SEPARATE UNIVERSITIES

Evening Star, Issue 18741, 17 September 1924, Page 7

SEPARATE UNIVERSITIES

COMMISSION STILL OPPOSED. PERSONNEL PARTICULARS WANTED. t ■ Tho Otago University Council still opposes the proposal to set up a Commission to inquire into the report upon tho advisability or otherwise of establishing separate universities in the four centres,, bat there are signs that tho appointment is almost inevitable, and the council yesterday decided to act in accordance with this aspect. There was a letter from the Canterbury College Board before the council stating that, as it now appeared impracticable to hold a conference of affiliated colleges, it had been decided to approve the Commission proposal provided tho chairman came from outside New Zealand, and was a recognised authority on university education and organisation. There was a letter from the Registrar, Victoria College, stating that tho Court of Convocation had passed a resolution in favor of a Commission, making the same provision is that contained in tho Canterbury Board’s approval. The Chancellor (Dr Cameron) said that a letter had come from the Department of Education stating that the resolution from tho council did not make the council s altitude on the Commission proposal clear. Ho had instructed tho Registrar to write stating that tho council wns opposed to the Commission. (‘‘Hear, hear, ’) Mr J. 0. 'Stephens remarked that the Minister of Education had announced that if three out of the four centres approved a Commission, one would be set up. That being the case, was there any use in going further with the proposal to meet the Professorial Board with a view to influencing the Senate? Mr L. D. Ritchie thought it would be ns well to inquire as to the scope of the Commission, as it would affect the local conditions —of the Otago University, for example. They already had had Commissions that had done extraordinary things. (A member: “Very.”) If a Commission were to be set up to inquire into the working of the University of New Zealand, all possible should be done to obviate unnecessary interference with local conditions. They should have an indication of the Commission’s order of reference, Mr Stephens: Why kick against tho pricks? D.r Marshall Macdonald was in favor of asking tho Minister to submit tbe personnel of the proposed Commission to the councils before the members were appointed. He remarked that the committee that had been set up was of extraordinary personnel.

It was decided to inform the Minister that, while the council was opposed, to the Commission, it thought in the event of a Commission being .decided on,- the proposed personnel and the order of reference should be first submitted to the four bodies of control.