UNIVERSITY INQUIRY

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 148, 26 June 1925, Page 6

UNIVERSITY INQUIRY

THE EVIDENCE TO-DAY

TECHNICAL COLLEGE DIREC-

TORS' VIEWS

LACK OF COLLEGE LIFE.

Evidence regarding technical and agricultural education was heard by the Royal University Commission to-day. Sir Harry R. Reichel presided, and Professor Hunter watched proceedings for the University. ; The director of the Technical College (Mr. J. H. Howell) gave . evidence. While deprecating night lectures, Mr. Howell. was of opinion that in certain faculties, such as arts, law, commerce, and music, provision should be made' £or private students who could not obtain fulltime University, training to ob-' tain degrees. It was suggested, there-' fore, that the University o{ New Zealand- as at present constituted, with certain modifications,- be responsible for the examination and granting of to external candidates. No candidate under 24 years of age should be eligible for an ■external degree. The fixing of such a limit would act as an encourage-^ | ment for a full-time course and prevent cramming. , . • ... Mr. R. M; Campbell, on behalf of the Victoria University College Students' Association, urged the right, to elect a representative on the governing body p£ the college, or of the local University, if this should be recommended. Many bodies and interests, none having a stronger claim, were already represented. Representation- would quicken students' interest in wider questions of University education, while the corporate life of the University was riot -less valuable than the academic side. ■ No anomalies of discipline could arise;, as there would be no controlling influence. WIDER 'UNIVERSITY LIFE Mr. H.,.;M'Cormiek, making similar representations, - urged the value.of-a! wider University, life. At' Victoria College to-day the great majority of students were .'working all' day' to earn their ' living, ..lectures being held at night. Students did not spend more than five minutes in the; University before and 'after lectures.'-.; Even; if., hostels were provided, students would still - have to earn their living. "There was no opportunity for the corporate life of the college/or to develop a college spirit-. Students merely attended to pass examinations, largely for. commercial reasons. The membership 'of the " intellectual'"-' clubs of the. college was not more than, 25, 'largely the "same men. in .different clubs, "about all • who' took an active in-; te'rest in-.college the total number of students was nearly 800. The fault lay .with the system, not; with the 1 students. The provision of hostels would improve the position; ' ■ ' ; . ; . (Proceeding.). .-..'.