UNIVERSITY SYSTEM

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 190, 8 May 1937, Page 10

UNIVERSITY SYSTEM

Requirements For New Zealand “The men who founded the university system in New Zealand attempted to give consideration to the special requirements of this country, but they were handicapped by a number of obstacles,’’ said Professor von Zedlitz at the annual graduation ceremony of Victoria College in the Town Hall last night. “One of these was that they made the mistake of bowing to the provincial jealousies of the time. None of them thought for a moment that their sons would attend a New Zealand university—they would, of course, go overseas for higher education.” Professor von Zedlitz said that if a group of statesmen had set out to discover what sort of university New Zealand wanted, they would have demanded fulfilment of several considerations. The first was to see that our best scholars did not always drift overseas and stay away. It would also be necessary to overcome the handicap of distance. This could be compensated for by making attractive conditions for teachers. This was by no means solely .a matter of salaries. There was the question of length of appointment— New Zealand was an attractive country to visit, but a man would not want t<> stay hero always. Another consideration would be to see that the main activities of the university were centred in the chief pursuits of interest ‘to New Zealand people. A type of all-round education should be devised, comparable to the French and German systems, which would be suitable for the average citizen. It was quite unnecessary to base our university system on that of other countries.

As New Zealand was a specially favoured country we should not be wholly concerned with material considerations. There was room in New Zealand for idealism, and an attempt should bo made not only to benefit New Zealanders but the whole of humanity. 'Too often scholarships were given on condition tiiat the research work done was to be in tile special interests of Now Zealand.

Tile degrees were conferred esu behalf of the University of New Zealand by the vice-chancellor, Professor T. A. Hunter. Mr. P. Levi presided, and on the platform were .Mr. Justice Ostler, the staff of the college, and members of the college council.