"TO REMOVE STIGMA"

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 197, 15 May 1920, Page 8

"TO REMOVE STIGMA"

A UNIVERSITY NEED

RESIDENTIAL DAY COLLEGE SUGGESTED

Tlile _ establishment of residential colleges in connection with the New Zcnlatid University, with partcitilar reference to Wellington, wns one of the top ; cs discussed at tho reunion luncheon of past and present students of Victoria "University College, which was held in the Y.M.C.A. rooms at noon vestcrdn.v. • Mr. Q. G. G. Watson, M.A., LL.B., chairman of the Reunion Committee, presided over an attendance of fully 300 students and graduates. Apologes for non-attendance were received from the Chancellor of the University of New Zealand (Sir Robert Stout) aiul the Minister of Education (the Hon. C. J. Parr). A Commendable Trait. Proposing the toast of "Victoria University College," Professor Easterlield said that il'le very fact that there was such a large gathering present wns amplo testimony of tho high place the college held in the esteem of all ex-students n,iul graduates. Tho University had already nn excellent reputation, its . graduates having made their mnrlc in. nil pnrts of the 'Empire. He was thoroughly nroud of the under-graduntes he personally had under him, as were also his fellow professors. One thing winch 1.-nd struck Irm profoundly wns the extreme courtesy of the students attending the college. Of all the universities he had been associated with, in no one had ho found the same high average of courtesy. Mr. Clement Watson, 8.A., chairman of the College Council, who responded, emphasised the responsibility w-h'ich .lay on the shoulders of graduates. The toast of "Past Students" was proposed by Professor 11. B. Kirk, M.A., who dwelt upon tho fact that the college owed much to old collegians who had so gloriously upheld the heritage of "the Old Clay Patch" on the field of honour. It would be a bnd day for the college if she ever forgot the inspiring record of those of her soldier sons who had "gone west." Tho college owed much of its present, proud position to the mngnificont'ability and earnestness of its foundation professors. "A Glorified Night School," Professor P, W. Robertson, M.A„ B.Sc., made brief response to t,Vm toast. Looking to tho future, he stated thnt it was for the college to remove the stigma that attached to it, in thnt in certain quarters it wns considered to be no more than n glorified night school. The only remedy was 'day insbuction. Later on, doubtless as another stop forward, they would 6ee flourishing residential colleges. These suggest ! ons, ho addcu. were warmlyapproved by Dr. Newton, of London University. The chairman then 'briefly tonsted the "Grnduntes of the Year," and appealed to them to join the Graduates' Association as being fee liiiK between them . and their Alma Safer, Another point niado by Mr. Watson -wns thnt all those who had the welfare of the college nt heart should "aglrate, agitate, and agitate" until residential colleges were erected. The speaker appealed to the Tioarfl of Governors to take a greater interest in graduates to the extent ,of keeping "close tnbls" on- their individual careers after the severance of ffieir connection with the institution. This system whs carried out in AmericiV.

ifr. E. W. J. Foil ton, M.Sc., and Mr. 0. W. Morice, B.Sc., responded. The toast of "The Professors and StftfF' was proposed by Mr. S. Mansfield, president of tho Students' Association, rind replied to by Professor Sommprville, chairman of the Tro'fessorinl Board.