FOUR UNIVERSITIES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19086, 3 August 1925, Page 10

FOUR UNIVERSITIES.

PRESENT SYSTEM CONDEMNED CRAMPING IN ITS EFFECTS. INGRAINED PAROCHIALISM. [UX TELEGRAPH.—-OWN CORRESPONDENT.] •WELLINGTON. Sunday. Much of the evidence heard lately by tho University Commission has been against tho establishment of four separate universities, but Professor H. B. Kirk, of Victoria College, came out yesterday as an advocate of the change with certain qualifications. Professor Kirk said that ho had reluctantly coma to tho conclusion that it would bo best to make each of tho present colleges a separato university with a limited charter. His reluctance had been duo to tho consideration that the population was still small and the finances inadequate, but tho present position had long seemed intolerable. Tho university was an examinating university puro and simple, and had_ failed to inspire, he said. It had not directed university education, and had not developed it, but on the other hand, had cramped and limited it. Tho present system having proved intolerable, they naturally considered tho possibility of a federal teaching university and tho prospect at first seemed attractive. Tho attractiveness woro off when they considered how ingrained parochialism had become under the present system. Tho attitude of senators on tho question of the establishment of ono or two schools of forestry showed the hopelessness of any broad view being taken against tho overriding interests of local university politics. Tho attitude with regard to agriculture was equally significant. He found it impossible to envisage tho constitution of a governing body of a federal university in New Zealand tliat sliould take the world view rather than the New Zealand view. " None of tho colleges is at present adequately provided with funds," declared Professor Kirk, " and two of them are absolutely poverty stricken. Whether the present colleges become independent or not it is absolutely essential that they should have adequate and assured incomes. The revenues should, however, as far as possible be derived from endowments rather than from Parliamentary grants." , In stating his opinion in favour of four separate universities ho did not overlook the fact that in his opinion tho very best thing would bo to havo ono central teacning university, it did not matter where. Such a university* could be efficiently staffed. Four separate colleges, or four separate universities, could not be so staffed for many years to come, but the timo for advocating a central university had gone by nearly half a century.