FOUR UNIVERSITIES

Evening Star, Issue 19000, 23 July 1925, Page 2

FOUR UNIVERSITIES

STRONG OPPOSITION EXPRESSED On the question of four separate universities for Now Zealand or one, I)r Marshall Macdonald said that ho had been nominated by the Court of Convocation to oppose tho proposal for dividing the University into four separate universities. The court was_ practically unanimous in its opposition to that proposal. They felt strongly that the very real difficulties which existed with regard to the conduct of examinations, the inelasticity of tho syllabus, the'.absence of a permanent paid head of the University, and the infrequent meetings and clumsy machinery or the Senate were all difficulties which could ho overcome by measures of internal reform without resorting to the extreme stop of hanging, drawing, and quartering an institution which had done such splendid work as the University of New Zealand. Even those who were clamoring most loudly the dismemberment of their Alma Mater all united in bearing eloquent testimony to the glorious record during the past half-century of tho body they were so anxious to destroy. Surely such a record carried more weight than academic references to the benefits that had followed university disruption in places like Manchester and Cape Town, where the conditions were by no means analogous to those existing in New Zealand. Even if it were true that the establishment of provincial universities would bo followed by an outburst of provincial patriotism and munificent benefactions, that in turn would surely bo followed by a multiplication of" the special schools with a general loss of efficiency and an unnecessary extravagance of expenditure. A combined syllabus meant the comparative suppression of the erratic idiosyncrasies of professors, but a one-man syllabus in every province meant that tho crank would have unlimited indulgence in his own particular sphere, and that there would ho such a variety of standards in this small country that in tho long run outsiders would he inclined to base their general opinion of New Zealand culture on tho lowest_ of all. It would also lend io isolation even within isolation, and so to progressive deterioration. Tho argument frequently put forward that four universities would have more influence in approaching the Government was illusory, and the universities acting separately would soon find a process of centralisation even of the executive function going on by which they would he reduced to a similar position to that in which tho high schools found themselves to-day. If power oyer the university was ever centred in the hands of the Director of Education such a position would ho fraught with dire consequences to tho freedom and indmiendenco of the universities.

They had every sympathy with tho professors in the faculties of arts and .science for the way in which their •work was cramped and hampered. If there was to bo freedom in any department of education surely it should bo in the university, but suicide was not the best way out'of their present state of depression. Tho Court of Convocation hoped that all those concerned would be able to conic together in a spirit of fellowship and with the inspiration and tho determination to rearrange the affairs of the University in such a way as to ensure the efficient and harmonious working of an institution of which the graduates were all justly proud. Dr Macdonald said that if more options were allowed within a more comprehensive syllabus and were allowed difficulties in regard to inflexibility, a paid chancellor could bo relied on to do everything possible for the University without acting unfairly. In support of his contention that if control were centred in the hands of tho Director of Education the consequences from a university point of view would be disastrous ,Dr Macdonald said that the new Dental School was planned by Dr Pickorill, who was one of the highest authorities on tho subject, but the Director of Education, acting presumably on the advice of the Director of Dental Services, who had no experience of university teaching, had cut the grant down by £1,200 on the ground that certain equipment was not necessary. The department granted what was hold to bo inferior equipment, and refused to budge from that position, with tho result that the University Council had to get private benefactions to make up tho deficiency. In answer to questions, Dr Macdonald contended that a more flexible syllabus would nrovent any tendency_to cramping. The Minister of Education had cut. down the grant to the Dental School by £1.200, and it bad been necessary for them to go to n private benefactor to make up Iho deficiency. The reason given was that the cquip]ne|il soc/tresled by the dean ot the dental faculty was not necessaryand inferior equipment was provided. Tn.vi-e vis much heart-burning over this matter. in- .iw,dmi said (hat the facts as stated In- Dr Macdonald were finite correct, hut the question was whether {lie dean of the faculty was to order what he liked. j)i Macdonald contended that if four universities wore established if would lead to tho central authority obtainiim area ter control every year. tie thought find; the clinical material available in other centres should bo availed of.