UNIVERSITY SENATE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3755, 2 March 1926, Page 32

UNIVERSITY SENATE.

FIFTH DAY. The sittings of the University Senate vcro continued on the 22nd. Tho Chancellor (Profeasor J. Macmillan Brown). occupied the chair. Professor J. Rankine Brown moved: “That the chancellor bo empowered to imnmon at his discretion conferences of professors at the request of the chairman of tho Board of Studies.” The mover explained the necessity for adopting such a course, and said ho did not think the Senate need fear that it would be involved in verv great, expense. Efforts would be made to settle matters by correspondence as far as possible. The motion was seconded by Mi BaKewell. Dr Andersen moved the addition of tin* words ‘‘or otherwise as circumstances seemed to wan ant.” Sir Robert Stout opposed the proposal. He said the Senate had not been satisfied to carry on in the old way, and had established the Board of Studies. Now it found that it could not carry on with tho* Board of Studies, and it was proposed to bold conferences of professors. This would involve extra expense, and lie would like to know where this waste was going to ""rile motion was carried by IS votes to 3. On the motion cf Professor J. ItniiKin. Brown, seconded by Dr Anderson, it was decided—'"That the scale of reinlinrsome.it of members of Senate for the present session be referred to the Finance Committee. medical committee. The Medical Committee recommended:— That Mr Edson be accepted as a candidate ?or the Bachelor of Medical Science Degree Jt being understood that the degree cannot ec conferred until the Senate r «eivcs power ,// legislation to confer it; that as the Cr.ivcrsttv Ims no examiner for M.D. in Groat Britain the request that a candidate im sllewcd to sit there is impracticable, fnat (he reports of the examiners on the candidates for M.D. and D.D.S. he received and that the intention expressed hy th. hI.D. examiners of gradually raians t standard of the clinical examination be approved • that Dr Colquhoun s report on the British Social Hygiene Congress be SrtSS. and that be be thanked tor his sarvicc in this connection; also that the naners forwarded hy him he handed to the Medical School, that the whole of fees for diplomas of various ue Examination in Physical Science and Chemistry at any time up to November Id nro"idcd that the required papers have been set That the prescription for the degree of Bachelor of Medical Sciences,B.S. 2 'be adopted, that the recommendation B 335 be adopted in the following form: n-iK! first year in ■nechanical dentistry may Ce taken at any of the affiliated colleges rt the necessary teaching in conjunction with the Dental Department of the respective hospital boards is provided and appioved bv tiie chancellor, and tor ‘Ii»P» r PA teachers of mechanical dentistry in such ilopartDJonts shall be considered as teacne s in tho dental faculty of the University, OIueo: that the prescription and re o uia Cons for the degree of Master of Home Rfipnrn BS. 44, be adopted; that in tne faction 'of the calendar dealing wi. medical travelling scholarships the words after provided that” be deleted and replaced ihn words ‘the chancellor may, on recommendation of the Dean of the MedimJ ifrcvillv, allow the holder to postpone h.s dcparlure from New Zealand for a period rot exceeding 27 months. That the chancell or bo recommended to approve o. ur Shore’s application to take State Medicine ae a special subject for the M.D. examination and the appointment of Professor Hcrcus and Dr Oarinalt Jones as sxairiitiers: the committee has no comment to make on the dean’s letter on the subioct of representation on tho ueneiai Medical Council; the .ommittee recommends that separate parchments he given lor the degrees of M.B. and B.Cn. The recommendations were adopted. 'When ihn first clause was under conwoerot’on Professor Hunter moved as an ■ftiuor.drfleiii:--“Thai it be an instruction to flutes Committee to include m the rtut'dV Ur the degree of Medical Science a oViiM’- covering the m-'O mentioned m one of the report. —lhis was o-_ the velces. ‘lt v minSi d cut w regard to tho second (n.vuso th?& *• had boon rwr-nved liym a candidate Fome that h. should Uf elfc. wi V. pit the*There was a pre««trWp4 for it. as ihay hid had an p.fc l]*ano W veer, but as -hev trad no e'«*s>*oera r:<st new the impracticable. regard to tiro dental pr«l*.*nit*aty sxaminal'on was tl*r- aoprnvo' of tho s«®ob.:iion of the Bo?ru oft S*«d?ro sJ*oKshiag UV.in as n oompo--w; Mibhvh The change sill r/.ine into op*iv.t«c.n immmbatoly rroionfor Ir.gbs paJd thitl ft **.s that No"*' Zealand was the only «our,lry where Let in wr-s rn«isted upon hf. ? subject for tne drotaJ preliminary An effect o? the change would Ik? that those who hnd faded m f.atin bv*i veer would be able to enter &K Denial School ]>rovided tho other re?l»inMn«mta of the examination had been ttiji Hod. ‘Tho intention oxprossid by the M.D. •xiuniners of gradually raising the standard of clinical examination was approved. A proposal that the compulsory subject for the nr.(•dim! proliininnry examination be eltlicr chemistry or physics was the subject of n certain amount of discussion. Dr Anderson opposed t!.o clause, saving Hint, natural science was as much a basic subject of the medical course ns chemistry or physics. 'Hie suggested change would hi unfair to girls* schools, where chimistry and physics could not he taught. Professor Hunter moved that the clause he referred bark lo the committeo to see how far i*. would be wise to base the examination on the requirements of tho General Medical Council. Mr Morrell moved ns a further amendment thnt consideration of the question bo deferred until the general question of science for matriculation had been discussed.—Tho

SIXTH DAY. The sittings wore continued in the Allen Hall on Tuesday. The Chancellor (Professor J. Macmillan Brown) occupied the chair. ARTS AND COMMERCE COMMITTEE. Tlie second report of the Arts and Commerce Committee recommended that Suva be recognised as an examination centre for (a) the matriculation and accountancy preliminary examinations and (b) for degree or diploma examinations in the case of students who have entered upon a degree or diploma course before going to Fiji That the Senate adopt the first part of Professor Wall’s motion regarding the Macmillan Brown prize statute—viz., that clause IV should read:—Candidates aro recommended to keep their compositions within the limit of 15W words, and in the case of compositions in verse within the limit of 500 words, but a slight overstepping of these bounds will not be considered a disqualification. That the wholo question of prescriptions for the B.Com. degree be referred for decision to a conference of the professors of economics summoned by the chancellor, to be held in time for consideration of its report by the May meeting of Senate, and that tne oninions of the teachers of psychology and the accountancy subjects be obtained on the prescrip tions in which they are specially concerned in time for consideration by the conference; that *he new B.Com. statute do not come into operation till 1927 as instructed by the Senate in 1925; that students who passed in both pass and advanced education prior to 1922 be exempted from two papers for the diploma, paper A in pass education “Physical and Mental Development of Man,' and History of Education, provided that the course for the diploma is completed rot later than 1928; that when a candidate submits a dissertation on a New Zealand subject, the dissertation shall be sent to the examiners with a report from the teacher of the student and one other independent authority; that the Education Department be requested to allow the pursuit of a degree course as an adequate reason for deferring the compulsory service required by the bond signed by training col lege students, upon evidence of satisfactory progress being supplied by the Professorial Board; that the Senate receive the annual reports of the Tutorial Committees of the W.E.A. in the four university districts and express its sense of the valuable wora done by them under great difficulties of finance and local conditions, but the committee would draw the attention of Senate to certain criticisms contained in the reports, and in the report of the director of the Tutorial Classes in Canterbury • that the Senate thank the director of antiquities of the Government of Palestine, Jerusalem, for his invitation to send representatives to the Archaeological Congress in Palestine and Syria, but regrets that circumstances prevent its doing so; that Messrs J. W. Joynt and J. P. Gabbatt be invited to act as delegates of the Senate at tne forthcoming Congress of the Universities or the British Empire at Cambridge; and that Senate intimate its desire that the following subject should be discussed by the congress:—‘The conditions governing the award of the Ph.D. degree, especially in respect of the requirement that the candidate’s whole time must be given to the work of the couple”; that a copy of the extract from the letter of Professor Sage, British Columbia, referring to exchange of professors, be sent to the governing b-odies of the colleges, as in present conditions, the Senate has no power to arrange for such exchange; that the nine units course for the degree of B.A. be brought into operation in 1926; that candidates for the B.A degree who enter upon this course before 1925 be allowed till 1928 to complete the course. ". A , In moving the adoption of the first clause Professor Might said there were in Fiji a number of students, a few of whom had matriculated and a few who had entered on the diploma course. There were New Zealanders domiciled in Fiji who wished to take the whole or part of the examination and it was felt that in view of the dose co-operation existing between Fiji and New Zealand in the matter of education the Senate should niako this provision for establishing an examining centre, at present of limited action. , , , Professor Hunter moved that the words “in the case of students who have entered upon a degree or diploma course before going to Fiji” be struck out. He said that if that proposal were agreed to it would leave matters in the hands of the Wellington Recess Committee. The amendment, which was seconded by Professor Segar, was agreed to. Dr Anderson moved that the followin’; words be added to the clause as amended: “As may be determined by the chancellor.” I The amendment was seconded by Mr Morrell, and was agreed to. i On the motion of Professor Hunter, it | was decided that the new B.Com. statute should not come into operation in 192 G. Referring to the reports of the tutorial committees of the Workers’ Educational Association, Professor Hight said that } experience had shown that in some districts, at any rate, the number of really tutorial classes had been too large in proportion to the population, and the demand for work of the kind done in the classes. There had been a very great growth in the demand for courses of short lectures and the great extension of what might be called study circles. Some of the ••lasses were in the best sense tutorial, and had added to the research, particularly economic, that had been done in the country. The time was coming when more permanent tutors should be appointed in New Zealand, and when there should probably be an organising tutor, who should have the direction of the movement. It seemed that they hpd reached the stage when new development* might be expected. The committee wished to assure the Senate that from the evidence before it in the reports it was of the opinion that the grants which the Senate had devoted to the work of the Educational Association, particularly the money spent through the channels of the university classes, had been very well spent indeed, and had resulted in the development of a keen interest in education and an appreciation of the value of higher education of a certain kind throughout the Dominion. It was very evident frtm the reports that those actively engaged in tho work of the association in the different districts were fully alive to the position, and the speaker thought the Senate could trust them to take whatever action might be necessary.

When the proposal to request the Education Department to allow the pursuit of a degree course as an adequate reason for deferring the compulsory service required from training college students was under consideration, Mr Caughley (Director of Education) said he thought that every case should be taken on its merits The importance of university education was realised, and he did not think they would find a case where such studies would be interfered with. Ho knew there had been abuses in the past. In one case a girl dallied round the university for eight years. Professor Hunter suggested that when a course was being mapped out for a pro mising student it could be submitted to the department, which might give an indication whether the compulsory service would be deferred. Mr Caughley agreed that this would be a good idea. On the suggestion of Professor Hunter it was decided that students beginning their course for the degree of B.A. in 192 C and following years shall be subject to the new regulations for the nine units course. The last clause in the report was referred back to the committee for redrafting. The report as a whole was then adopted. SEVENTH DAY. r lhe Senate continued its sittings on Wednesday. The Chancellor (Professor J. Macmillan Brown) occupied the chair. In the afternoon the Senate went into committee and resumed at 4 o’clock, but as there was n ° "Pfk *° b* done the Senate adjourned till this morning. ENTRANCE EXAMINATIONS. The second report of the Entrance Examinations Committee recommended that in view of the recent appointment of two Professors of Agriculture, and of the recommendations of the Royal Commission, which have yet to be discussed by Senate, consideration of this question should be postponed; that the association be informed that ample opportunity will be given to them for the discussion of any proposed system of accrediting; that the use of logarithm tables at matriculation examination be permitted ; regarding arithmetic for home science that the present conditions be approved, viz., that the arithmetic paper for home science candidates not taking mathematics should remain a special paper; that the suggestion of the Education Department be adopted ; that representatives of the University, secondary and technical schools and of the Education Department should meet and jointly prepare a syllabus for the consideration of Senate; that the whole subject of science for matriculation and entrance scholarships should be sent to the Science Committee. As the replies received are not here, the committee recommends that tile matter be postponed till the May meeting of senate and that in the meantime the replies should be forwarded to the Christchurch Committee of Senate for report tf senate at that meeting. The recommendations were adopted.

COMMITTEE REPORTS SUBMITTED. The Senate continued its sessions on Thursday, when the Chancellor (Professor J. Macmillan Brown) occupjied the chair. In the morning the first report of the Law and Ad Eundem Committee was presented by the convener (Mr F. A. De la Mare), after which the Senate listened to an interesting address by Sir Frank Heath. The third report of the Arts and Commerce Committee and the report of the Finance Committee were dealt with in the afternoon. THE LAW COURSE. The Law and Ad Eundem Committee recommended several alterations to the law course. The subjects of the Bachelor of Laws degree examination were grouped into the following four divisions:— Division I.—Latin. English or philosophy, jurisprudence, constitutional history and law. Division II. —Roman law, law of property (two papers), the law of contract (two papers). Division lll.—The law of torts, criminal law, company law and the law' of bankruptcy, the law of trusts, wills, intestate succession, and the administration of the estates of deceased persons. Division IV.—The law of evidence, practice and procedure, international law', conflict of laws. The regulations provide a candidate shall pass in all subjects of any division before presenting himself for examination in the subjects of any later division. No candidate shall present himself for examination in more than four subjects at one time, provided that, in the case of a candidate who has five subjects to complete the degree, he shall be allowed to present himself for examination in such five subjects. They also provide that a candidate who requires to pass in a single subject to complete a division may present himself for examination either in that subject alone, or in that subject together with subjects from the next succeeding division (provided that he presents himself in not more than four subjects !.i all), and if he passes in such subject he shall be credited with a pass in that subject. A candidate who requires to pass in more subjects than one to complete a division may take the subjects of such division in which he may not havs together with one or mor-j subjects of the next succeed 1 y division (provided that ' ore-- >»!*'». self in not more than four subjects in all), but such subjects must include all the subjects of the previous division in which he lias not already been creditor! with a pass. The regulations for the professional examination in law were grouped in divisions also. For the barristers’ examination the subjects are as in the LL.B. degree. For the solicitors’ examination the subjects ere: — Division I.—English (as prescribed for' the B.A. pass paper (b); psychology or logic (as prescribed for B.A. pass); jurisprudence; constitutional history. Division IT. —The law' of property (two papers); the law of contract (two papers); elementary questions on trust account* and bookkeeping. (This subject

may be taken at any time before admission.) Division 111.—The law of compauiea and bankruptcy; the law of torts; criminal law; the law of trusts, wills, intestate succession, and the administration of the estates of deceased persons. Division IV.—Practice and procedure; evidence; conflict of laws. The report also recommends that the attention of the judges be called to the following matters: — That clause 20 of the regulations for professional examinations in law (calendar, p. 128) exempts graduates in law from the examinations in “elementary questions on trust accounts and bookkeeping”; and that the Senate cannot allow the entrance scholarships examination to be used as an entrance examination for solicitors, and suggests that the matriculation examination (the standard of which is being raised) be retained, but that, as suggested in the accompanying recommendation. candidates be required to pass in English literature, and either psychology or logic. The report was adopted. Finance committee. The following report was submitted bv the Finance Committee: — “TII3 statement of income and expenditure submitted by the university auditor shows an increase of income of £674 Is 0d while the increase of expendit' re amounts to £7183 Us 4d, which, h*. says, ‘is principally accounted for by the increase of the cost of examinations (£3040 5s Id) and excess remittances to your English agent, whose account has not yet come to hand/ This apparently increased cost of the examinations is mainly accounted for by the efforts of the university office in trying to include all the payments for examinations in the year in which the examinations are held instead of their being partially carried over into the year following. This involved the payment of part of the costs of two years' examinations being paid in the past year. The committee recommends That the Government be asked to reinclude the university in the list of institutions entitled to receive subsidies on voluntary contributions, and that pending such legislation the Government be urged to provide by special grant such subsidy on the chancellor’s gift for research scholarship in agriculture. That the provision for a limited unauthorised expenditure by the university be noted with approval. That 10 junior scholarships be awarded on the 1026 examinations. That the action of the Wellington Recess Committee in the matter of moderating the accountancy papers be approved ant! that the moderators be paid at the rate of £4O each. The committee, however, considers the fee excessive and recon mends that the Wellington Committee be asked to confer with the society on the matter and report to the May meeting of the Senate. The committee is oi opinion that the fellowship in astronomy suggested by the New Zealand Astronomical Society would be very valuable, but it is unable to recommend the application, of the funds of the university to this purpose. It hopes that some of those spc. .ally interested in astronomy will provide the necessary funds, which the um versity would be willing to administer. The committee approves the proposal of the Board of Studies, approved by the Science Committee, and recommends that a senior scholarship in applied mathematics or applied physics be provided. Examinations in applied anatomy and operative surgery: The committee recommends that the fee for setting this paper be £l4, and that as a general principle, if three examiners be appointed in any medical subject, the fees for setting the paperbe the same as if two examiners had been appointed. The committee has no recommendation to make on the general que3 tion of the present method of payment of examiners in medicine That the the distribution of the Senate’s share of the national endowment revenue be as in 1925. That for this meeting the members, of the Senate and for the war meeting of the Board of Studies be reimbursed for their expenses at the rate of £1 xOs per day. The committee has examined the balance sheet of the European Student Relief Fund, which seems to be in order. It appears to have remitted to Europe the sum of £3OO, leaving a balance in hand of £3O 6s lOd. Regarding the communication from the International Institution for Intellectual Co-operation, the committee recommends that it be referred to the Wellington Recess Commitferred to the Wellington Recess Committee to supply as far as possible the information asked for.” The report was received and the recowi nier.dations w r ere adopted. ARTS AND COMMERCE COMMITTEE. The Arts and Commerce Committee recommended that Professor Condliffe’s letter regarding prescriptions for the amended B. Com. be referred to the forthcoming conference of the professors of economics. That the Senate of the University of London be thanked for its invitation to this University to send represntatives to the Anglo-American Conference of Professors and Teachers of History in July next at London, and that Professor A. J. Grant, of the University of Leeds, be asked to act as tho Now Zealand representative at the conference. That: (a) Candidates for the degree of B.A, who have entered upon their course before 1926 be allowed till 1928 to complete the course under the old regulations (8.3. p. 31). (1) In the case of candidates who have net so completed their course by 1928 or who wish to transfer from the old to the new course after that date credit for one unit will bo given for each subject in every completed section tinder the old regulations. (c) In every oa«e under (a) and (bt above, credit for one unit will be given for a subject at the first year advanced grade in which terms have been granted and credit for two units in a pubject at the advanced grade for which the candidate has been credited with a pass in the univeristy examination of that grade ns part of a completed section. Tho report and recommendations* were adopted.