UNIVERSITY COMMISSION

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 14 July 1925, Page 5

UNIVERSITY COMMISSION

EVIDENCE AT CHRISTCHURCH

(United Press Association.)

CHRISTCHURCH. Julv 11

At the sittings of the University (Ymmissic'ii to-day, Air I. J. Nicol, president of tiie Christchurch branch of tho New Zealand Technical Schools Association, said that there should be in New Zealand a diploma or degree in art, equivalent to, say, the associateship of tiie Royal College of Art. Persons who could not afford to spend three years in England were precluded from attaining a recognised standard in art. The Jaw students’ demand for a Chair of Law at Canterbury College was emphasised by Mr A. C. Brassington. president of the Canterbury College Law Students’ Society. He said that the college library had so few law books that as a factor in the education of a law student it- was quite negligible. The inadequacy was reflected to some extent in the fact that only throe students had taken the Master of Laws degree at Canterbury College.

Air R .E. Alexander, director of the Agricultural College at Lincoln, said that there was no true understanding in New Zealand of what agricultural education was. The University Senate did not understand the question, and it had no moans of knowing as it was only an examining body, and it had no power to specify the equipment or the standard of teaching or teachers. As a result. the governing body of a teaching institution that spent its substance pestering the Government in wire-pulling and, parochialisms was likely to get most sympathy and help from the Government. A teaching institution should be above political influence ; it should he n national institution. The New Zealand University should bo the body through which the Government- grants were made. A special committee, composed of men of wide outlook and attainments, could be sot up to deal with agricultural questions. The University at present could neither reco-ntmend nor help. The course adopted was to apply directly to Parliament, and the grants were made more as a result of influence and wirepulling than of true necessity® from a Dominion point of view. Lincoln College had practically the whole of the equipment. All it asked for were grants for new laboratories and farm buildings, and, if necessary, additional living accommodation and additions to the staff. Those additions to Lincoln College would cost only a fraction of the sum required for a new institution. No body at present was responsible for research work, and there was no organisation or direction. Anything done was the result of individual effort. That work could be taken in hand by the university through a committee, or research board, that could be set up to organise the work for the Dominion. Local problems could be dealt witlh by local stations, but general principles and general problems at suitable centres. Lincoln College was willing to do that if it was helped only by a small annual donation. It was necessary to extend the work at- that college, and if scholarships were established the holders could assist in the research work.

D 11. G. Denham, professor of chemistry at Canterbury College, said the sta’Tmg at that college was inadequate. Students in the science departments, whose studies were most affected by the lack, were those engaged on advanced and honours work. Calls on tho staff for lecture preparations, overhaul of stores, and general departmental needs meant that much of the laboratory work of that class of student had to be done without direct supervision, ami that led tq sloppy technique and general inefficient work.

Dr. C. C. Farr, Dean of the Faculty of Science at Canterbury College, advocated the full equipment of laboratories. He said he was inclined to wonder sometimes if the world knows how much of its progress is due to- research hv scientific methods.

Mr E. W. White contended that before proceeding with iaw subjects proper every student should be required to pass a first section comprising jurisprudence.

Mr W. J. ’Hunter gave similar ovi donee. He opposed four separate uni versilies.

Mr G. 11. Holford, 8.A., recommended that only one properly staffed and fuily equipped university school of agriculture, on the lines of the Melbourne University Agricultural School, should be maintained in New Zealand.

Mr J. K. Strachan, principal of the Rmginra High School, stated that the problems of industrial and commercial development were, or should he, the concern of educational institutions. The schools and colleges should be part of tlie corporate life of the community conditioned by its interests and in turn conditioning them. CHRISTCHURCH, July 13.

At the University Commission, Professor Hug'ii Stewart said: “I am strongly of opinion that, until the runny needs of the colleges are satisfied, no increased support should be given the W.E.A., The commission should obtain figures showing the proportion of real working men in that organisation. It is net serious work, and in many respects is a sop to the democratic feeling of the country.”

CHRISTCHURCH. This Day,

At the University Commission Mr W. Thomas, Rector of the Timaru Boys' High School, said he felt that the Government subsidy to the W.E.A. should be increased. The organisation had effect on the whole mental atmosphere of smaller towns. “’the Association should be actually promoted by the four University Colleges,” said Mr F. Milner, headmaster at Waitaki High School. “The work is of supreme importance.” Mr Milner said the Commission should investigate the methods of appointment of university professors adopted by the governing bodies of tlio four colleges to ascertain whether the factors of teaching ability, disciplinary influence, and personality generalv were given adequate consideration, There had been too many instances of inefficient appointments, productive of intellectual apathy and slipshod scholarship among pupils. DUNEDIN, This Day.

In reference to Professor Stewart’s evidence before the University Commis sion,- alleging the ineffectiveness of the W.E.A.. Archdeacon Woodthorpe, who is closely connected with the work, stated that in Christchurch the movement largely took the form of university extension work under Professor Shelley, specialising in literature and the drama, those subjects naturally attracting persons not purely working men. The classes conducted in Dunedin were largely attended by working men, the subjects being economics, psychology, and sociology. Rev. Whitehead, who conducted the first W.E.A. class in New Zealand, stated that in proportion to population the W.E.A. attracted as large a percentage of workers in New Zealand as in England. He knew that as a. result of the classes many people had a. much wider and deeper outlook on life’s fundamentals.