UNIVERSITY SENATE,

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13811, 26 January 1907, Page 9

UNIVERSITY SENATE,

THE STRAIN OF EXAMINATIONS QUESnOS , OF NEW DEGREES. IVts HsiTiD Pmss Xiaoaixios.) CHRISTOUDICH, January 24, At tho sitting of tho University Senate to-day the Chancellor's address was considoFcd, also tho list of questions for consideration of tho senate taiilcd by liim, and tl>o various matters T.'cro referred to different committees to rouoifc upon.

A diseourso took idaco on tho question of establishing u conserratorituu of music in Now Zealand, ant! the matter ,w»s reforrod to tho Sluaio Committee. Sir (i. Hogben, Inspeotos-general of Schools, who epoko at longth upon that section of tho Chancollor's address dealing with tho strain of examinations, eaid that ae far aa tho Education Department was concealed all the new examinations worn qualifying examinations, uot ■ competitiveexaminations. That would relieve the strain to a grtat extent. Tho next step would bu to take the recommendations of the teachers as to scholar, instead of holding examination, and that would como in time. He did not agreo with tho proposal that the university should take oyur tho examining and inspecting work now being- carried on by Urn department.

Tho Chancollor said that lie had nover s\iggMtecl that the university should inspect or oxomino the.schools; ho only eaid that tho university should utilise tho matriculntion exnrniiKitioii for junior civil service and national scholarship examinations. The examinations wore at present quite distinct, and tho samo - candidates wore- sitting for thorn each year. The civil eervice, national scholarship, ami matriculation examinations could bo run together in ono examination if tho optional subjects >wero extended, and he saw no harm in doing that. It would ho hotter for tho colony generally if the.three examinations woro grouped togother. Tho work could bo done moro cheaplv. It would be a great relief (o many of tho schools, a nd would help to remove tho strain on tho candidates, and no harm would bo dono to anybody. Tho matter was referred to the Recess Committee.

Tho sonato ilicn proceeded to discuss the question of new degrees, ami the action of tho Privy Council in dealing, with the petition from tho sonatu on tho subject. Tho correspondence relating to the matter was read by the registrar. Mr Hogbea movod that tho petition from tho Sonato to tho l'rjvy Council ehould 1)0 withdrawn, and that tho new degrees should be granted. ;

Sir Gordon seconded tho motion. Mr Baume thought that further consideration should bo givca to tho matter before Mr Hogbon's proposal waa agreod to. Tho Hon. 0. 0. Bowen thought that notico of motion should have boon givon, Tho proposal embodied a now departure, and would mean (Jiat tho University would to a certain ojtont bo cutting ateolf adrift from the univereily system o£ the Empire. Ho agreed fliac tho senate bad reason to complain of the delay that had taken place, and if no further news ms received boforo the end of thn sitting tho.senate might then deal with tho matter. Notioo of motion should, however, bo given. Mr Hogben said lie wae prepared to give notice of motion. He hud not acted on the spur of tho moment, for tho whole matter had gone through tho Education Department, and lie knew what delay had taken plaoo at Home.

Tho Chancellor said that the Sjdnoy University had got its charter in 1858,- and only recently got permission to grant similar degrees to thoeo which tho New Zealand University could giant in the original charter. Tho Sydney University now conferred a largo number of other degrees, relying for its authority on the NewSouth Wales Statute, and did not ask for any further charter. Tho ■ Melbourne University also relied for their new degrees on their own statute. Furthermore, tho recent universities eetahh'shed in England had been givon powor to confer any degree without any being specified. The New JSealand University had been, singled out us' the only university in tho British dominions that had been treated in the way it had, and with such contempt. In ha opinion tho sonato would not be uplioldiii!; the dignity of the university if it did not Withdraw the: application. ' Notice of motion was accordingly given. A number of smaller matters wero referred to committees.

' ■ January 25. Tho annual session of tho Now Zealand University Senate waa continued toJay. A. long disousaon took place on Mr > G. Hogbon's motion that the petition to tho ' Privy Council requesting- that a charter might bo granted for new degrees proposed to bo conferred should bo withdrawn, and that the new degrees should he granted under tho University Statute. Tho motion wae carried by 15 yotee to 5. Professor MacMilian Brown spoke at length in support of his motion that a committee be appointed to consider the practicability of encouraging research work. Tho motion was carried. It was also resolved that two oianiinera-a t cmof examiner and an assistant examiner— ehould bo appointed in English, iatin, and . geometry for tho matrioulatibn examination. A number of sessional committees wore . set up to deal with tho matters referred to in tlio chancellor's address,