NEW ZEALAND UNIVERSITY

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12116, 18 April 1925, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND UNIVERSITY

INVESTIGATION ORDERED BY GOVERNMENT

SIR HARRY REICHEL AND MR F. TATE APPOINTED

MANY IMPORTANT QUESTIONS IN ISSUE Sir Harry Reiohel, of the University of North wales, and Mr Frank Tate, Director of Education in Victoria, have been appointed by the Government to investigate the present university system in New Zealand. In making the announcement Sir James Parr, Minister for Education, said that many important matters are in issue, notably those which may be summarised as follows:—(1) One university, or fqur? (2) External examiners, as at present, or internal? (3) Entrance to university by matriculation examination, or by “accrediting"? sir Harry Reiohel will arrive in June, and the commission will then take evidence in the four centres.

For the past couple of years, said Sir James Parr, the Government has been urged to set up an expert commission to report upon university education in this country. Indeed, for many years, even prior to this period, there has been a considerable agitation for reform m many directions. Many important matters are in issue. Here are a few:—

The question of whether University examinations should he conducted by external or internal examiners; also of whether students for entrance to the University should he accredited in lieu of the matriculation examination; also as to what should he the constitution of the University Senate, which on its present basis is generally held to he unsatisfactory Another issue that is frequently raised is in relation to the present Board of Studies and its functions. The proper relation of university education to cur secondary and technical schools is a subject well worth expert inquiry. Again, three out of the four University colleges, and also some courts of convocation, such as the Victoria University Court, have passed resolutions requesting the Government to appoint a commission to inquire into the whole system of working and organisation of universities.

The Wellington court especially requested that the chairman of such commission should be an acknowledged authority on uuiversity organisation, and should eotoe from outside New Zealand. Some college councils are also strongly in favour of four independent universities, believing that New Zealand has reached a stage when the four colleges should be given the

status of autonomous universities, and they have asked for inquiry, i For tho above reasons the Government has xhought fit to appoint a commission, consisting of Sir Harry Reichel (Principal of the University of North Wales) and Mr Frank Tate, M.A. (Director of Education, Victoria), for the purpose ot investigating these questions, and generally examining the standard and scope of university education, and more particularly the question of whether the system of four colleges federated m the New Zealand University is satisfactory or is capable of improvement. Sir Harry Reichel is one of the best known educationists m Great Britain, and a man of wide administrative experience. He has been on many commissions, and had a great deal to do with framing the famous Moseley report. He has also the advantage of being the leading official of the University of Wales, which, like our own, is a federal university.

Mr Tate, who has been recently with us, and who, after his recent month’s visit to New Zealand, understands our local conditions, and especially the condition of secondary and technical education in New Zealand, about which he is reporting to the department, is associated with Sir Harry Reichel, who is the chairman of the commission. Mr Tate for 20 years has been an active and leading member of the Melbourne Senate. Sir Harry Reichel will arrive in June next, and the commission will then begin its work by taking evidence in the four centres.

I regret that Sir Ernest Rutherford was unable to accept a seat on the commission, though he has promised valuable assistance.