UNIVERSITY EDUCATION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19530, 13 July 1925, Page 8

UNIVERSITY EDUCATION.

SITTING OF COMMISSION. AGRICULTURAL PROBLEMS. (Pee United Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, July 11. At the sittings of the University Commission to-day J. Niool, president of the Christchurch branch of the New Zealand Technical Schools Association, said there should be in New Zealand a diploma or degree of ait equivalent to, say, an associateship of the Royal College of Art Persons who could not afford to spend three years in England were precluded from attaining a recognised standard in art. The law students’ demand for a Chair of Law at Canterbury University College was emphasised by Mr A. C. Brissington, president of the Canterbury College Law Students’ Society. He said the college library had so few law books that, as a factor in the education of a law student, it was quite negligible. Only three students had taken the Master of Law degree at Canterbury College. Mr A. Alexander Director of the Agricultural College at Lincoln, said there was no true understanding in New Zealand of what agricultural education was. The University Senate did not understand the question. It had no means of knowing as it was only an examining body, and it had no powers to specify equipment, standard of teaching or teachers. As a result the governing body of a teaching institution that spent its substance pestering the Government by wire-pulling and parochialisms, was likely to get most sympathy and help from the Government. A teaching institution should be above political influence. It should be a national institution. The New Zealand University should be the body through which the Government grants were made. A special committee composed of men of wide outlook and attainments should be set up to deal with agricultural questions. The university at present could not recommend help. The course adopted was to apply directly to Parliament and grants were made more as a result of influence and wire-pulling than on true necessity. From the dominion point of view' Lincoln College had practically the whole of the equipment. All it asked for was grants for new laboratories and farm buildings, and, if necessary, additional living accommodation and additions to staff. Those additions to Lincoln College would cost only a fraction of the sum required for a new institution. Nobody at present was responsible for research. There was no organisation or direction. Anything done was the result of individual effort. That work could be taken in hand by the university through a committee or research board which could be .4et up to organise the work for the dominion. Local problems could be dealt with by local stations but general principles and general problems should be dealt with at suitable centres. Lincoln College -was willing to do that if it were helped. Only a small annual donation was necessary to extend the work at that college. If scholarships were established the holders could assist in the research work.