UNIVERSITY REFORM.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 7, 9 January 1912, Page 3

UNIVERSITY REFORM.

EXODUS OF STUDENTS. XO THB, EUITOE. Sir,— l am sure the University Senate .will carefully note Professor Laby's plea for the retention of tho external examiners. He complains Hiat the exodus of students from New Zealand is duo to the bad system of examining adopted by the University. Tho only cases, however, which ho quotes are medical students, who go to medical schools elsewhere; yet the medical students in Now Zealand are tho only sludcni^ who aro oxamincd wholly by Now Zealand examiners. Other students who are examined by* external (English) examiners do not go abroad, being quite satisfied with tho present New Zealand system. I am sorry to say that I cannot help feeling that if tho tirofessors who urgo this drastio reform to use another word, revolution) were allowed to teach as thoy like, and examine as they like, we should not hear much about reform from them. Iv short, this cry for reform seems to be a cry for moro power, and pos&ibly more. pay. The opinions'' of the majority of tlioso persons who wore asked to Btn to 'their views on tho New Zealand system aro hardly worth the paper they wero written on, for tlje reason that _they were not acquainted with the conditions obtaining in New Zealand. The University Senate as a body i» juit as much in favour of reform as the Reform Association. But it realises that reform must, be gradual. Professor Laby cannot point to a single instance whoro tho Senate has refused a petition for a reform when the professors concernod havo been unanimously agreed that such particular reform was necessary. It may interest the .Reform Association to , learn that tho Senate has ovor and over again been prevented from making reforms by tho vory^professors who ask to get tho whole management of University studios into their own hands, bimply bocauso tho professors will not agree. Lot tho professors agree oil a recommendation to tho Senate, and tho Senate will unanimously adopt tho recommendation Tho Reform Association would have u» believe that the professors aro not fully represented on the Senate; yet ' tho Senate consists of eight professors and sixteen lay members. It would also have us believe that the professors aro in favour of doing away with tho English "xaminers, and that only the lay members of Hie Senate oppose this. At last meeting of tho Senate a lay monitor proposed, and another- lay member seconded, the following resolution : —"That tho appointment of examiners for the New Zealand University in England bo discontinued, and that in future all University examinations be conducted by professors in the affiliated institutions of the New Zealand University." On the motion of a third lay member, tho Senate first divided on the question down to tho word "discontinued. 1 ' Tho voting was as follows: — Ayes— Mr. ' Hogben and Sir G. M. O'Rorke. Noes— Sir Charles Bowen, Mr. Allen, Professor F. D. Brown, Profeßsor J. M. Brown, Rev. Mr. Cameron, Professor Chilton, Hon. Dr. Collins, Professor Eastornela, Rev. Mr. Evans, Dr. Fitohett, Mr. Gordon, Mr. yon Haast, Mr. Hay, Dr. M'Dowell, Professor Salmond, Professor R. J. Scott, Professor Shand, Mr. Tibbs, Hon. Mr. Tolo, Sir Robert Stout. Every professor against the motion. A lay member then proposed that the following words bo inserted before tho word ''professors" in the remaining pact of tho motion : — "Outside examiners associated with." On tho second part of tho motion, thus amended, the Senate again divided, as f ollows : — Ayes — Mr. Allen, Professor Easterfiold, Rev. Mr. Evans, Mr. Hogbon, Noes — Sir Charles Bowen, Professor F. L>. Brown, Professor J. M. Brown, Rev. Mr. Cameron, Porfessor Chilton, Hon. Dr. Collins, Dr. Fitchett, Mr. Gordon, Mr. yon Haast, Mr. Hay, Dr. M'Dowell, Hon. Sir G. .M. O'Rorke, Professor Salmond, Professor R. J. Scott, Professor Shand, Mr. Tibbs, Hon. Mr. Tole, Sir Robert Stout. Professor Easterfiold acci. dentally voted "ayo," and asked leava to withdraw his vote. Leave was refused. So that actually all tho professors were against a proposal to let the professors take an active part in tho final examinations of students. If tho professors in all the _ affiliated colleges had 'been unanimous in asking for a Royal Commission, I am sure Par« liament would have granted the petition. As the majority of professors appear to be in opposition to the reform movement it would seem to be quite right that Parliament has refused tho commission. — I em, etc., ' INTERESTED. Wellington, Bth January.