THE UNIVERSITY SENATE

Taranaki Daily News, 15 January 1931, Page 7

THE UNIVERSITY SENATE

EDUCATION COMMITTEE REPORT.

CRITICISM BY THE .CHANCELLOR.

By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, Last Night.

The hearing of the address of the chancellor, Professor J. MacMillan Brown, discussions in committee and consideration of a number of matters of detail occupied the senate of the University of New Zealand at its opening day to-day. The chancellor presided over an attendance of 22 representing all the affiliated institutions and including, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor T. A. Hunter, the pro-Chancei-lor, the Hon. J. A. Hanan, and the treasurer, Mr. H. F. Von Haast. . _ An estimate of the financial position of the university for the current year, which ends on March 31, was submitted by the treasurer. The estimated credit balance was £1342. The senate discussed the financial position in committee and adopted the following resolution: ‘That in view of the financial position the executive committee be directed and authorised to make such reduction in expenditure as the present exigencies may require, and if such reduction should involve an alteration of the statutes the chancellor shall on the recommendation of that committee convene a special meeting of the senate to consider such alteration.” - The chancellor devoted a great part of his address to a report of the recess ec^u " cation committee. He strongly resented the proposal to divert to other purposes the accumulated scholarship fund which had been carefully conserved for a definite purpose. “If this highwaymanship achieves its aim and takes from the university thisscholarship fund it has accumulated by persistent economy we may bid farewell to honest thrift on the part of public bodies,” said the chancellor. One of the most useful suggestions, was that the education system might begin to give a trend toward agriculture, he continued. “I have no strong bias against the ultimate elevation of the four. university colleges into universities, but if we are wise we will advance slowly. My opinion is that our country will not. be ripe for it until it has three or four times its present population, for it will only then be able to afford so many expensive institutions.” '