UNIVERSITY SENATE

Evening Star, Issue 15395, 20 January 1914, Page 5

UNIVERSITY SENATE

j , ANNUAL SESSION. * , Thtrd Dax-—Ttjes^at- : YtSa TSka*». «l the University of New , Zealtnd rtAomeA their 44 th. annual -session " 10-daV at the Otago University .the Chancellor )3ir Robert Stout. Chiot Justice) presiding. Other , mcmWa pro- . sent , were Professor* J._ MacMillan Brown, J- E- Bw»n, H W. Segw, C. Chiton, J. flight. P. Marshall, J- H. Scott, W. Hewitson,-J. Shand, Kevs. A. Cameron and W. A, Evans, Hon. Dr Collins, Messrs fl. F. Von Haast, J- '»• Tibbs, and G. —^Correspondence.- — An iavitatioc to attend the 150 th anniversary of the' founding of Brown , * University (Nrw Tofk) was accepted, and it waa decided to ask Professor 'Maclaurin tc represent the University of New Zealand. ’ - " . It was also decided to accept an mvitatj6n -to the celebrations of the third ... Centenary of the Dutch University at Groningen, nnd to ask Mr Joyht (now in London) or Professor Connall to .act on behalf of the New. Zealand University. —Extra Examination Advocated.— The Rev. A- Cameron moved That a special examination be held annually in March for those who have obtained a partial pass in the matriculation, examinations.

In supporting the motion Mr Cameron said he thought that it would commend itself-to the members of the Senate. The Secondary Schools’ Conference had passed a resolution asking that the motion be passed. He had been looking at the practice of some of the other universities. * He did not think they should be guided by what others did, but should consider what was best in the circumstances; sti.i, it was of some assistance to find I hat other and older universities had adopted something like what be proposed, lie found that in London University th f ' r c r-ere throe examinations each. year, so that -andwUles who failed did not need to wait i whole year before sitting again lor ijtamiyiition. In the' Scottish universities partial nasses were allowed, and there Were two examinations each year. It leem.ed to him that there must be a lumber of candidates to whom the loss if a vear must be a serious thing indeed, itid to keep students back for a whole vear because they were a few marks behind the standard was a hardship. It looked for several moments as though the motion would lapse for want of , a seconder, but-Professor Hunter supported it in a guarded manner. He saw some difficultv in carrying it out. He would like to know how many candidates had in any one year been given a partial pass, and in how mam subjects they had passed. If that information were available they would know how-much work would be required to conduct the second examination. He was not satisfied that the motion was satisfactory. Perhaps it would be better to refer the matter to a committee. Mr Hogben said the proposal. should be received with a great deal of caution. . . “When toe proper time comes,” he added, “we should admit students to the University qn_a_certificate obtained on leaving school.” (Hear, hear.) Ho was convinced that it would be a disturbing thing for .the secondary schools to have an examination in.the middle of the year. Mr Tibbs said he opposed the motion at the Secondary Schools’ Conference, and would oppose it again. He viewed with grave concern the prospect of having to coach at £he busiest time of the year a number of boys in single subjects. It would disorganise work verv much indeed. Mr fl. F. Von Haast said there would be a difficulty in obtaining examiners, and there was also the question of expose. If a second examination were held there would probably be demands that not only those who had obtained.a partial pass, but others would _be_allowed to sit. This would lead to_ disorganisation .in the schools. Rev. A. Cameron said in reply that ho did-.noJ._exp ect to-carry-the motion. It would come in time. . The motion was lost on the voices.