VICTORIA COLLEGE COUNCIL. THE QUESTION OF FUNDS AGAIN DISCUSSED.

Evening Post, Volume LXVIII, Issue 96, 20 October 1904, Page 2

VICTORIA COLLEGE COUNCIL. THE QUESTION OF FUNDS AGAIN DISCUSSED.

The Victoria College Council held its monthly meeting last nighfc. Present: Rev. W. A. Evans (in the chair), Sir Robt. Stout, Dr. Wallis, Dr. Chappie, and Messrs. J. Graham, M.H.R., A, W. Hogg, M.H.R., C. Watson, R. Lee, A. R. Meek, C. Wilson, and R. M'Callum. An intimation was received from the Education Department that the Minister had approved of the for one year of the Queen's Scholarship held by Norma. E. Fogelberg at tie Wellington Girls' High School. The Council agreed to extend Clara Taylor's term of her Queen's Scholarship by one year. The Council could not see its way to comply with a request to revise the term of the scholarship held by David Whyte, of Napier. THE BUILDING FUND. Sir Robert Stout reported that he and Mr. Evans, in the course of ail endeavour to 'raise subscriptions towards the College building fund, had interviewed several members of Parliament, who had expressed the opinion that the Government should find further funds not only for the completion of the buildings, but for the future management of the College. As a result of the interviews a meeting of members of Parliament of the Middle District (the Council's area) was held yesterday morning, Mr. A. R. Guinness presiding. Messrs. Duthie and Graham, he understood, had organised the meeting, and he (Sir Robert Stout) and Mr. Evans attended, by request, and explained the financial position of the Council. He had gathered that the meeting was favourable to the suggestion that further help -should be rendered by the Government, and it was decided that members should wait upon the Government and ccnvey this resolve, attended by two members of the Council. Sir Robert added that even in the grants which were being given this year, Auckland was being better treated (;han Wellington, as the latter was only getting £3000 clea-r, whilst Auckland, would receive £4000 clear. Even if the Government paid the Council's architects and clerk of works, a large sum would still be required for furnishing and equipping the buildings. Mr. Wilson regretted that when the previous speaker and the Acting-Chair-man waited upon the conference of members of' Parliament they did not notify him. As the representative on the Council of members of Parliament he should have been given the opportunity of attending the conference. From what he had heard, it appeared that there had not been unanimity of opinion at that conference. (Sir Robert Stout: I did not claim that there was.) Mr. Wilson went on to ventilate once more the grievance of the minority of the Council against " deliberate ' action of the Council in going 'into expenditure beyond the Council's means, and said that it was no use worrying the Government regarding money at this late stage of the session. Besides, the Council was not in immediate want of money, though it was drifting that way. The Council had deliberately chosen to go beyond its means, and, as one of the minority, he repudiated the Council's action. -, Mr. Watson expressed astonishment at Mr. Wilson going back upon the Council's action "in this foolish way." The whole Council was equally responsible for the policy adopted. The erection of necessary buildings was the cause of the Council's difficulties. Mr. Hogg agreed with Mr. Wilson's contentions and repudiation. The Council had been too ambitious, and had unnecessarily increased it* Professorial Boaid. The Government had given the Council a fixed revenue, and the Council should have operated within that revenue. Dr. Chappie did not agree with the previous speaker. The first and most important duty of the Council was to complete its curriculum, in order to comply with University conditions. The appointments made were justified. Mr. M'Callum agreed with Dr. Chappie, and said he thought Mr. Wilson had taken a parsimonious Scotch view of the position. The Council could fairly look to the Government for further help. Mr. Graham reiterated the opinion of the minority as expressed by Messrs. Wilson and Hogg. He thought the Government had been generous towards the Council, and would continue to show further generosity when the Council hati shown that x% could manage properly the funds already received. Mr. Lee disagreed with the previous speaker, aad said he could not see tho drift of the contention of the much-re-ferred-to minority of the Council. They were all equally responsible for the Council's forward policy. Let the past go ; let them all look to the present. The^ Acting-Chairman made a personal explanation regarding the omission to invite Mr. Wilson to take part in the conference with the members of Parliament. It had been purely an oversight, for which he (Mr. Evans) took the sole responsibility. Sir Robert Stout replied to the arguments, contentions, and statements of Messrs. Wilson, Hogg, and Graham, and on the speaker's motion it was ultimately resolved that Messrs. Evans and Lee should represent the Council when the deputation of Parliamentarians waited upon the Government. SUGGESTIONS BY MR. LEE. Mr. R. Lee gave notice that he would bring forward the following series of motions at the next meeting: — (1) That the Victoria College Council is of opinion that the selection, and grouping of the subjects for the several examinations of the New Zealand University should be revised, in order that a student may be afforded greater facilities of gaining distinction in any one or more subjects selected by himself and presumably adapted to his faculties or tastes; (2) that, on application being made, additional subjects should be recognised, for the encouragement of the cultivation of special faculties in i»dividua-ls, whereby a wider range of educational usefulness may be opened out, and an academical status given to'all order* of intellectual power ; (3) that the examinations should take account of a candidate's originality of thought and of his mental resourcefulness, and, with this objective in view, should be partly of a viva voce or otherwise of a practical demonstrative character; (4) that a candidate, who satisfies an examination in any subject or in any distinct section of a subject, shall be finally passed \n that part of the examination and be spared the drudgery of again' travelling over the same ground.