NOT WANTED.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18441, 23 July 1925, Page 2

NOT WANTED.

FOUR UNIVERSITIES. DUNEDIN OPINION. (PSrSS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) DUNEDIN, July 22. At the University Commission, the Otago Educational Institute submitted evidence viewing with alarm suggestions for restrictions on the number of evening classes. The system of day classes alone, the Institute said, rendered it impossible for teachers to graduate. The Institute had no desire to see the door to a degree closed in the face of teachers, a3 the divorcing of the University from the teaching profession would be an unnatural aim. Many of the leading figures in the professions, were products of the parttime system. A deputation of clergy, representing various denominations, submitted a request for the establishment of degrees in theology. It contended that there would be no difficulty regarding tho doctrines of the various churches. It was felt that the clergy in New Zealand were isolated from the higher learning in theology. Aa Inflexible Syllabus. Dr Marshall Macdonald submitted evidence that the difficulties in regard to the conduct of examinations—inflexibility of tho syllabus, imperfect control, and the non-existence of a permanent paid head—did not demand such a revolutionary utep as the disruption.of the New Zealand University, but should be capable of remedy by an arrangement between the professors, Board of Studies, and the Senate. The' claim that four .■Universities would have- greater power in getting grants from the Government was entirely illusory. . The only result would bo to.place greater control in the hands of the Government, and this would be centred in tho Director of Education, with .dire consequences to the freedom and independence of the University. : .At present the professors, especially, in the arts and science faculties, were much hampered in their work,'but tho remedy did not lie in giving each college .a syllabus of .its own' or in multiplying the examiners. It lay in getting all concerned to, come together in fellowship, inspired with a real determination to remedy the acknowledged blemishes in the system. Dr. Macdonald said that a paid chancellor could be relied upon to do everything.possible for the University without acting unfairly. "Would Be Disastrous." In ,support of his contention that if control, were centred in the hands of the Director of Education the consequences, from a University, point of vi,ew,, would be disastrous, Dr. Macdonald said that the new Dental-School was planned by Dr. Pickerill, who was one of the highest authorities on the subject, but the 'Director of Education, acting presumably on the advice of the Director of Dental Services, who had no experience of University teaching, had cut the grant down by £I2OO on the ground that certain equipment was not necessary. The Department granted what was held to be inferior equipment, and, refused to budge from that positionj with a result that the University Council had to get private benefactions to make up the deficiency. Dr.' Marsden said that Dr.' Macdonald's statement Was quite true, but it was a question whether the Government should give carte blanche in such a matter. Mr Tate said that what would hap : pen in such a case in Victoria would be that the Government would vote a certain sum of money, and the expend!-* ture would be left to. the University Council. Dr., Macdonald said he thought it would be a wise thing to make use of the chemical material in other contres, and to make them feci that they wore in touch with the Medical School. More Funds Wanted. On behalf of the University Council, Mr W. «T.' Morrell expressed the opinion that the present facilities for University education of the ordinary type J were, generally, speaking, sufficient, but the colleges should havo larger funds for extension and W.E.A. work. The ideal would be the provision of a fulltime director of tutorial classes in each University district, who should be a man of professorial attainment and status. The maintenance of the principle of specialisation in connexion with recognised professional schools was most desirable. It was desirable that the professions, of medicine, dentistrjf law, engineering, accountancy, and the agricultural interests should be directly represented on the Senate. The Council was strongly opposed to the setting up. of four Universities, regarding such a step as entirely premature. Additional funds should be provided for the appointment of professors ' assistants at adequate salaries to enable professors to devote more time to research. ' Additional fellowships and (short time tutorships should be available for the best post-graduate students. ' A more assured basis of finance for tho | four University Colleges was urgently j necessary. I Legal Education. Evidence relating to legal education was given by Mr J. B. Callan, Junior Dean of the" Law Faculty at the Universitv, on behalf of the Council of the O'tago District Law Society. He was confident the New Zealand Law Society was not satisfied with the present state "of legal education, but no concrete proposals as to the form of improvement had been agreed upon. A feeling of grave dissatisfaction with the | -present system of training and testing [ law students had been felt by the proj fession for a considerable time. I The most, outstanding defects of the present system were too low a standard of general education and the study of technical and professional subjects by candidates who had neither experience of life nor development of the mind sufficient to enable them to gvasp 1 the subject matter of the studies. The course should occupy at least four years and be scientifically arranged in accordance with tho natural development of the mind and growth of experience. A Serious Defect. 'A serious defect was that there was Sot a test in book-keeping or accoun-

tancy. The University was responsible for some of the defects, because judges had in effect delegated to the University appointment of examiners and the prescription and standard of the examinations. It was inconceivable ■ that the functiors hitherto discharged by the New Zealand University should bo committed to four Universities, as that would lead to four separate standards of fitness. One law school for the Dominion was a mischievous absurdity, because it must lead to the .accentuation of the divorce of theoretical study and practical experience. There should be in ,at least each of tho- four centres a fully-equipped and complete legal school. If there were four Universities there must be some outside body to maintain the standard of legal'.education. It might bo an excellent thing if some such body, constituted from the legal prof ession, came into existence,. Law Society's Recommendations. In any case the Council of the Law Society supported the following recommendations :r----(1) A higher standard of general education. (2) A course of at least four years, progressively and scientifically arranged. (3) Practical work in some form. (4) Some training and testing in elementary accountancy. • (3) A Law School in' each" centre. (6) A continuation of tho national standard for the maintenance of which the prof ession itself should be the J>ody principally responsible. 1