Universities’ Duty Of Leadership

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30127, 10 May 1963, Page 12

Universities’ Duty Of Leadership

“The hour has been reached when the universities are charged with the duty of taking a more active part in national leadership,” said Mr -Justice Haslam in his address at the graduation ceremony of the University of Canterbury yesterday.

“Fortunately, definite trends in that direction are already in evidence,’’ he added “It must be accepted that inevitably much of the scholastic activity within a university can have no immediate bearing on the lives and problems of the people beyond its walls. “Nevertheless, in their over-all attainment, should not these institutions afford a deeper and clearer insight into human experience?

“It may not be too much to suggest that if the universities do not give guidance in the solution of the many troubles of the modern world, leadership will certainly be sought elsewhere. to the disadvantage both of the universities and of all free society. “Why, in an era of high prosperity in many countries, is the world so sick that the cult of violence is imperilling much that civilised men should be ever vigilant to preserve, and that in many quarters there is almost an unhealthy tolerance of crime, and. too often, an alarming indifference to brutality? “Is it not possible that tn this country we have carried a cult of uniformity towards a point where strong and healthy leadership is afforded inadequate scope?” New Zealanders should have reached the stage of national maturity when the native genius of the country was being sought after in the universities. so that through the benefits of training given in universities to the ablest young people they could make a greater original contribution to the sum total of human experience, said his Honour. The spread of education had become an ironic converse of the forecasts of last century, he said. Instead of man having been reformed or regenerated by knowledge, the accumulation and growth of unrelated branches of learning had weakened the moral order of the universe and offered nothing in its stead. Faith in Futnre “In these times faith in the future may be an irrational whim, but without such a belief life is a dispiriting adventure.” he said. “No doubt the University of Canterbury must expect her share of the checks and reverse® that are part of most human endeavour, but let her never despair, not lose confidence in her self or her mission.

“The community may overlook an occasional failure to surmount every obstacle in her path, but will not forgive her readily for lack of courage or of moral conviction,” said his Honour. The university was fortunate in gaining its autonomy at a time when general acceptance of the universities was present In society. Although many cherished a lingering affection for the memory of the parent University of New Zealand, teachers and administrators, who had to produce the results, rejoiced at being no longer frustrated by an “outwurn federalism," said his Honour.