OFFER TO UNIVERSITY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22596, 8 December 1936, Page 11

OFFER TO UNIVERSITY

SINGING SCHOLARSHIP ACCEPTANCE DEFERRED "The university teaches subjects and teaches them well, but it would not be wise to confuse our energies with subjects that are not really university work," said Professor W. A. Seweil at yesterday's meeting of the Auckland University College Council, when recommending, on behalf of the executive committee of tho Professorial Board, that the acceptance of funds for a Walter Kirby singing scholarship bo deferred. The committee's recommendation was that before March the council should ascertain the opinion of the. trustees of the late Mr. Kirby's estate as to whether they could and would consent to tho expenditure of the moneys on the larger object of music generally. Professor Seweil said the committee was of the opinion that the college should concentrate on the teaching of more orthodox disciplines. No subject should be taught without a philosophv behind it, and it was feared that the acceptance of the endowment an offered might afieet the policy of the college, and this did not seem' proper. "It is common in England for endowments to be refused in this way," Professor Seweil continued. "There is the possibility that our refusal would be a very grave reflection on the council since we are asking for monev, but our reasons should be made public." It was decided to refer the matter to the education committee, and defer it until the opinion of the whole Professorial Board has been obtained.