Evening Post. SATURDAY, JUNE 16, 1923. UNIVERSITY SPIRIT

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 142, 16 June 1923, Page 6

Evening Post. SATURDAY, JUNE 16, 1923. UNIVERSITY SPIRIT

The university colleges of New Zealand have at times been described, somewhat contemptuously, as glorified night schools. In a degree the description is- correct, but it is not a subject for contemptuous reference. "Rather it should provoke serious thought and constructive criticism. In Thursday's "Post" there were two allusions to this subject. The Registrar of Auckland University College was reported as lamenting the lack of a denned and keen university spirit. "So far as the students are concerned," he said, "the institution might be a night school rather than a university." For this he held-the students themselves in.a measure to blame. The other reference was by the Professorial Board of Victoria College, which stated:—

A university should be not merely a place where learning is disseminated; where students come to classes and then go home without interchange of ideas with their fellow-students. It should be the ground where our young people may prepare to take part in the affairs of the nation, and where they may cultivate the qualities of leadership and sympathy. The board repealed the recommendation it has made previously for the establishment of university hostels for men and women students, to ssist in cultivating the true university spirit. The recommendation is a valuable one; but it must not be thought that its adoption would instantly and completely provide the remedy for the existing state. Economic conditions in New Zealand make it impossiblel for many young men and women to give themselves wholly, even for a few years, to university life. They are compelled to pursue their studies while earning their living at some daytime occupation. Thus their opportunities for association outside the lecture room are necessarily curtailed. This is not, however, an argument for curtailing those opportunities still further. Eather it makes it desirable that all means should be used to the best advantage for promoting association. Hostels, in so far as they make the colleges really residential, would be of the greatest value. In Wellington some hostel accommodation has been provided by private^ societies, and this is of great service to women students ; but it is not sufficient, and the men are not provided for, even to this extent. The difficulty is, as usual, a financial one. We cannot expect the Government, however sympathetic it may be, to furnish a large sum for university hostels when there are so many other pressing demands upon the public purse, and particularly upon that compartment of the purse from which educational needs are supplied. But should we allow this to postpone indefinitely the provision of hostels upon the necessity for which all concerned agree 1 Students now obtain and pay for accommodation in private quarters. The people who provide that accommodation no doubt find the business profitable, and, allowing for greater economy in management by private enterprise, it should not be impossible to conduct hostels which would serve the university purpose without involving a loss. A large-scale scheme is not essential in the beginning; indeed it would be better to commence with a modest plan. Would it not be possible for the University College to obtain by loan the funds for inaugurating such a scheme? With the united support of the College Council, the Graduates' Association, and , the Students' Association the first cost should not present ' insuperable difficulties. The Canterbury College students recently prepared an ambitious plan to raise and spend £30,000 for college buildings and equipment. They were moved by a desire to .make the college a splendid place for future generations. With a similar spirit animating past and present students of Victoria College we might soon witness the inauguration of, a residential college movement which would transform completely ths character of university education in this centre.