COURT OF CONVOCATION

Evening Star, Issue 21784, 28 July 1934, Page 9

COURT OF CONVOCATION

-meg UNIVERSITY DISTRICT Tiie annual meeting of the Otago .ass night, Mr J. M. I’aterson presid «ilg. The committee reported that since 1920 a committee oi the court had kept a caretul note of university matters. , ..at it had from time to time sent deputations to the University Council, cailea meetings of the court, and done other business. Its efforts had, in fact, met with considerable success. The committee had been delighted to find that there had been a growing interest in the university manifested by younger graduates, and there Urns every sign that new men were coming for* ward to help to make the convocation exercise the useful influence in the community and in the university that rt should be. . Since the last general meeting twd deputations had waited oh the Uidverconcerning the Memorial Walk and the

state of the grounds at the university. The committee had prepared during the past year a report on the university iV.nry, hut the council had taken action in the matter, so that in the ~aio i.o action by the committee was deemed to be necessary. The committee was pleased to report that the interest of the graduates in the uni versify gave every sign of increasing, and felt that the time was ripe to inaugurate a campaign with a view to making convocation in Otago as live .a body as it was in other districts. If organised properly convocation should bo able to fulfil a useful purpose and exercise a marked > influence oh education in the dominion The committee recommended that a subscription of 2s 6d per member or 10s 6d for five years be instituted by the meeting, and that the incoming committee should formulate an effective method of summoning meetings. The committee also recommended that the general policy of convocation Should be:—To organise the graduates ■ into a coherent body that will conduce to discussion of university interest and the formation of sound public opinion in such matters. This should result in Watters of university interest being re-

ferred by other university courts to | convocation for consideration. The support by convocation or university interests should prove a useful political support to the real interests of university education, those of the community, and the real interest of professions and of students. They should aim at any reform of University Acts that might be deemed advisable. . ' The following subjects were referred' by’the‘ retiring/body, to the incoming committee as affording possible questions for 1 discussion at future meetings. How far, does the syllabus in each faculty afford that basis for general culture that men with degrees should have? (Dr Hunter’s address at the graduation ceremony raised this quesr tion.) The place of lectures as contrasted with the us,e of the library in university learning arid teaching. Danger of State control of the universities. How should .this danger be met? (By expressing the opinion of convocation publicly and perhaps also by attacking, -JJm direct centralised State control, of secondary education.) The needs ~ of the university as regards scholarships, library, lectures, professors in new. Subjects, of better establishment of existing appointments in the interests

I of education and as a guide to possible benefactors. That graduates who have been abroad holding posts in foreign universities and who have had special opportunities of seeing university education abroad should bo asked to speak ‘either to con vocation of elsewhere. Dr Stuart Moore said the report contained a diversity of subjects which could be profitably discussed by the incoming committee.; He stressed the fact that the court comprised a powerful voting strength which could be used effectively, as university education was now a political matter. He moved that the suggestions be referred to the committee. . The motion was seconded by Dr O. be B. Andrew and carried. • It was also resolved to thank the defunci Graduates’ Association for a gift of the remaining funds. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. -The following office-bearers were elected President,, Dr W. Newlands ; Vice-presidents—Dr Stuart Moore, Miss .Allen, and Mr ; 11. M. Butler; clerktreasurer,. Mr M. •Joel; committee—--Misses N.i V. Morton and M. S. Fleming, Messrs I».. M- Batterthwaite and 0. B. Barrowolough,