VICTORIA COLLEGE COUNCIL.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXVII, Issue 5412, 20 October 1904, Page 6

VICTORIA COLLEGE COUNCIL.

'I ILIC NEW BUILDING. LACK OF FUNDS DISCUSSED BY M MMIiIORS. AN ANIMATED I) LIU ATM. Tlio Victoria College C’onneil’s moet}no last overling was attended by Rev W. A, Evans (chairman), Sir Robert Stout, Bishop Wallis, Messrs J. Graham rrnl A. W. ,Uog®, M.H.R.’s, C. Watson, .It. Leo, 11. AicCalliiiii, C. "Wilson, A. R. Meek, and Dr Chappie. SCHOLARSHIPS. The application of Clara. Taylor to have her scholarship extended by a year was agreed to, She won the i-oholar- . liip in February, 1899, was 100 young to lie able to matriculate within the .specified lime (two years and three i non I, I i:s), and hence was compelled to remain at a High School for this e years after she had won the scholarship. A communication was received from I he office of tlio Minister of Education inlonnimj; tho Council that the extension for one year of the Qiu , '’n , s Scholarhip held by Norma E. Fogelberg, at Ihe Wellington Girls’ High. School, had been approved. The application of Alexander Whyto, of Napier, to have his son’s scholarship suspended for another year, if possible, was not granted, there' being no authority to act as requested. THE NEW BUILDING. Tho clerk of works reported that very little had 'been done to tho Science building at tho new college since tho last report, owing to tho difficulty in getting suitable bricks. More attention had been paid to tho Arts building, which is about ready for tho first floor joists. No damage, beyond the temporary stoppage of work, was caused by tho recent galo. There are thirtynine tradesmen and labourers at present employed on the works. —The report was adopted. HACK OF FUNDS. Hie reading of tho foregoing report brought up the matter of tho college hinds. , , , Sir "Robert Stout said that in accordance with the resolution moved at last meeting, ho and Air Evans had been making inquiries to ascertain if an appeal for private subscriptions was likely to moot with generous response. _ They had received a number of promises of support, and had also communicated with a number of members of Parliament who agreed that something should be done to put tho college in a healthy financial condition. At present they were only able to carry on under difficulties. Tho members of the House had been good enough to call a meeting of representatives of tho middle district that morning, and he and Air Evanq attended. After the position had been explained, ho thought all were in favour of doing something to assist - the institution. Auckland, ho said, had a clear £-1000 a 1 year to work upon, whereas "Wellington had only about £3OOO for University . training, the rest being absorbed by scholarships and incidental expenses. It was untieristood before he left tho meeting of members that tho matter would bo brought under the notice of the Minister of Education. It was requested that representatives of the Council should he present when tho deputation interviewed the Alinistor. Reverting to tho matter of canvassing, he said that owing to illness ho was not able to do a great deal. Mr C. AVilson said ho regretted that ho had not been invited to attend the meeting held that morning, and of which Sir Robert Stout had just given details. There was not that unanimity of opinion amongst members afterwards that Sir Robert Stout had spoken of. Sir Eoibert; I did not say “unanimity.” Mr Wilson said a minority of the council had always held that they could not go on ns they were doing without mooting trouble. There was little use approaching tho Government at the fag end of the session for assistance. Apart altogether from this they had a definite promise from the Premier that the expenses in connection with the now "building would be met ns they fell due. The council was not in any immediate want of money. The council had deliberately gone into its present condition against the oft-expressed views of a very strong minority. Mi- Watson was sorry Mr Wilson did not accept his share of tho responsibility. 1 Mr Wilson: Nor will I. Mi- Watson ' said that the council as a whole was responsible for what had been done. It was a pity such childish contentions were raised. Mr Hogg said ho did not see why members of tho council should bo saddled with a responsibility that did not belong to them. (Voices: Hear, hear.) It had boon decided some time ago by a majority to swallow the reserve for supposed immediate needs. While they were content with their original staff they wore all right. The appointment j|,nf an additional professor was carried '•ty-cme vote. Mr Wilson’s statement , that if» tho-cpuncil was going into debt it was doing so deliberately was perfectly true. Tlio Government had apportioned them a fixed sum, and they could see their way clearly. Dr Chappie said that despite what had been asserted, it seemed to him that tho first duty of the council was.to complete tho curriculum. They had to make provision for a science degree, and accordingly adopted tho teaching of biology. They had £SOOO to spend; and tho money had been used for a legitimate end, and tbo one for which it was granted. Mr McCallum said he was convinced, - after an experience of Education Board administration, that tho hoarding up of fixed deposits was an injustice to tho districts concerned. He would not say that tho Government had not treated them well, but ho agreed with Dr Chappie that their first duty was to bring the curriculum up to a proper standard, and ,so build up a college worthy of the district. If they did not do so how could they expect tlio Government to have faith in them ? Air AVilson, he thought, had taken a parsimonious view of the position. Air Graham said the council, without taking necessary precautions, but first incurred liabilities and then set about getting assistance from tho Government. Tho Government would assist the council in every way so long as it husbanded its finances. The council should try to remember that money had to bo found for other than the one at Wellington. At present they were in a bettor position than many other educational institutions in the colony. Mr Leo said he was not going to wash his hands of any trouble or go behind a feme© because ho had not been a party to tho works to which the council was now committed. The chairman explained how the meeting of members of Parliament had been brought about. Ho and Sir Robert Stent met Mr Duthio and explained mat-

tors to him. Air Duthic said ho could possibly-do .something. Later, the Registrar received a letter, notifying that a mooting of members of tho middle district had been called for Wednesday morning to discus.! the matter, and be and Sir' Robert Stout attended. Ho was sony if any misunderstanding had arisen in connection with tho matter. Sir Robert Stout quoted from the minutes to show that tlio allegation that tbo professor of biology bad been appointed by a majority of one was quite wrong. The voting was seven to throe. Mr AVilson : Then X very much regret that there are not more sensible men on the council. Sir Robert Stout said it was a pity some people were not more careful about their facts and furnished with better memories. To give tho necessary scientific educalion the council was obliged to establish a chair of biology. As it was, they bad lost some of their liesb students through tho very want they had decided to supply. So far as lie know there was not a University in the world that did not provide for tho teaching of science. They would not have been obliged to go to the Government if the £SOOO had not been broken into for building purposes. They had to moot their liabilities. It was not the appointment of the professor of biology, but tbo fact that they had gone on with the new building that was at the bottom of tlio trouble. It. was then agreed that the actingchairman (AI p Evans) and Air Leo should represent ibe council on the deputation to the Alinistor of Education. GENERAL. Professor Kirk wrote asking for" certain necessary appliances for the laboratory. A detailed list of the articles required was enclosed; also a recommendation that the glass goods should bo obtained in German}-. This prompted Mr AVilson to inquire why the necessary articles could not bo obtained in England. Sir Robert Stout said the fact wa.s that the German goods cost about half tho price of the English article. After some discussion, authority was given the professor to spend a sum of £3O odd on laboratory appliances and £2O on the purclia.se of models during his visit to England, it being understood that the first-men-tioned were to ho purchased through an English manufacturer if they could be obtained at a reasonable price. Professor McKenzie wrote thanking tho council for reappointing him for a further term to tho Choir of English. NOTICES OF AiOTION. Air Leo gave notice to move as follows at tho next meeting of tho council:— “That the Victoria College Oouncilis of opinion that the selection and grouping of tho subjects for the several examinations of tho New Zealand University should be revised, in order that a student may be afforded greater facilities of gaining distinction in any ono or more subjects selected by himself, and presumably adapted to in faculties or tastes.” “That, on application being made, additional subjects should bo recognised, for tho encouragement of the cultivation of special facultiesoin individuals, whereby a wider range of educational usefulness may be opened out, and an academical status’ given to all orders of intellectual power.” “That tho examinations should take account of a candidate’s originality of thought and of his mental resourcefulness, and, with this objective in view, should be partly of a viva voce, or otherwise of a practical demonstrative character.” " That a candidate who satisfies an examination in any subject or in any distinct section of a subject, shall be finally passed in that part of the examination and bo spared the drudgery of again travelling over the same ground.’’