UNIVERSITY SENATE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIVIII, Issue 17684, 20 January 1921, Page 8

UNIVERSITY SENATE.

CHANCELLOR'S ADDRESS. THE BOARD OF STUDIES. "CONE BEYOND ITS FUNCTION." [BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON, Wednesday The annual sessions of the Senate of the University of New Zealand opened to-day, the chancellor, Sir Robert Stout, presiding. The chancellor read his annual report, after which the Senate elected various committees to deal with the different branches of the business. In his report the chancellor first referred to the deaths of Professor Gilray, tho Hon. J. A. Tole, K.C., and Professor J. A. McClelland, examiner in physics. Referring to finance, ho said the general account showed an increased credit balance, and there would be ample funds to make the final payment of £600 due 10 the ordinary scholarship account, which became depleted in 1914-1915. The usual examinations were held during the year, and the increased revenue was partially due to the increase in the number of candidates for almost every degree course. For the entrance examinations the numbers were 141 for scholarships, 3027 for matriculation, as compared with 143 and 2655 respectively in 1919. In 1910 the candidates for matriculation numbered 1442; m 1911 there were only 1112, but since that year there had been a steady increase. The number of candidates lor degree examinations was 2927, as compared with 2413 in the previous year. " The board of studies met on November 23," continued the chancellor. " For a second time the board appears to me to havo gone beyond its' function as laid down in the statute creating it, in recommending the issue of a Royal Commission on the university and university colleges of New Zealand headed by some eminent educationalist from the United Kingdom. What the inquiry is to be about is not stated. Is the commission to be that of a 'visitor' to see whether the professors, instructors, and officers are fulfilling their duties, and are competent to do so; or is it to consider the present constitution of the university bodies? It does seem peculiar that though New Zealand was able to find within its boundaries members who were competent to bo a Royal Commission in 1879, it is not now apparently thought that a commission would be properly constituted if it lacked ' some eminent educationalist from the United Kingdom.' Can it be that after 40 years of university education, New Zealand is lees able to find a university commission than it was in 1879 ? " The board of studies has again dealt with the conduct of examinations. This also was not remitted to them by the statute that created the board of studies. Their duty is to make recommendations as to the appointment of examiners, etc. What is now proposed is a revival of the demand that the teachers should be the examiners. The proposal deals with only the conduct of examinations of the ' pass grade.' "It is satisfactory to notice that the ground for appointing professors as examiners, which was urged in previous years, has apparently been abandoned. " A new proposal was made with reference to the creation of a new degreis namely, doctor of philosophy. Our university has no power to grant such a degree* There is provision for granting a doctorate in science, and so far as I can gather from the proposed doctorate of philosophy it is in fact to be mainly a doctorate in science. Why a doctorate in chemistry should be called a doctorate of fhilosophy and not a doctorate of science cannot understand, so it may be said of a _ doctorate in physics or in natural science. " I notice that the board of studies has recommended that the suggestion of putting questions of a practical character in the law examination should not be followed, and instead thereof there should be certificates obtained from teachers of law in affiliated institrtions as to the work done by students in preparing agreements, conveyances, etc., I may point out that this suggestion cannot be carried out -5 the present law stands, as there is nothing enabling the judges to declare that no one shall be examined in law who has not attended classes at an affiliated institution of the university. It is plain that the law examination must be split into two, if this proposed regulation is made.