UNIVERSITY SENATE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21542, 14 January 1932, Page 13

UNIVERSITY SENATE

ANNUAL MEETING FIRST DAY’S PROCEEDINGS The annual meeting of the Senate of the University of New Zealand was commenced in Allen Hall yesterday, the chancellor (Professor J. Macmillan Brown) presiding. There were also present Mr J. A. Hanan, M.L.C. (prochancellor), Professor T. A. Hunter (vicechancellor), Mr H. F. yon Haast (treasurer), Sir Thomas Sidey, Sir George Fowlds. Professors A. P. W. Thomas, J. Rankine Brown, J. Eight, and H. VV. Segar, Drs W. P. Evans and W. Newlands, Messrs T. B. Strong (Director ot Education), T. H. Macky, L. J. Wild, F. H. Bakewell, A. E. Flower, Phmeas Levi, W. J. Morrell, F. A. de la Mare, C. M. Gilray, and T. U. Wells. HOURS OF SESSION. It was decided that senate should sit each day from 9.30 a.m. to 12.43 p.m..' resume at 2.15 p.m., and continue until the adjournment. * ' SENATE APPOINTMENTS. Professor T. A. Hunter was re-elected vice-chancellor on the same terms as previously, the chancellor and the prochancellor paying a tribute to the "’ork done bv Professor Hunter during the period he had held the vice-chancellor-ship. , , Mr H. F. von Haast was reappoijued treasurer. POST-GRADUATE SCHOLARS. The vice-chancellor raised the question of post-graduate scholars in the Old Country who, through the illness of the senate s agent, were temporarily deprived of funds. The executive, deeming it desirable that provision should be made for any such contingency which might arise in the future,' had made arrangements that in the event of the agent becoming ill a cablegram from the senate appointing someone in the High Commissioner s Office to act as agent would be accepted by the bank. The action taken was approved. INSTALLATION OF CLOCKS. A letter was received from the registrar of the University of Otago intimating that his council proposed installing clocks in two of the classrooms at the University, and , asking that, as these rooms were used for examinations in connection with the University of New Zealand, senate should defray half the cost. , It was decided not to accede to the request. STUDENTS’ FEES.

Professor Hunter said that the senate had decided last year to forgo the fees of certain students who had suffered hardship as a result of the Hawke’s Bay earthquake, and it should decide whether or not this concession was to be continued. Mr von Haast said that the question or remission of fees or allowing time for students to pay had given the senate great concern. It was a system that was open to great abuse; moreover, there was no provision in the statutes fop any remission of fees. Sir George Fowlds remarked that there had undoubtedly been cases of hardship during the past 12 months, and many students would have to cease their studies unless the colleges met them. The matter was referred to the Results Committee of the senate. A protest was received from law students in Wellington against the amount of fees charged for law degrees, as compared with the amounts paid for aria degrees. . , Mr Hanan moved—“ That no action.be taken.” . There was, he said, a distinction between the results secured, and if alterations were made in this case, they would probably have to be made in other eases as well. Many of the professions were overcrowded, and young people were encouraged to take up the legal profession were not aware of what was in front of Mr Von Haast seconded the motion. The remedy, he considered, would have to be a higher standard, but the poor man must be allowed access to the professions as well as the rich man. The registrar, in reply to a question, Stated that very few of those who qualified for legal degrees did not take them out. Professor Hight said that the experience of Canterbury College was that 90 per cent, of those who obtained degrees paid their fees and took their diplomas. The motion was carried. SIR GEORGE GREY SCHOLARSHIP. As a result of a request from the Auckland University Council, it was agreed that the senate should write to the Department, of Education and, pointing out the value of the Sir. George Grey scholarship, advise the desirability of an early pronouncement whether funds for the scholarship would be available or not.

SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING. On the recommendation of the Executive Committee an application by Auckland University for recognition of the Auckland School of Engineering for the final year was refused. * OBITUARY. The chairman of the Executive Committee (Professor Hunter) reported that the committee had passed the following resolutions: — “That the Executive Committee hears with great regret of the death of Mr T. Shailer Weston, M.L.C., places on record its appreciation of his valuable services as a university examiner, and conveys to hie widow its deep sympathy.” “ That the Executive Committee of the Senate of the New Zealand University .desires to record its sense, of loss it has sustained by the death of Dr W. J. Anderson, formerly , Director of Education, who was a member of the senate from 1915 to 1921, and who fof more thin 37 years rendered valuable service to the cause of education in New Zealand, and to convey to his widow and family its sincere sympathy with them in their great loss.” {

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE’S REPORT. Professor Hunter, on behalf of the Executive Committee, reported that it bad decided: (a) That full meetings of the committee should be held in January. April,, July, October, and December, and that at- the other meetings the Wellington members should provide a quorum. As far aa possible all important matters were dealt with at the full meetings, (bl That all salaries or fees paid to the office staff, examiners in New Zealand, and supervisors should be reduced by 10 per cent, (c) That the payment for expenses be reduced by 5s per day. (d) That economics be effected wherever possible. The following resolution was passed by the committee:—“The Executive Committee of the Senate places on record its high appreciation of the valuable service faithfully rendered to the University by Mr J, W. Jovnt, M.A., both as registrar in New Zealand and as University agent in London. The committee regrets that failing health has compelled him to relinquish his office, and hopes that freedom from responsibility may result in his restoration to health.” No Government grant for 1930 or 1931 had been received. In view of the fact that the annual payments for scholarships amounted to £5332 and the revenue from accumulated funds amounted to only £3064 the committee recommended that the University should not pay scholarships except out of revenue from accumulated funds, and with this object in view the colleges be informed that after the awards in April next the following scholarships will not be offered:—One post-graduate scholarship in arts, one nost-graduate scholarship in science, travelling scholarship in French, travelling scholarship in law, travelling scholarship in architecture, travelling scholarship in engineering, travelling scholarship in medicine. The Carnegie Corporation had made a grant of £2OOO to help the W.E.A. to meet its special financial difficulty this year, and had offered assistance to the college libraries under certain conditions. Professor Adamson and Mr J. B. Callan had been appointed to the Council of Legal Education, but the committee hud decided that the expenses of the council should not be paid out of University funds. . The report was adopted, with the exception of the recommendation with regard to the expenses of the Council of Legal Education, which was rejected.