UNIVERSITY SYSTEMS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 626, 4 October 1909, Page 5

UNIVERSITY SYSTEMS.

In reply to Mr, Joyntfs able" review of the; University; Reform question,. I- desire to call' attention ro two only of the many 'iriterestinfe .points-' raises.-.'.-..;..-.' ".-.;...;... •.-'. '.1.-s[r.:Joyut suggests that wo are:lacking in. reverence ;.for' the; labours '/of '•■ the ■ pioneers "of our.-university, system. ■ •.■ C'oftainly I confess' that->non^.~been ; expressed so -far. But the accusation, is übt-entirely ju6t!. A number of: universities—J,ohdbn, Birmingham,' Manchester,: Melbourne, Sydnovy New Zealand, and' others, wpro'-fcunded in tho Victorian era,' AH honour'to; the'founders... All made what, are '■ noiv: admitted- to 'be' mistakes—the 'samo sort ofjmistiltes. All hayo corrected thorn;"all have made changes in.the same direction. Evidence of! recomition;. of the' mistakes; evidence of the nature of the', 'change's!'- was ; ; collected'•' by the- E/jyal Commission which .sat in'Melbour'no in 1001. to_ reform the .university.'Now Zealand has not. changed. 'We ask'for similar 'changes!'Th/at,implies.:ho disresppet'to the founilers of our "system.'-.not! yet discarded, "or, .of.'' the similar systems elsewhere,'.all sirico-'tliscarded. -,■?• -Mr. Joync reminds us tha'f the' 'pr'ofessors'j and the.; profl'-ssors clone are responsible for the.'success or ./failure' of universitv systems. We wjllirigly: admit that. ' But .'"the whole l system .bf t government of our university fails «>•. Tecosnise;" tl.is'fact. ■ ,o.nr.; chief .complaint is that tne'i system 'is calculated, to discburarb the most;desirable' men. from joining the' staffs of. colonial' 1 universities; . Other, colonial' an'd rrronncml.universities-.have, found this ". out." Changes such--at-we. demand: have been successful :■ under- analogous; conditions' elsewhere Che. amplest eyiden.ee: of.all-.these contentions is .easilv.acccsible:—l .aip;'. etc.-,. .".,.,, ; .'-.. ;' ■;'! -''C'v--';' :..^-'!C.';H. : .ZEDLITZ^;_.; ' v,',:-v- : -'■'„:''' ,i ; • '■'' Victoria .College. .. October 2.', '-■■,:;:•■'. ■/'.''•. .';:■■■■