UNIVERSITY OF OTAGO

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23320, 12 October 1937, Page 6

UNIVERSITY OF OTAGO

COURT OF CONVOCATION GENERAL MEETING OF MEMBERS A general meeting of the University of Otago District Court of Convocation was held last night. The president (Dr W. Newlands) presided over about 20 members. Report of Activities The report of the committee, covering the activities of the court for the past two years, stated that the present representatives of the court on the council of the University were Bishop Fitchett, the Rev. D. C. Herron, Mr J W. Howorth. and Dr F. S. Batchelor During the committee’s term of office two interesting and helpful addresses had been delivered at meetings of the courtI—one 1 —one by Mr N. S. Woods, M.A., on the subject of extra-mural students, and the other by Professor G E. Thomson on the University library The council had been good enough to keep the court advised of proposed alterations and improvements to the University grounds. In March, 1935, the committee made a donation of five guineas to the council to assist in the improvements of the grounds. At the instigation of the committee, the senate in 1935 considered the statute relating to extra-mural students and eventually amended it by deleting the words which practically entitled to exemption from attendance at lectures any student who was resident more than 10 miles from a constituent college, or was engaged in acquiring a profession or trade or earning a livelihood. A committee formed by the Lecturers’ Association, with assistance from representatives of the committee and

I other interested persons and bodies, ' published this year the first issue of the Otago University Chronicle, which it was hoped would become the annual magazine of the graduates of the University. Great credit was due to the organisers of this publication for the industry and enthusiasm they had displayed. The committee donated the sum of £lO towards the expenses of publishing the Chronicle. The committee, the report continued, had considered at various times since it took office the question of reorganisation or reconstitution of the court. It was at an early age driven to the conclusion that the court could never hope to fulfil any really useful purpose unless it had an active membership, some satisfactory source of income, and, in addition, some real practical function. At present the court had about 2000 members, who mostly resided away from Dunedin, and_ few of whom took any interest in University affairs. It had, further, no legal or regular source of income, apart from a few voluntary subscriptions which helped to defray the cost of holding meetings of the court, and its only function was the right to make recommendations to the senate. Considerable correspondence had taken place with the other courts of convocation and with the senate* with the object of amending the New Zealand Universities Act to provide for a subscription by graduates to the court. The membership of the court and the right to vote in election would depend, of course, on payment of this subscription. The committee had suggested to the senate that a life membership fee of £3 Is should be paid by each graduate on his first obtaining a degree. The courts of Auckland University College and Victoria University College agreed with this proposal, with the modification that Victoria College proposed an annual subscription of Is. Canterbury College, of course, on the other hand, objected to the whole proposal. The senate decided at its January meet-

, ing of this year to approve the prof posal, but informed the committee that i no action could be taken till the vari--1 ous courts reached complete agree- - ment. The question of representation ; of the court at University functions ; had been discussed by the committee ■ and also at the last meeting of the « court. When the committee took office F the court was without funds. Since then several sums had been received, and a credit balance of £l7 Os 5d was i shown. Moving the adoption of the report, Dr Newlands said it was time somei thing was done by the four courts 1 to establish the convocation on a better footing. There were proposals being discussed at the present time to alter the constitution of the New Zealand University. , The Atmore Report was being carefully considered, and this recommended the establishment of two universities, one in each; island. He understood that the Minister of Education (Mr P. Fraser) favoured this recommendation. The convocation. therefore, should be a live body, so that it could voice its opinion on whether there should be four colleges as at present, or whether the number should be reduced to one in each island. In his opinion, One way to establish the convocation on a better financial basis would be the payment by each graduate of £1 Is on receiving his diploma. This payment would entitle the graduate to life membership. If they could get the four courts to carry out this scheme, it would be an excellent thing for the convocation. , , , The motion, which was seconded by Miss M. S. Fleming, was carried. ELECTION OF OFFICERS The following office-bearers wer» elected: —President, Mr J. B. Thomson; vice-presidents, Miss F. M. Allen and Dr B. H. Howard: clerk. Mr MJoel; committee —Misses M. S. Flenv ing and A. Blackie, Messrs R. S. MSinclair, A. K. Ibbotson and T. K S . Sidey.