NEW ZEALAND UNIVERSITY.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20918, 27 July 1933, Page 15

NEW ZEALAND UNIVERSITY.

TO TBI KDITOH Ot TUB PIUCSS Sir, —In his address given before the Graduates' Association on Monday night. Dr. Haslam is reported to have said that the standard of English Universities is "Immeasurably higher" than that of those in our part of the world. An a New Zealander, having some not altogether slight acquaintance with some of these universities, I feel bound to challenge Dr. Haslam's statement. I doubt whether there , is realty very much difference at all, and whether the difference is at all points in favour of the English Universities, and I most strongly object to the adverb "immeasurably." If it is true that we are immeasurably inferior, I think we had better shut up shop. It is pleasant to know that our English examiners, who are in a good position to compare the work of our students with that of their own, do not seem to think us so contemptible. Reporting on the papers sent from New Zealand last year, the two English examiners in English language and literature make the following comment: "The work done in the University of New Zealand need not fear comparison with that of any other university known to us." I apologise to Dr. Haslam if I have misunderstood him. But I think it is bad for us, and discouraging to teachers and students, to be constantly affirming our inferiority, and I should welcome a note of slightly aggressive New Zealand patriotism.--Yours, etc., F. SINCLAIRE. July 25, 1933.