UNIVERSITY CONTROL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15578, 7 October 1912, Page 4

UNIVERSITY CONTROL.

Tiie short debato which took placo' in tho Honse of Representatives on tho second reading of tho Bill that provides for tho reconstitution of tlic Auckland University Collego Council seems to havo afforded more than one member an opportunity of revealing a rather curious kind of educational prejudice. Tho measure proposes, inter alia, that tho Collego Professorial Board sliall havo two representatives on tho Council as reconstituted. Mr Laurcnson is more or less horrified at this idea, for ho is apparently unablo to 600 any difference between tho function of a University Council and that of a Harbour Board or a Hospital Board, ■while Mr Atmoro summed up the pessimism of two or tlircc other members by a reference to tho ,; pernicious principle" sanctioned by tho particular feature of the Bill mentioned. But there is really no grave cnuso for apprehension. Tho proposal is one that should command iusclf to most perrons possessing n knowledge of the inner life of a University institution. The ni-jjumenl in its favour was effectively presented by the Minister of Education, who is in a quilo exceptional position to pronounce judgment on, such a point by virtue of his long experience as a member qf the Council of Otap> University. .Mr Allen was on solid ground in referring t<i the harmoniens and beneficial operation in the case of Otago University of the system under which two members of tho professorial staff sit at tho Council table. The statement credited to 'him Hint ever sinco it was established tho Council of Otago University had included two professors is, however, misleading. Possibly Mr Allen's memory was at fault, or possibly be intended to refer, not to the establishment of the -Conned, which dates from the birth of tho University, but to ils rceonstitulicn as a partly elective, as distinct from a purely nominative, Imrly. To bo prcciso upon tho matter, provision tor the representation of the professorial staff on the Council of Otago University was not,mado till 1891, when it found embodiment in tho University of Otago Council Election Bill, introduced by Mr William Hutchison, and duly placed upon the Statute Book. This measure brought into somewhat belated oration the principle, aimed at when the University was first established, that as soon as was practicable its graduates should elect members of tho Council. Tho affiliation of tho University of with tho University of New Zealand made it impossible, without fresh legislation,, that the intention of tho Provincial Ordinance of 1869, under which the former was established, should receive effect in so far ns tho election of tho Council was concerned. After the abolition of the provinces in 1877 the right of filling vacancies in the Council passed from tho Provincial .Superintendent to the Oovemor-in-Council, p.nd tho governing body of tho institution remained

purely nominative for many years. Tlio Act of 1891, however, mated two electoral bodies, the professors of Otago IJnivcr.iity and tlio graduates of the University of Xft\v Zealand having their names on the I woks of Otago University. It, gave the professor* the privilege of electing two members and tlio graduates that of electing four, leaving other six members appointed by t!io (iovenmr-in-L'otmcii. The system, therefore, under which the profawrial staff is represented on the. Council of Otago University has heen in force for over twenty years, and that during all that time no objection has been raised against it. On the contrary, it has probably been generally recognised that it was to the advantago of the Council tltat members of the teaching staff were represented upon it. Tlio

eyslcra may bo urged, ns Mr Allen claims, to liavo stood tho test of experience. Tho functions of a University Council aro not po narrow that no questions cmcrgo for its consideration upon which tho advioo of representatives of tho professorial staff may not bo of frequent value, and it scans only desirable that the professors upon whom Hie bucccxs of a university largely depends should roccivo each a recognition of their interest in tho institution as is accorded tlicm in representation upon its governing body.