’VARSITY COMMISSION

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12197, 23 July 1925, Page 7

’VARSITY COMMISSION

DEGREES IN THEOLOGY MEMBERS OF CLERGY REQUEST LAW SOCIETY DISSATISFIED Per Press Association. DUNEDIN, July 22. At the University Commission, the Otago Educational Institute submitted evidence viewing with alarm the suggestions of restrictions of the number of evening classes. The system of day classes rendered it impossible for teachers to graduate. The institute had no desire to see the door to a degree closed in the face of teachers, as the divorcing of the university from the teaching profession would be unnatural. Many of the leading figures in the professions were products of the part-time system. A reputation of clergy, representing . various denominations, submitted a request for the establishment of degrees in theology. The speakers contended that there would be no difficulty regarding the doctrines of the various churches. It was felt that the clergy in New Zealand were isolated from the higher learning, in theology. Dr; Marshall Macdonald submitted evidence that the difficulties in regard to the conduct of examinations, inflexibility of syllabus, imperfect control, and the non-existence of e permanent paid head, did not demand such a revolutionary step as the disruption of the New Zealand University, but should be capable of remedy by arrangement between the professors. Board of Studies, and the Senate. The claim that four universities would have a greater power in getting grants from the Government was entirely illusory. The only result would be to place greater oontroi ih the hands of the Government, and this would be centred in the Director of Education, with dire consequences to the freedom and independence of the university. At present professors, especially the arts and science faculties, were much hampered, in their work, but the remedy did not lie in giving each college a syllabus of its own or in multiplying the exam-? jners. It lay in getting all concerned to coma together in fellowship and inspired with a real determination to remedy the acknowledged blemishes in the system. Dr Macdonald said that if more options were allowed within a more comprehensive syllabus, and were allowed difficulties in regard to inflexibility, a paid-. Chancellor could be relied on. to do everything possible for the .university without acting unfairly. In support of his contention that if control were centred in the hands of the Director- of Education the consequences from a university point of view would be disastrous. Dr. Macdonald 6aid that the new dental school was planned by Dr. Pickerill, who was one of the highest authorities on the subject; but the Director of Education, acting,, presumably, on the advice of the director of dental services who had no experience of university teaching, had cut the grant down by 41200 on the ground that certain equipment was not necessary. The department granted what waa held ,to be inferior equipment and refused, to budge from that .position, with the result that t^e.Vmyersity Council-had .to get private benefactions to make up the deficiency ; ... ' \ Dr. Marsden said that Dr. Macdonald’6 statement was quite' true, but it was a question whether the Government should give carte blanche in such a matter, Mr Tate said that what would happen in such a easfc in Victoria would be that the. Government would vote a certain sum of money/’and the expenditure would be left, to the-University Council. ’Br. -.Macdonald said he 'thought it would be a wise’ thing to make us© of the clinical material in other- centres and to make them feel that they were in touch ‘ with the” medical school. ;On- behalf of \ the' University Council, Mr W. J. Morrell expressed the opinion that the present facilities for university education of the ordinary tyn© were, generally speaking, sufficient, but the colleges should have larger funds for extension and W.B.A. work.- The ideal would be thfc provision : of a full-time director of the tutorial classes, in each university district, who should be a man of professorial .attainment and status. The maintenance of the principle of specialisation in connection with’recognised professional schools 'was most desirable. It was desirable that the professions of dentistry, law, engineering, accountancy, and agricultural interest should be directly represented on the Senate Council. He strongly opposed the-setting up of four universities, regarding such step as entirely premature. Additional funds should ’he provided for the appointment of professors' assistants, at adequate salaries to enable professors to devote more time to' research work. Additional fellowships and short-time tutorships should be available for best post-graduate students. A more assured basis' of finance for the four university colleges was urgently necessary. LEGAL EDUCATION Evidence relating to legal education was. given by Mr J. B. Callan, jun., Dean of the Law .Faculty at the University, on behalf of the council of the Otago District Law Society. He was confident the New Zealand Law Society was dissatisfied with the present state of legal' education, but;no concrete proposals as to form an improvement had been agreed upon. A feeling of grave dissatisfaction with the present system of training and testing law students had been felt by the profession for a considerable time. The most outstanding defects of the pre‘sent system were too low a standard of general education and the study of technical professional subjects by candidates who had neither experience of life t nor development of the mind sufficient to enable them to grasp the subject matter of the studies. The course should occupy at least four years, and be scientifically arranged in accordance with the natural development of the mind and the growth of experience. A serious defect was that tliere was no test in book-keeping or accountancy. The university • was responsible for ,some of the defects, because the judges had in effect delegated to the university the appointment of examiners and the prescription and standard of examinations.' It was inconceivable that the functions hitherto discharged by- the New Zealand University should be committed to four universities, ✓as that would lead to four separate standards of fitness One law school for the Dominion was a mischievdus absurdity, because it must lead to the accentuation of the .divorce of theoretical study and practical experience. At LEAST FOUR SCHOOLS There should be, in at least each of the four centres, a fully-equipped and complete legal’ school. If there were four universities, there must bo some outside body to maintain the standard of legal education. It might be an excellent thing if some such body, constituted from the legal profession, came into existence In any case the council of the Law Society supported the following recommendations :—(l) A higher standard of general education; (2) a course of at four years, progressively and scientifically : arranged; (3 practical work in some form; (4) some training and testing in elementary accountancy; (5) a law tichool in each centre; (6) a continual tioh of the national standard for the maintenance of which the profession itself should be the body principally responsible.