N.Z. UNIVERSITY.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIX, Issue 15, 19 January 1910, Page 2

N.Z. UNIVERSITY.

ANNUAL MEETING OF THE SENATE. REPORT FROM SIR ROBERT STOUT ADVICE TO STUDENTS. [BY TELEGRAPH — SPECIAL TO THE POST.] DUNEDIN, This Day. The annual meeting of the Senate of the New Zealand University was opened to-day, the Hon. C. C. Bowen, vicechancellor, presiding. In the course of an address, written in England, the chancellor, Sir Robert Stout, expresses regret that he has been unable to leave for New Zealand in time to be present at the meeting. UNIVERSITY COMMEMORATIONS. "Along with Professor Sal© and Professor Macmillan Brown," he says, "I attended the Darwin celebrations in •Cambridge. We were most cordially received and most hospitably entertained. Professor Sale had accommodation in his college — Trinity, while the masters and Fellowe of Emanuel showed hospitality to Dr. Macmillan Brown and myself. We presented the address of the University of New Zealand, and wero present at the numerous and interesting functions connected with the celebrations. Professor Sale was unable to go to Geneva or Leipzig. Dr. Macmillan Brown and myself attended Geneva; and Dr. Chappie, in our'absence, was kind enough to represent the University at Leipzig. The Geneva celebrations were exceedingly interesting. Lord Reay made an eloquent speech in French on behalf of the delegates from the British Empire. Dr. Chappie has written of his experiences at Leipzig. OUR DEGREE COURSES. "I have not a copy, of the proposals of the Recess Committee in regard to the alteration or rearrangement of our degree courses. I desire, however, to make a few general observations. I find in most universities that ordinary degrees do nob loom large amongst; educated men. They generally ask. What has a man done? And some satisfactory research work counts for more than a degree won after examination. I also find that there is a tendency to stiffen the entrance examination, so that the university- student may at once com- J mence university work, and not spend his first year at college in acquiring the knowledge that a secondary school ought to have given him. It seems to me that, if mathematics were insisted on at matriculation — the standard being, if anything raised — a student should be permitted to obtain a B.A. degree -without any further mathematics. I would, however, insist on one science — botany, or zoology, or ohemistry, or physics. It is just as necessary to- know one science as mathematics. The method of science is the important thing. If this concession were granted, there would be no need of going to Parliament to ask power to grant a Bachelor of Literature Degree. Our B.A. is sufficient. I may point out that even in Cambridge a Jti.A. may be obtained with very little mathematics. If the previous examination in mathematics is passed, various courses may be taken that dispense with further mathematics ; and I do not think the previous examination is as stiff as our Junior University Scholarship Examination. A student may after the previous examination take, tot example, histof v or law. So - that r our requirements in Mathematics for B.A. are more exacting than those of Cambridge. As to an intermediate examination, that appears to me to be a lowering of our standard, and I think that this would be fatal to onr position, and injurious to our students. If wo fail to keep our present standard, we will do an injury, not only to university education in New Zealand, but to primary and secondary education as well. I believe that, with slight changes, we can adapt our present programme of studies to our present requirements, and that no very drastic alterations are necessary. DEGREE CEREMONIES. "I noticed in the Wellington newspapers that at the graduation ceremony there was much disturbance, by the students. . For the sake of university education in New Zealand, this is much •to be deplored. I have been present at capping ceremonies at Geneva, . Cambridge, Edinburgh, and Manchester, and at none of them was there the slightest interruption by the students. At all of then? there were speeches dealing with some educational questions. At Cambridge Sir A. Geikie spoke of Darwin's relation to geology, and his lecture has since been embodied, and published in a book. This lecture was listened to with quiet decorum. At Geneva there were several speeches, and the students seemed to be the persons who were guardians of the meeting and its order. Seated on the right and left of the platform were two bodies of students, dressed in their quaint costumes, who seemed to help in preserving the order of the proceedings. In Edinburgh Professor Fraser delivered a long speech on research work, and again there was no interruption. At Manchester there were speeches by Viscount Morley/ Dr. Whitelaw Reid (the American Ambassador), Sir Henry Roscoe (the eminent chemist), and others, and again the students were as orderly as if they were at an ordinary lecture. I was informed that there had been disturbances/ at Glasgow and at Edinburgh, and that rather drastic measures (even the expulsion of some students) had been adopted to,prevent a repetition of such practices. I believe that if the New Zealand students recognised that it was bad form to create disturbances at such ceremonies, and that great injux-y was being done to> university education if such practices were continued, we would not have a repetition of the annoyance. PROPOSED UNIVERSITY REFORM. "I have noticed also in the New Zealand papers that a discussion has been going on about our university 'system' generally. The idea sepms to be seriously entertained that each affiliated colJege should have power to grant its own degrees, and that {he functions of the University of New Zealand should be gradually absorbed by these colleges. Some of the colleges seem to complain that the present system cripples their freedom in the arrangement of their studies, and that the examining body is quite out of touch with the various teaching bodies. The issues thus raised are large and complicated, and to dispose of them in a hurried or impulsive manner might be productive oi serious mischief. The whole trend of university reform in the United Kingdom is in a contrary direction. The new universities in the north of England have voluntarily agreed to have one matriculation examination, and the University of Durham wishes, I understand, to join the Universities of Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, and Sheffield, in this general examination. Some think that this step is the forerunner of ai combined examination for degrees. Of conrse, Oxford with its more than twenty colleges, with well-equipped staffs, 'and. Cambridge in a. like position, examine for degrees; and, so far as I know, it has never been suggested that the colleges should he empowered to grant degrees. Indeed, the demand is rather that tjie powers of the universities should be increased (see, for example, Lord Curzon's memorandum to the Vice-Chancellor 1 of Oxford, published in book form about i.wo month* ngi>). Again* th«a !■ at prenont a lupervising council over nil tho Scot-

tish universities, a council that has power practically to fornHuate the programme of studies for the universities ; and in the new universities of Ireland there is Ihe like control. Indeed, there has recently been heard before a commission the question whether the new university of Belfast has acted properly in appointing a Professor of Scholastic Philosophy. "Besides other aspects of the question of the abolition of th« University of New Zealand, theve is the special question of the disposal off its accumulated funds. Who is to administer these funds, and in what directions are they to be applied ? If they are to be divided between the affiliated colleges, it will be difficult to arrive at a principle of division. _ But at this distance } am not in a position to discuss details. Moreover, there are, I understand, many more moderate suggestions in the direction of { university reform, which do not go the length of revolutionising the present system. "Of these, as well as many interesting educational auestions connected with the Homeland, t must defer speaking. I may state that I have found everywhere •a 6trong desire for the furtherance of the higher education. Many large and successful technical colleges are scattered over the country, and people think more of what a learned man does than of the decree he has obtained by examination. The financial statement showe/3 that the receipts for the year amounted to £10,386, and the expenditure to £9136. The principal items in the expenditure were :— Office and salaries. £1035 ; examiners' fees, £2926 ; expenses paid in England and New Zealand, £2026; and scholarships, £1915. The income was made up as follows : — Statutory grant, £3000 ; fees, £6302 19s : interest, £100 9s 7d ; miscellaneous, £74 11s.