UNIVERSITY COSTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19929, 24 April 1928, Page 12

UNIVERSITY COSTS.

OPINION OF GRADUATES. RESOLUTION OF PROTEST. Following the publication of iigures compiled by Mr. M. R. O'Shea, registrar of Auckland University College, showing that the cost of university education in New Zealand is at present lower per student than that of secondary education, the Auckland District Court of Convocation passed the following motion by Mr. W. A. Gray at its meeting last evening:—

"That this meeting of the Auckland Court of Convocation draws the attention of the Government to th 6 inadequate provision for the education of university students, as illustrated by the financial return compiled by the Auckland registrar, and submits its opinion that this condition must stunt development and hinder progress in every walk of life in the Dominion."

The Rev. Dr. H. Ranston, in seconding the motion, said it was not suggested for a moment that too much was being spent upon secondary education. Actually the reverse was the case, but in any event the expenditure on university education should be relatively greater. In New Zealand it was much below wJiat it should be.

In a later discussion, Mr. T. U. Wells said that whereas a primary school teacher was not supposed to teach more than 40 pupils, and a secondary school teacher not more than about 30, a university professor or lecturer was expected to instruct classes of 60 or any larger number. Such a "cheap" method of doing the work must have a detrimental effect on university education.