N.Z. UNIVERSITY

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2683, 1 February 1916, Page 9

N.Z. UNIVERSITY

MEETING OF THE SENATE

DEGREE SUBJECTS

THE TEACHING OF SCIENCE Txie Senate of tlie University of New Zealand resumed its sittings yesterday, tliG Chancellor (Sir Robert Stout) presiding. Professor Chilton moved that a committee be appointed to consider roporfc to the .next meeting of the Senate on the matters raised in tho letter to the Chancellor from Mr. G. M. Thomson, Dunediu, and that the committee consist of Mr. G. M. Thomson, Pr'* ?'■ W.' Hilgondorf, Mr. Hogbcn, Mr. Tibbs, and Professors Benharn, Marshall, liunter, Segar, MacmillanrouWll' and the mover. The letter addressed to the Chancellor by Mi*. Thomson, remarked Professor Chilton, urged the Senate to say that greater attention should be given to the study of science in tho 'educational system of New Zealand. "The time has surely come," said Mr, Thomson, m his letter, "for a Tension of our educational standards, and this revision ought to come from the university authorities. If they do not under-, take it, then tlie change will surely come, from below, and their position will be unsatisfactory. I know that it is impossible to effect an immediate change in a matter of this kind, and 1 the question wants to be looked at from fill sides—but what I would suggest is something as follows: —Let the Senate cet up a 'live' committee at its present session to go into the question of establishing a new standard for its degrees. Let this committee got into touch with the heads of high and technical schools, with the Minister, the Department, and the Council of Edu- | cation, and with the universities of Britain and the overseas Dominions, and let them report to subsequent meetings of the Senate. Tlie question will - not be settled in a year, but a start should be made at once." Mr. von Haast seconded tho motion, ! tt'hich was carried 011 the voices, after a brief discussion. The following is another 1 passage from the letter from Mr. Thomson, quoted by Professor Chilton: "The time has_ surely now come for a complete revision of our educational standi nrds and for a displacement of the antiquated classical training which has so long the universities and" schools of Britain, and which has been transplanted to her colonies and oversea Dominions. I do not undervalue tho classics as a medium of education, but I am satisfied that they do not meet the wants of tlie world to-day. With that innate conservatism which characterises the English (as contrasted with the British) mind, wo have cluiig to the study of Latin and Greek in our universities—and consequently in' our higher schools—and have concluded that when a man has received tho hall mark of his university for proficiency in:these subjects he is a welleducated nirnn Tlie conclusion is quite Wrong; 'he is \)ften remarkably ignorant, as Ave all know. Meanwhile scientific knowledge has gone on growing at a phenomenal rate* its ramifications have invaded every department of life; a training in it has become essential in the case of the men who carry on the real business of life."

. A General Pass Degree, i _ Professor Ohilton moved the adop- . tion of the report of tlxe Special Committee appointed to report on the question of the compulsory subjects necessary for a general pass degree. Tho committee, the said, suggested! the following outline course for tho general pass degree, to be known as the B.A. degree:— "A. 1. -That tho subjects for the degree of B.A. bo arranged in groups as follows:— "Group A'. —English, Latin, Greek, Hebrew, French, German, Italian, Russian. "Group B. —Botany, zoology, geology, physical science, chemistry, physiology, applied mathematics. "Group C. —Jurisprudence and ethics, mental and moral philosophy, economics, history, pure mathematics, education. "2. That for the candidate who does not repeat six subjects be required, viz.: Two subjects from group A, one (and only one) subject from group B, one subject from group C, two subjects to be selected from the subjects in groups A and C not already taken. "3. That a candidate may repeat one subject in place of the sixth subject, or repeat two subjects in place of the fifth and sixth subjects. "4. That tho subjects may be taken two at a time, three at a time, or four subjects (for junior scholars) and two subjects; provided that no candidate be allowed to sit for his filial examination in less than tiliree years. "B. That the B.Sc. bo a special scienco degree on the lines suggested.by the l'rofossorial Conference of 1912." ITndbr the scheme, said Professor Chilton, tho arts student would bo confined to one and only one science. The Chancollor: Now ho can get his B.A. without any science. Professor Ohilton said that was one reason why he supported the scheme. It was a choice of evils. , • Professor Marshall spoko in opposition to the proposal, and moved as an amendment that t)hc present system of iwo degrees, B.A. and B.Sc-, be retained. Profc&sor Bouham seconded the amendment. Professor Maomillan-Browr. thought consideration of the question should bo deferred until tho next meeting of the ■Senate. Professor Hunter said thoy should first dccido whether they should have ono pass degree or two. They could then leave the matter to be further considered by tho Board of Studies. Tho Chancellor approved: of tho suggestion that no man should take the B.A. degree without at least one science, lie would not op-pose a B.A. student taking two sciences. He did not agree with .a "repeat" in two subjects, which would mean that a student could take ,an arts degree in four subjects. Thero should be at least live subjects for a primary pass degree, and- at least ono should bo science. ' Mr. von Haa-st thought the Senate should give tho Board of Studies a lead in the matter. The proposal to postpone the debate was negatived. On the suggestion of the Rev. Mr. Cameron, Professor Marshall agreed to add to iiis amendment that in the B.A. degree the.student should bo required to take at least one. science. The.amendment was then carried. Professor Segar moved that Latin be 110 longer a compulsory subject for the B.A. degree. Professor Hunter secondod the motion, which was agreed to. Professor Sogar moved that every candidate for tho B.A. degree bo re- 1 quired to take two languages, but tho motion was defeated by 11 votes to S. :

On Active Service, A number of scholars who bad enlisted for active sorvicc' applied for the suspension of their scholarships. The Finance Committee recommended that their requests be granted. The Chancellor: This is practically what the Rhodes Scholar trustees are doing. On the motion of Jlr. Von Haaet, tue recommendation was adopted. The Finance Committee reported that n. W.r.er bad bean received from the

chairman of the Melbourne University jjoard inviting the University of New Zealand to send a. delegate to tho interstate Universities' Annual Musical Conference. Tho committee recommended that tlie Senate express its cordial sympathy with the movement, and tlint tile Chancellor be authorised to arramie if possible for a representative . of "the to attend the conference, provided this can he done without expanse to the university. ilic recommendation was agreed to. Tv itli reference 1 to tlie travelling expenses of members of the Senate, the J! iiiiince Comniittee recommended as follows: One pound per day for each clay's p.ttcndanco at tho Senate; ten shillings for each day while travelling by the shortest route, except in the casta where a member travels from Wellington to Ohnstchurch only l , or vice versa; ton shillings allowance for cabs and porterand actual steamer or train fares. 1 ' The, recommendation ivas agreed to. Mr. Crombie -was appointed assistant registrar. Examiners In Law and Commerce. On the recommendation of tho Law Committee the following examiners were appointed Law.—Contracts, H. H. Ostler, LL.B., Auckland; torts, 11. D. Baniford/LL.D., Auckland; property (Part I), C. C. Button, M.A., LL.B., Wanganui; property (Part II), I'. Levi, 11. A., Wellington; criminal law, Hon. J. A'. Tole, 8.A., LL.B., K.C., Auckland: evidence, H. I'. Von Hnast, M.A., LL.B., Wellington; procedure, J. L. Stout, LL.B., Wellington; New Zealand law (for barristers and solicitors admitted elsewhere), C. J. Tunks, Auckland; Roman law, international law, and conflict of laws (LL.B. and LL.M.), Professor A. F. Murison, London; contracts and torts, negligence, etc. (LL.M.), T. Baty, 8.C.L., and L. L. D. Temple; tlie law of companies (LL.M.), F. Porter Faus«ct, M.A., LL.B. Commerce.—Mercantile law (Stage I), 11. P. Richmond, 8.A., LL.B., Auckland ; mercantile law (Stage II), .John O'Shea, M.A., LL.B.j Wellington; rights and duties of trustees, etc., A. I!. Johnstone. 8.A., LL.B., New Plymonth ; bankruptcy law, T. Neav'e, 8.A., LL.B., Wellington; company law, C. B. Morison, K.C., Wellington; industrial law, C. -J. Tunks, Auckland. "° committee also recommended that the examiners in the following subjects bo asked to confer (either personally or by correspondence) and rcvisa each Hher's papers:—(a) Property I and property 11, (b) JSvidcnce and Procedure, (c) Contracts, Criminal Latr, and lorts, (d) Mercantile Law Stages I and

The recommendation was adopted. reference to an inquiry by Judge Gilfedder. as to whether the Senate would receive a thesis on Maori law and custom for the degree of Doctor of Laws, the Law Committee recommended that the subject of the thesis was not one contemplated by the statute on the degree of Doctor of' Laws, and regretted, therefore, that the thesis could not be accepted. x ln the course of a discussion tlio opinion was expressed that the Senate should hesitate before adopting the recommendation of the committee. The Chancellor said tlicre could not be said to ho any Maori law .apart- from that passed by the New Zealand Parliament. There, wore the customs of the different tribes, wliicli did not alvsvvs concur. The view was expressed that the matter might well be left to the examiner, as the subject was one deserving of encouragement at the hands of the Senate. , • The Chancellor said the statute could bo amended to permit of the acceptnncc of - a thesis of the kind in ciuestion. Consideration of the recommendation was postponed. The Senate then adjourned till 11.30 a.m. to-day.