MEETING OF GRADUATES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2252, 29 April 1897, Page 19

MEETING OF GRADUATES.

A meeting of the graduates of the University of O ago was held in the library on Saturday, when there were present Messrs W. D. Milne(chairtnan), F. H. Campbell, J. Collie, T. D. Pearce, J. S. Tennant, C. M. Houat, D. It. White, F. Coufcts, D. Mabhewa, A. It Bsielay, Dr Morton, and Miss Flora Allan. ELECTION OF A REPRESENTATIVE. The Chairman said the purpoße for which the' meeting was called was the election of & graduates' representative for the next five years on the University Council, to fill tho vaoancy caused by the retirement", by iftlaxtou of time, of MrD. R. White, M.A. Mr C. M. Mouat moved— "That Mr Whine bs re-elected." Mr White had served as the representative on tho council for the past five years, and had given satisfaction to everybody. He thought tb.B graduates should be very proud to avail themselves of Mr Wnite's services. Mr F. H. Campbell seconded the motion, which was carried aniidso applause. NOTICE OF MEKTINGS. Mr J. S. Tennant said Ibaft aa the Otsgo University graduates were now scattered nil over New Zealand, and some, even, were iv Australia, a week's notice of graduates' meetings was not sufficient. He thought that, at any rate in the case of meetings for the election of representatives to fill vacancies in the University Council, a<; lea.«t one month's notice should be given. He would acooi'dingly move — *' TnaD iv view of the distance from Dunedin at which some graduates reside, to allow of the exercise of the power of voting by proxy, the council bs requested to give at least a month's notice of all fat uce meetings of graduates unless the matter to ba dealt with require immediate consideration." Mr F. H. Campbell seconded the motion, which, after considerable discussion, w»n adopted on the voices. APPOINTMENT OF SECRETARY. J Mr A. It. Barclay suggested that the graduates should appoint a permanent secretary for the keeping of records of meeting*, &o. Mr Campbell moved — " That Mr Pearca be requested to act as permanent secretary, to watch the interests of the graduates of the Otigo University." Mr Mouat seconded the motion, which was carried. RETURNING THANKS Mr D. R. White thanked the graduates for the honour they had conferred upon him in re-electing him as their representative on the council The dntier-eonneefced with that position were not of a very onerous description, but he would give them come idea ot the work in whica he had taken an interest duriog his term of office. He had been a member of the Mining School Committee as well as the House Committee, and had never been absent from the meetings of the council unless debarred by gome very pres3iug necessity. When he entered the council five years a^o the first committee to which he was appointed was the Finance Committee. Ab that time the council found thai; tlieir expenditure was exceeding their income, and it was forced upon members that some rearrangement was necessary. In thia connection thanks were cbiefly dus to Mr R. L. Stanford, who was the niJßt useful member cf the council that ever occupied a seat at that table. He (Mr Whits) had strongly opposed the proposal to increase the college fee tp two guineas, and the class fees from two to three guineas. He would always oppose, an increase iv college or class fees, because be know that

many of the students, in tho Training College Wore, oven as things are at present, debarred on account qf the fees from attending the university. The, motion for. the increase of college fees to two guineas would have been carried bub for his action, for it was on his suggestion that Sir Robert Stout moved that the operation of that proposal to increase the fees should not take place until it was found whab rents were likely to accrue from certain leases that were then about to be re-let. Bub for that suggest'on be was quito sura the two-guinea college tee would have been in operation for tho laab four years. He had been of opinion that they should have nine classes to constitute a three years' course— three classes eaoh year — but ha had no idea that three classes would be made compulsory for each year. He was, therefore, amazed to find that instead of lessening tho work of the students tho effect of his suggestion was to increase it. When he saw by the calendar what the effect was to be on the students he was instrumental in hiring »n errata inserted reverting back to the old system of three terms of two classes eaoh. He was glad to eoe that the council wero again taking up the matter of utilising the University Reserve, for he (Mr White) had always thought that that land might be used for bringing in a certain amount of rent, and so augmenting the funds of the university. Proceeding to refer to his own special work, Mr White said he was not quite sure that the members of the University Council recognised to what a large extent the Training College was a feeder to the university. Ha had taken the trouble to look up the records, and he found that of the 360 Otago University graduates over one-third had been stndenfcs fcom tha Otago Traiuing College. Referring to the lectureships in connection with the university, be said that he was strongly of opinion that the lecturers should receivo some aort of remuneration. Xv conclusion, Mr White again thanked tha graduates for the honour they had conferred upon him in re-electing him as their representative on the Otago University Council. The meetiog then terminated.