ELECTION TO THE UNIVERSITY COUNCIL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2516, 4 June 1902, Page 71

ELECTION TO THE UNIVERSITY COUNCIL.

A meeting of graduates was held at the University on Saturday morning for the purpose of electing a representative to fill the vacancy on -the University Council caused by the expiry of the term of office of Mr D. R. White, M.A. Thirteen graduates were present, and proxies representing -60 others were received. The only nominee for the position was Mr D. B. White (proposed by Measrs L. Thompson, M.A., and W. M. Thomson, M.A.), who was accordingly declared duly re-elected.

Air White, in expressing his thanks for his re-eieotion after 10 years of office, made a few remarks ion University matters, .and to the University's financial position in particular. The revenue, he stnted, was -chiefly derived from landed -estates, the value of which had fallen off greatly of late years. In the case of the Benmore run, from which the revenue had bee«i £3000 annually, it was now only £900, and a further decldno was in prospect. Owing to this decrease in revenue generally, the council had found severe retrenchment necessary, and had Lad to abolish one or two of the law lectureships. He regretted this step, as the Law School could not possibly be removed to Wellington, as those trakiing for the law had to do a lot of technical work in offices, unlike the technical part of the other degrees, and must therefore necessarily be enabled to attend the local college to qualify for the degree. He hoped that the •council's position would soon be better, and they would be able to re-establish these classes. The council had. endeavoured to improve tho /finances by placing the Castle street reserve in a condition to be let out on permanent leasehold, and with this object the sum of £1000 "had been raised on loan, and a concrete wall erected as a protection against tho Leith. Unfortunately the wall had been partly destroyed by floods, but he hoped that the reserve — a really valuable asset — would be the source of considerable Tovenuß in the future, and "would greatly assißt the University finances. With jregard to the educational work of th© institution, Mr White said that eight or nine appointments had "beon made during "his term of office. Professor JBenbam had succeeded Professor Parker in the Medical School, and m the School -of Mines there had been a complete reorganisation of the staff by the appointmente of Mr Watera and Professors Marshall and Parker (all New Zealanders), who had .placed the -school in -a .very_strong position. The Arts course was no doubt weakened by Aho iact that there were attached to the University a technical medical and a technical mitring school and « law school. For this reason salaries could not be given which other colleges of the colony gave .to lecturers on such important subjects, for example, as French and German. Canterbury College gave their professor for these subjects about JGSOO .a year, while in Otago only a honorarium of £50 was given. Ooaicerniag the Medical School, Professor Scott, as dean of the faculty, had frequently recommended the establishment of a chair of physiology, but, wTiile the council recognised the wisdom of the step, aa increasing the efficiency of the school, ihey -wore unable to give effect to the suggestion at present. As to reforms effected, on several, oooasiens .during the past five years -ihe council had met the graduates and students to consult as to improvements in the sys--terns, and had received many good suggestions from them. The suggestions from the medical students had been specialty good, and had largely been put into effect. Credit was due to the Eov. Mr -Cameron for }3i« larger portion of the work in connectionwith the different reports on .the systems. ■ On the question of pedagogy, Mr White Eaul he firmly beli&ved that before long tb» ; Olago University would have to fall into line with the universities of England, Soot-, lnnd, Germany, and America, in -makinjr the study of the history, art, and practice of teaching part of the University course. . There was at present provision for the award of certificates for proficiency in this subject, but that was not enough. The subject should be in ude part of the degree work, and Isc- ; lurers appointed to instruct students in it. Another question of importance to studentswas fhat raised by Dr Salmond at the meeting of tho senate — whether students ■should not have longer time in which to prepare for the honours -examination. The -senate decided to adhere to the present system, ' in which the examination had to be taken one year after tho student had gained his degree. This gave him but n few monfehs in which to work up, and simply meant '■ cramming." Research was prevented and the development of originality hampered, and a remedy was desirable. In concluding, Mr White stated that when he obtained his own degree there were but 16 graduates attached to the University. Host of these had attained responsible positions in life, and four had passed away — namely, Dr Jeffcoat, Messrs G. Montgomery, and D. M. Stuart, and quite lately the Rev. T. Smaill. There were now on ihn roll 320 graduates, of whom 52 were medical men, 330 teachers, about 30 legal men, and the remaining 80 ho could not allocate. The difference showed the groat a'Uance fcinc-e then in educational attainments. There was no other business at the meeting.