THE UNIVERSITY SENATE

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14895, 22 January 1912, Page 8

THE UNIVERSITY SENATE

SPEECH BY THE CHANCELLOR THE CRY FOR "REFORM." POWERS OF PROFESSORS. [BY TEI-EGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Wellington, Sunday. The annual session of the University of New Zealand was opened at Victoria Collego yesterday. The Chancellor (Sir Robert (Stout) >•' presided, and there were also present! Professor J. M, Brown (Vice-chancellor, Christchurch), Professor R. J.. Scott (Ghristchurch), Dr. Collins Wellington), Dr. Fitchett (Wellington), Professor Shand (Dunedin), Mr. H. A. Gordon. (Auckland), Mr. J. W. Tibbs (Auckland), Dr. McDowell (Auckland), Professor F. D. Brown (Auckland), Rev. W. A. Evans (Wellington), Rev. Cameron (Dunedin), Professor Salmqnd (Dunedin), Professor J. R, Brown -(Wellington), Mr. G. Hogben'(Wellington), Mr. James Allen (Dunedin), Mr. H7F. Von Haast (Wellington), : and' Mr. L. Cohen (Wangauui). The Chancellor, in' his address to the Senate, made feeling reference to the death of the late Mr. James Hay (a member of 'the Senate for 22 years)*,* and Lord lichee (known before his" elevation to the peerage as T£dmond " Robertson), ' who was one of the many distinguished outside examiners the University" had' had. •*" The Education Committee of : the House of Representatives, tfie Chancellor went on to nay, had under consideration last session a petition from' 13 professors and lecturers of Vic{oriarCoireg&; He (the Chancellor-) had given evidence before the committee. Ho laid on- "the table' the 1 report of the committee^— The petitioners asked for the appointment of a Royal Commitsilto'lb'inquire into the question of reforrii in University administration and education in New Zealand.—-Counsel for the peti- . tioners stated that if Dr. Hill, who was for about" : a year professor of anatomy ■in the Royal College- of., Surgeons in: London and master of a minor college (Downing College) ''in./ C'unbridge, Mr. Hashing K,C.,.0f Dunedin, and the Hon. Q.-FowldJ and Mr. R. McNab were appointed Com missioners their report would •be of sad weight ! that their suggestions "<■■ would"' bt carded into effect without any difficulty a 1 all. "It. is, no doubt,,- well," added th( Chancellor, "for the Legislature"and . executive Government to know where a bod.\ of " infallible experts that can settle at educational problems r is" to be found. 'II may be noted that no present or past university professor in New Zealand, and n< "one who has been a member of the Senat< and who has had perhaps to bear the heal and burden of the' day in university Sedu cation, was deemed i by the petitioner! eligible for appreciation as Commissioner The appreciation by the majority of th< Victoria College professors and lecturers o the knowledge lor past labours of professon and members of Senate does not seem t< be great." ■' .-'. • /.-■,. -■-The -question of university reform", sai< the Chancellor, had been discussed recent!] in Oxford, in Cambridge, and in Paris,"ant no doubt New Zealand would be ; envied ii having some university teachers " who coulc select fonr' gentlemen whose : pronounce meat "oh; unveraity; education will 1 bi deemed by the community final and cbnclu sive. "May this not, he added, ''bi a further example of the way in which i is said New Zealand leads the world? I does seem peculiar that" professors wh< object to examiners in Britain examining our students in accordance with define* curriculla of - studies; are prepared' to: re commend the Government to go to Britaii to get what their counsel calls a ■ ' Kitchene in education,' one who can give ' the bes advice,- the best wisdom, and the highes talent" regarding ~ our ~.U niversity. > pro blems, though of our history or social lifi the A Kitchener' may have -little - know ledge." -'■ *- ! - _ > '■■ ' v : ' ,v '": •'• • l •.'', In discussing the question raised by thi Education Committee as to the positioi .that should "occupy" in the "ad ministration of university education, th Chancellor drew -attention first to wha is considered by authorities Unite( Kingdom \ should be '"the * position i6l pro feasors, and the second to the • way th British Parliament- sefr-about carrying ou reform of university education when i> wa decreed- *v. ! ' In''conclusion, ""'oil this r point..the Chancellor, said: "A sur- j vey of the evolution of the management of the modern" university, ' both* in* Scotland and in England," will-show that it is en-tirely-incorrect to say that the legislative power of any university is vested , in the Professors. " They may make recommendations, but the absolute legislative; power fis always vested in a body in which the ieaeherfl of -the - r university • • ace «in a minority." " - .■%;.'■-.':■ ■- * ( . ' -, ».A. and B.Sc. Degrees, At the last meeting of the Senate, he continued, it was resolved to forward tb; the professbriar'bbarar¥ffd-the courts of convocation for advice, the follow-' ing questions:—(l) Whether the present degrees of 8..A.,, and_B.Sc._ should be amalgamated, (2) the limitation of two; aubjeotßi-{3) the desirability of ..theprofesssrial; boards approving, of the courses tP be taken by fitudfinfcs, (4) the several limitations and the subjects in the report the"RecessCommittee,-(5) if the amalgamation is" approved ought the bachelors of science ■ degree. 10, be returned as a special science degree? (6; what, if any,: subjects should be compulsory? The professorial boards and courts of convocation were communicated with, and certain replies had r been received.- -office-bad received a joint, memorandum a-om the Victoria College .and Canterbury College Professorial .Boards," which stated 'that these Doards were of opinion that no general agreement- W questions,of-policy could be reached by: the four colleges deliberating separately, and that professorial con- : fefences should be held regularly, and that they reaffirm the finding of the professorial conference as to questions on 6, : tw<>,^ three, and six, and that four and five could only be dealt with "adequately by ft further professorial conference. , ■ ■ . . , : The Auckland Professorial Board; had approved of the answers that had previously been given' to"questionsyone,- two, three, and-fpur-by tho.profea§o"al conference As to five 7 they answered " No," and as to - six they dealt with the subjects that, should be compulsory or voluntary. The Otago rro. -feweW-Boayd (the- .board*t litiaest number of members of any of the Umversity Colleges) disagreed with the ' findings of the professorial conference. The : dißtrict convocation of Otago sent m a report 'which' seemed to contain reasonable suggestions. -It was to he regretted that the Canterbury and Victorian professors were unable to express any opinion -orrtwo. of the questions without'* conference with their fellow professors in Auckland , and °* ftg Financial Matters. An abstract of the income and expenditure for 1911' was appended. ' This wa« as follows —Income: Statutory grant, £3000; fees, £7865 ; interest, £1222; miscellaneous, £626. Expenditure: Senate, £1671* examinations, examiners paid in England (1910), £1863, flatd-tvi New Zealand £2195: ■ total, 3457; expenses, £2456;: scholarships, £2084; ," general-purposes,-It was decided to discuss the report on Monday. The election, of chancellor and' vice-chancellor will take "pla£e""6lfTuesday afternoon. r ■ ,■'.„,' The Senate adjourned till to-morrow moving..... j ... ■.„■.,.,...: ....... . .., —".,«■;'