AUCKLAND UNIVERSITY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18867, 21 May 1923, Page 8

AUCKLAND UNIVERSITY.

PAUCITY OP PRIVATE BENEFACTORS.

COMMENT BY PROFESSOR DETTMANN. (From Odb Own Correspondent.) AUCKLAND, May 20 The paucity, of private benefactors to the Auckland University College was a matter that received publicity from Professor H. S. Dottmann in tho course «f a speech at the capping ceremony. In certain English and Australian Universities, he said, tho annual capping ceremony was preceded by the commemoration ot past benefactors, and at Sydney the first thing done was to read out the names from a lengthy roll of benefactors. At Auckland there was no such roll. New .Zealand had no cause to grumble in respect to State grants, said Professor Dottmann, but he saw great difficulties arising out o$ Government aids. It meant that the Director of Education had too great a control over education at tho University. The citizens provided, the money for education at Auckland University College, and he was sure they felt that what was raised and spent should bo spent in the way that tho local College Council thought best. If the men on the council declined to continue giving their services under tho existing restrictions, Auckland would never obtain as good representatives as they now had until the council was allowed full control of the college funds. During the past 40 years Sydney University had received £300,000 from private sources alone. During a similar period Auckland University College, except for one donation of £3O£X) in 1884, had not received from friends and supporters one single penny. “That is why,” added Professor Dottmann. “we do not have a commemoration of benefactors.” Professor Dottmann. said ho had been asked to give his conclusions about the New Zealand University student. Speaking only of his own students, he would say they were not us able intellectually as others he had known, and not as well equipped or prepared. The trouble was, ho felt, that they came to the University too young. They were not sufficiently matured and were not able to take things seriously.—(Laughter.) In other respects they were as fine fellow’s as could bo met anywhere. It seemed absurd to him that a man should enter a profession, say law, at the age of 20. It would be far more preferable if a student came from a secondary school to the ’university at the age of l 6 with his mind fully set for university work.