UNIVERSITY PRINCIPAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19567, 21 February 1927, Page 10

UNIVERSITY PRINCIPAL.

Whatever grounds the University Council has for its opinion that it lacks legislative authority to appoint a salaried principal, there can be no doubt that it was the intention that it should have this power. The amending Act setting up the University of New Zealand as now federally constituted was framed, as the Minister of Education explained in the House when dealing with tlae matter, on the report of the Uni versity Commission. The- commission's view was that "the appointment, as academic head of the university, of a young and vigorous man of high academic standing, of lofty ideals of university life and work, and of inspiring personality, would inaugurate a new era in the higher education' of the Dominion; many universities in Great Britain have their paid vice-chancellor or principal." Its recommendation was made accordingly. The Minister's reference was explicit: "There is to be a principal, who, it is hoped, will be a man with executive ability, because as a paid official he will really have the management of the business of the university." The commission clearly had .in mind, in recommending the appointment of a principal, who should also be the university's vice-chancellor, the practice of the English provincial type of university. In it the chancellor is without emolument, but the vice-chancellor or principal, who is a man of academic eminence appointed to act as the administrative head, is a paid official. As the council is to make the appointment, it should have power to name and pay the salary attaching to the appointment: and, if further legislative authority be necessary to enable it to do this, that authority should be given without delay. It is imperative that a man of the qualifications named in the commission's report should be selected at the earliest possible moment; and the council did well to resolve on immediate approach to the Minister and to take steps at once to bring the proposed appointment under the notice of the universities of the Empire.