SENATE MEETS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22319, 17 January 1936, Page 12

SENATE MEETS

THE -ANNUAL SESSIONS GROWTH OF WORK SCHOOL CERTIFICATE TEST REPORTS BY COMMITTEES The annual sessions of the Now* Zealand University Senate opened yesterday in the Auckland University 'College Hall. The chancellor, the Hon. .T. A. Hanan, M.L.C., in his address expressed regret at the deaths of Mr. F. H. Bakewell, for many years a member of the senate, and Professor J. H. K. Inglis. of Ota go University, a former university examiner and member of the Academic Board. He read the resolutions of sympathy which had been sent to their relatives by the executive committee. The chancellor also oficred the congratulations of tlie senate to Mr. Justice Callan, a former member and examiner, on his elevation to the Bench. - He welcomed the three new members, Professor G. W • von Zcdlitz, of Wellington, and Messrs. 1). Stout and J. H. C. Somerville, of Dunedin. Tribute to Registrar Iu mentioning the approaching retirement of the registrar, Mr. E. T. Norris, -Mr. Hanan said he had occupied the position for 21 years and had performed his duties conscientiously, diligently and courteously. He expressed the hope that Mr. Norris would long enjoy his well-earned leisure. To show the amount of work undertaken by the senate, Mr. Hanan quoted returns of candidates for the matriculation and accountants' preliminary examinations, who had numbered 4981 •hi 1925. and 5100 in 1935. He added that he had not the figures for the higher university examinations. The number of degrees conferred had risen from 393 in 1925 to G6S last year. The respective numbers of undergraduates had been 300S and 3204 respectively. The relatively small increase might be due to the discontinuance of university bursaries and the closing of some of the training colleges. The chancellor remarked that the new (school certificate examination, which provided for a wider range of subjects than the university entrance examination, should remove to some extent the complaint made that the educational work of the high schools was dominated by the examinations prescribed by the university. The success attending this reform would depend in a measure upon the value put upon the certificate as a criterion of general scholastic attainment. Oxford Council's Decision A recommendation by the executive committee that the Government should be asked to consolidate the legislation relating to the New Zealand University was appro%-ed. The vice-chancellor, Professor T. A. Hunter, stated that some of the legislation was embodied in Finance Acts and the Law Practitioners Act. This caused a good deal of inconvenience. Various amendments were desired, and it was considered that these would be more readily obtained if a consolidation were first carried, out. It was reported that the Hebdomadal Council at Oxford had accepted eight New Zealand degrees in science, surgery, agricultural science, forestry and commerce for the purpose, of "senior status" at Oxford, but declined to recognise the bachelor's degrees in music, dental surgery and architecture or the doctorate in dental surgery. In reply to a question, the vicechancellor stated that no reasons had been given for the latter decision. The senate approved a recommendation by the committee that the size of the Council of Legal Education should not be increased and the two representatives of the senate on the council should obtain the views of the four faculties of law and place them before the council.

DIVIDED RESEARCH

AGRICULTURAL WORK NEED FOR DEVELOPMENT The 1 prosecution of research work by the Department of Agriculture on the one hand, and the two agricultural colleges and the Cawthron Institute on the other, was criticised by the chancellor of the New Zealand University, the Hon. J. A. Hanan, M.L.C., in his address to the University Senate yesterday. " The need for more research is so urgent and the economic benefits are £o recognised that reports from many parts/ make it clearly manifest that there are growing up in a number of civilised countries, side by side with the universities, great specialist institutions with staffs devoted to research, with adequate buildings and equipment, with endowments, often with State subsidies, enjoj'ing facilities for study which put the universities out of the running," said the chancellor. "We have in New Zealand two agricultural colleges, known as the Massey Agricultural College and the Canterbury Agricultural College. There is also the Cawthron Institute. They have admittedly done good work, but the need for their further development and for being made of more beneficial use to our farming population deserves to bo strongly emphasised in order that further financial assistance and better organisation should be provided, especially in the interests of research work. " I have heard it alleged by those competent to express an opinion on the subject that the present system, whereby the Agricultural Department has assumed the responsibility for organiser! researcli as well as for the administration of regulations, does not make for real efficiency. Agricultural research, they contend, should be made the responsibility of the colleges, and of such institutions as the Cawthron Institute. Such a change, it is asserted, would mean that the State and the farming community which has to meet such fierce competition from rivals in the markets of the world would receive a better return for money spent in rescarch and in teaching, so far as primary industries are concerned. " There are good grounds for suggesting that better methods should be adopted to ensure that a knowledge of the discoveries made by the members of the college staffs will be rapidly disseminated throughout the country and put into practice. I am satisfied from the reports that have been made to me that there is justification for a strong claim being made for increased facilities being provided for the prosecution of research and for liberal financial support being accorded to that object. " The increased sums of money which are given in England and Scotland to the various institutions engaged in research work are an object lesson ;is attesting a sense of recognition by Britain of the groat benefits derived by her farmers from research activities. In America and other countries they have National Research Councils which are entrusted with the responsibility of expending considerable sums of money given to them for the support of various special undertakings in the way of the promotion, organisation and carrying out of scientific work and research."