NEW ZEALAND UNIVERSITY SENATE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13399, 30 January 1907, Page 8

NEW ZEALAND UNIVERSITY SENATE.

ESTABLISHMENT OF DIVINITY

DEGREES.

[BY TKI.KCRAVH. —PRKSS ASSOCIATION.]

CiißisTCiitrncH, Tuesday. At to-day's sittings of the University Senate Mr. Hogben moved, "That in the statute for the degree of 8.A.. section 21, the words, ' from any persons' down to the end of the section, be deleted." He said that one effect of the motion would be to take, away the provision which now compelled any person to include education as one of Ins subjects, and allow mental science to be taken among the other subjects for t lie, ; degree. The motion, on the suggestion of th" Chancellor (Sir Robert Stout), was amended to refer to ad euridem degrees, the committee to consider whether the provisions as to tie- subject of education for the B.A. degree might be modified. The motion was then adopted. Sir Maurice O'Rorke moved, " That the Senate requests the Minister for Education to bring in a Bill in toe. next session of Parliament to give effect to the resolution passed by the Senate in 1905 for the establishment of divinity degrees in the University of New Zealand.'' This was seconded by Professor Salmond, who said it seemed to him to be only logical that the motion should be carried. Seeing that the Senate had affirmed the desirableness of establishing divinity degrees, they should not go about- this matter in a half-hearted way, but should show that they were serious in regard to it. Professor ,1. M. Brown said that in aH countries where such degrees had been established there wis a fair unanimity with regard to religion. In the United States, however, they tried as far as possible to keep their education system secular. lie thought the Government of this colony had taken a very wise and common-sense view of the matter in saying that they were not going to press theological degrees on the country until the people of the colony had said that our present secular system shall be departed from. The Hon. ,1. A. Tole said that the Senate having passed a resolution it was their duty to try and give effect to it. There might be practical difficulties in the way of I carrving out their object, but their was a i possibility there might In- a broad common I ground on which to act. I After further di«ot;;;.-ioii, and Sit Maurice I O'Kork.'s reply, the motion w.e put and ! carried bv 11 votes 10 10. I Mr, Cohen bniiigiu up the report of tin ! examiners of tic paper-- sent in for lie Mac- ' itiitlan-Brown memorial prize. The prize was awarded to the pape,- bearing. ..." most" ■■ Antithesis." anil mi tin tier being opened it wit* found In have been won by Herbert Edgar Evan.-, of the Victoria College. Wei!im:ion. The subject of ll« essay was " Eis; and West .- A Contract.'' Mr. Evans i won the Uoweii prize last year.