UNIVERSITIES IN CANADA.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 19985, 21 July 1930, Page 7

UNIVERSITIES IN CANADA.

COMPARISON WITH NEW ZEALAND. A VISITOR'S IMPRESSIONS. C&nadlan universities give far greater attention to technical and practical matters than do the institutions ip New Zealand and Australia, but there is a tendency to neglect the cultural side of life, according to the Eev. Thomas Tait, a Presbyterian minister from Canada, who was interviewed by a representative of The Peess on Saturday. "Alberta haa a remarkable university system," said Mr Tait. "Prom there came Dr. Collip, the man who discovered insulin. Eecently he was Called to McGill University in Montreal. A great deal of research work Is done, and the training is on the technical and practical side rather than the cultural. There is a contrast with New Zealand, which seems to have a somewhat better appreciation of cultural values. A tendency to become perfect in a particular vocation, with an eye only on the dollars, exists, and the other angle is apt to be neglected. This is true over practically the whole of the American Continent." The university in Edmondton had a fine experimental farm adjacent to it, where research was carried out In eattla, sheep, cereals, and soils, and everything possible was done to assist the fame- in better quality and increased production, said Mr Tait. The extension department was also excellent. Specialists equipped with literature and lantern slides were sent long distances to give addresses. Referring to Canadian life generally, Mr Tait said that many races mingled in Canada, and the Ukrainians and Scandinavians stood out as splendid farming pioneers on aecqunt of their fine physique. They were quite content to Jead the simple life, and many of them made a good deal of money in wheat. In fact, Canada secured the first prize for wheat at the last Chicago exhibit til on, «I notice a great difference in the climate here," said Mr Tait. "To me the cold is bitter, although the temperature is relatively high. It is the dampness that penotrates, for in Canada it la by no means unusual to find the temperature 40 degrees below zero, the atmosphere is rarified on account of the height and distance from the sea, therefore it is drier and far more bearable," . Mr Tait is minister of the First Presbyterian Church, Edmondton, Alberta. Originally he came from Scotland and went to a church in Melbourne. He received a eall to St. Paul's Presbyterian Church, Christchurch, and, after ten years' service, left In 1914 for Adelaide. From there he went to the Scots Church in Sydney. He resigned after a domestic bereavement and, with his daughter, Miss Ina Tait, who is well known in Christchurch, went for a trip round the world. When in New York he was prevailed upon to take up the First Presbyterian Church in Edmondton, and has been there ever since. He Will be in Christchurch for about a month) and will return to Canada by the Aorangi next month.