DEGREES IN DIVINITY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22907, 15 June 1936, Page 15

DEGREES IN DIVINITY

ATTITUDE OF UNIVERSITY CRITICISED Efforts are etill being made to persuade the Senate of the New Zealand University to grant degrees in divinity. It was reported at the last meeting of the Christchurch Presbytery that the senate did not take a sympathetic view of representations. The Rev. T. Paterson said that, when the senate had been approached, it had suggested the establishment of a college of divinity, which would apply for a charter to grant degrees. , He referred to the position in Australia, whero a separate college had been set up, but this arrangement was apparently not proving satisfactory/ It seemed absurd for a university to refuse to grant degrees. All that had to be done was to provide examinations up to standard. If anyone wanted to obtain a degree now, he had to apply to the London University, which made the taking of the degree very expensive. He asked why a charter should, be obtained to grant degrees and then a refusal made to grant them. The teaching was at present being done in the theological halls, but the New Zealand University was only an examining body, and could make the requisite arrangements quite easily. New Zealand students were handicapped, and wore not getting their rights.

Mr Paterson's motion —"That the presbytery of Christchurch urges the Theological Hall Committee to continue its support in the movement to obtain degrees in divinity within the University of New Zealand, and calls on all interested to support the movement," was carried unanimously.