UNIVERSITY EXAMINATIONS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13586, 7 May 1906, Page 10

UNIVERSITY EXAMINATIONS.

TO THE EDITOR. Sib,—lii tho issue of tlio Times of 29th' January last there appeared a letter over the signature " 1'.1i." complaining of tbo hardship entailed upon failures ;in matriculation examinations, since they havo to .wait a year for another chalice to pass, find then aro required to tako ALL the subjects over again. Why ahoidd there bo any distinction made Jwtwccn such examinations and finals so lar as waiting is concornod? A final examination was held last Novcm--1 ber of persons desirous' of admission, as solicitors, ct,e. As usual, a number failed to pa."?. In i'he ordinary courso such failures would require to stand again at the next annual examination if they wished ultimately to bo successful.

It. appears that, tlio 15th in«t. is fixed as ilio date of a supplementary examination in finals,, to give certain failures (after reading .up failed subjects) an extra chance to pass, '1.5 -this sort of thing fair to successful candidates, who probably studied harder (or perhaps, had more brains) than thoso who .failed; or to men who, in years gone by, had to give up tho struggle, because, having their living to earn, thoy could not afford the time. lam not aware qf such a thing as this having occurred before in connection with university examinations. Oil •this occasion there are included failures in more than one final. Passing as a solicitor, for instauoe, under such circumstances, can only bo described as pitohforking a man into nn already very much over-crowded profession, and as likely as not lowering its status. Somo peculiar influence must have been brought to bear in this matter, but. the public who pay tho piper should know why lie plays. Thoso who aro acquainted with tlio ruu of matters referred to will havo no difficulty in reading betwocn the lines. If you, Sir, will kindly throw some light on this peculiar procedure, you will greatly oblige very anany.who of old timo Failed.

Duncdin, May 5.