STUDENTS ASSOCIATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17242, 19 August 1919, Page 5

STUDENTS ASSOCIATION.

COMPULSORY MEMBERSHIP. OPPOSED BY COLLEGE COUNCIL. The effort of the Auckland University College Students' Association to inaugurate a system under which all students at j the college would be forced to become members of the association, to pay 2s ' 6d subscription, was discussed at the j meeting of the College Council yesterday. ' The association contended thai by such means the unity of the college would bo strengthened, that every student, whether straying for degrees or not. would take a more active part in college life than, is the case under the. present casual system, and .that the discipline could bo more easily .maintained. The also cksired, "tab- affiliation of all university societies. The chairman, Mr. T. W. Leys, opposed tho movement. Ho stated that only 120 of a total of 600 students attended the meeting at which the proposal was affirmed, and ho questioned whether it would be advisable for the few to control the majority. If fcho students were as unanimous m their request as they had been represented to be, compulsion would not: be ■ necessary. Professor C. W. Egerton, chairman of the Professorial Board, said the board had supported Clio movement. He himself however, opposed it on the ground that compulsion was wrong in principle, and j would not add to the unity or the strength j 01 the association. A similar view was taken bv Dr. H. f>. Bamlord. - If the students do not take sufficient interest in the, college life," he said. "'the remedy is not in compulsion," t, Mr. -.?• D. liaison said he considered uhat ii subscriptions were made compulsory several students would object and probably refuse to attend the college. The students had arrogated to themselves much more than came within their province. - He. T. U. Wells said, he considered compulsion foreign to the spirit thafe should pervade the university. , Objection to the scheme wag also taken by Professor H. W. Seagar. Mr. .L P. Hosking, and the Rev. J. H. Simmonds." The chairman that the registrar convey to the Students' Association sympathy with its objects, and express a"desire to place at its disposal ail available, facilities' for the various 'organisations connected with the association ; hut to state that the council could not see its way to J enforce the compulsory payment of fees i J or compulsory affiliation. i The motion was carried.