UNIVERSITY COMMISSION

Evening Star, Issue 19006, 30 July 1925, Page 12

UNIVERSITY COMMISSION

EVIDENCE AT WELLINGTON

[Per United Press Association.]

WELLINGTON, July 29

Giving evidence before the University Commission to-day, Professor 6. S. Peren, professor of agriculture at V ictoria University College, stated tjiat tho School of Agriculture at Victoria, College opened at tho beginning of the present academic year with twelve students, but had neither lecture rooms, laboratories, laud, nor live stock,_ and was altogether an extraordinary school. There wore no funds except his salary, but they had been waiting a year for the promised Government assistance, and tho position was becoming critical. To provide equipment tor a school of agriculture in the North Island would cost nearly £bo,ooo and an annual maintenance grant of £/,out). If, therefore, two schools were required in that island, besides the keeping up of Lincoln College, a very largo sum must bo found. It was not likely that the Government would do it. Ino tioki for the professional employment or graduates was small. The country could not absorb more than twelve to fifteen per annum. For this reason alone it would be sheer waste to establish more than one school, and on no grounds could tho establishment of an additional school at Auckland he justified. rio urged the necessity for a strong and comprehensive policy, eliminating politics from The question. Professor Hunter stated that the present constitution was not the result of a study of tho requirements of the country. His personal opinion was that the present system of organisation could not continue. He instanced particularly the work of the colleges, determining the lines ot university education, and examining tor degrees by a purely external system ot examination. “In my opinion, he said, “the best solution of_ these problems Involves the fmindation of tour universities with limited charters tiom the Crown. Provided the four universities are sot up, each with a definite field of work, three great advantages will follow, viz.(a) Each college will have an opportunity to develop its own genius; (b) provincial jealousy will no loimer ’ impede progress in university education; and (c) at least one institution may decide to concentrate on setting a high standard ol work and training, and be the means ot raising the whole level of university life. Professor Wilson, on behal of the Professorial Board, said that that body advocated tho formation of four separate universities, one in each ol the tour principal centres. Ho was opposed to the present system by which degrees mi°ht be obtained without attendance nt°a university. There should be distribution of special schools amongst universities, each to have one with adequate endowments, instead ol the present statutory grants Irom tho Consolidated Fund.