THE UNIVERSITY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXIII, Issue 16035, 16 September 1912, Page 2

THE UNIVERSITY.

STATEMENT BY MINISTER OF EDUCATION. [Pan Press Association-.] WELLINGTON, September L 5. Ministers of the Crown who are Uni- . versity graduates were entertained at dinner on Saturday evening by the Victoria College Graduates' Association. Ministers qualified to attend were die Eons H. D. Bell, J. Allea, W. H. Hcrries, R. Henton Rhodes and Dr Pomare. All attended except Mr Rhodes, who was prevented by a private bereavement. Some sixty members of 'the association, including several ladies, were present. Mr H. H. Ostler, president of the Graduates' Association, said that notwithstanding the fine work done in tho pas* by the Now Zealand University, the time was now ripe for reforms in tho University. A Commission was desired. A greater measure of self-gov-ernment was wanted by the colleges, such as direct representation on the university councils of professors and graduates, instead of appointments by tho Governor-in-Council. The constitution of the Otatro University in 1839 provided that tho first thirty graduates should form a senate to elect every member of the council, six members of which should bo professers. Victoria College did not ask for such liberal treatment, but desired fuller representation of the interests involved. The Hen J. Allen in reply said that ho knew what the graduates desired but he did not know tho position taken up by the Council. Auckland, as usual, was in the van of progress, and had already consented to reform of its Council, and had forwarded to him a Bill, which he would endeavour to have passed, placing two members of the professorial board and four elected Graduates on the Council, and he would be pleased to givo similar terms to Victoria College. The latter would not only have to improve its constitution, but its finances. Parliament had entered into an examination of some of the Grievances submitted, and tho recommendation of the Education Committee- to bring professorial boards into closer touch with councils was only one of many steps yet to be taken. The Education Committee had also recommended that the Inspector of Schools should investigate and report to Parliament on tho position of all colleges. Those investigations were just abou* completed, and he exnected to have a report in a few weeks, which would, also be tho basis for future constructive work. That work, so far as means j allowed, would be done, particularly in | the direction of the equipment of v&ri- j oils colleges. He looked . forward to ' the time when the whole Cabinet would bs graduates. Tho universities would play a tremendous part in the fntur© of New Zealand. The Hon H. D. Bell spoke .in a similar strain.