, with the writer's impression of 'newspaper discussions which had been going on in New Zealand during his absence. It was Eoon found that there was an abundance of practical problems to occupy the Senate's attention. Tho first full-dress debate was on tho question of the retention or gradual abandonment of the system of having the bulk of the University's degree examinations conducted from England,, It ■was introduced by Mr James Allen, „ M.P., in . a . epeech which failed to grapple with the real difficulties of the question. It was easy to paint eloquently the inconveniences and anomalies of the present system—tho vexatious delays, the equally vexatious errors and imperfections of the cabled results, the absence of all contact between examiners and examinees, the possibility of the work being farmed out to inferior men, the nominal examiners only lending the prestige of their names to the business. We have discussed this question more than once in these columns, and need only remark here that a strong case was made out by tie other side in pointing out the practical impossibility of evolving an alternative scheme under the fourcollege constitution of the University of New Zealand. It is clear that the debate has secured for the present system a new lease of life, but we have no doubt it will crop up again, and that ultimately a system of local examinations will replace the present cumbrous and expensive method. Another question of wide general interest' was that of the standard of our matriculation examination. In dealing with this question the Senate was fortified with expressions of opinion from various educational bodies in different parts of the country, that the standard was too low. On this point the opinion of the Senate was almost unanimous, the opposition being of a somewhat unreal and ad caotandum character. By reconstructing the syllabus, increasing the- number of compulsory subjects, and <

introducing something of a symmetrical grouping, the Senate has earned the approval of all friends of sound education. Both our secondary and our university education "will benefit by the more thorough and systematic test henceforward necessary fcrr the passage from the former to the latter. A year of srace, however, is allowed; the new provisions do not take effect until the beginning of 1911. In another department the Senate had the courage to take a very momentous eten, viz., the admission of military science to the curriculum of the arts and science courses. The tone of the debate on this proposal indicated a full genee of the responsibility attachiiig to such an innovation. But tbr>. Senate, in boldly accepting the- responsibility, will find itself supported by the best and healthiest public opinion of the country. Failing a Military College, for -which we are not ripe financially or otherwise, the University Colleges eeern incomparably the beet training ground for a class of educated! officers. The examples of. Oxford and Sydney are of great weight in the matter. The friends of peace need not apprehend the introduction of a military spirit into our highest seats of Jeaxning. The thorough training and education of officers form an inevitable corollary to ■ the policy of universal miiitajy training, to which the Dominion has committed itself.

Another innovation of considerable importance was the introduction of domestic science to a place in the University's science programme. We in Christchurch are familiar with the events which led up to this result, at least up to tho point at which CantoxI bury College re-considered and abandoned its scheme for establishing a lectureship on the subject. After this, Mr Studholmo turned to Otago, increasing at the same time the amount of his proffered subsidy. There was anything but unanimity on the proposal in the Otago University Council, but the friends of the movement at length triumphed, an appeal to ifoe> Dunedin public was successfully made, and a lecturer from America was appointed, who will commence teaching the subject next year. This position of affairs practically forced the hand of the Senate, which responded by drawing up a comprehensive curriculum of the subject as a portion of the science degree course. The new departure will be watched with considerable interest, and it is to be hoped that the now study will justify the anticipations of its promoters by improving the general condition of domestic economics and hygiene. Certainly the generosity and public spirit shown by Mr Studholme are worthy of air praise. As usual, the Senate gave a thorough overhauling to tht» various curricula of the University degree courses. It is especially gratifying that the course in agriculture has at last been reduced to more satisfactory dimensions, and it is to be hoped that it will no longer remain a dead letter on the University statute book. The country requires educated farmers as well as educated officers, and we are glad that tho efforts of the joint committees of Canterbury and Lincoln Colleges have led to definite action by the University authorities. It is impossible to go through othor matters in detail. The meeting was a heavy and strenuous one, and the vigour and progressive spirit displayed have probably given a set-back to the incipient movement towards university disruption. Cautious reformers will feel that it is fitting that our University development should still for some years to come be controlled by one central authority, rather than that our small population should be exposed to the crude rivalries and varying standards of four independent degreogiving institutions. One small point in conclusion.' In a discussion on capping ceremonies, a motion to hand over these meetings to the control of the professorial Boards was lost, the Senate preferring to throw the responsibility for the maintenance of order on the students themselves, acting through their executives. It is to be hoped that the students will show in-a practical way their appreciation of the confidence thus reposed in them.