REFORM AND UNIVERSITY.

Observer, Volume XXXII, Issue 21, 3 February 1912, Page 2

REFORM AND UNIVERSITY.

THE decision of the New Zealand University Senate to arrange for an annual conference of rpresentatives of the professorial boards of the various colleges should meet the views of all those who desire to see a closer and more workable relationship between the professional staffs and the University, although it still falls a good deal short of the aims and aspirations of the University Reform Association. To hasten slowly; however, is pretty often a wise progress, for although, theoretically, it might seem a logical conclusion that the professors should be better calculated, from their practical knowledge of the University machine, to help largely in the administration of that machine and have a strong voice as to the manner of its running, yet experience has always weighed the balance against men of special knowledge when it comes to

a dictation of domestic and administrative policy. The Senate as at present constituted, is composed mainly of laymen, but many laymen have themselves been through the University mill, and together with their worldly experience are sometimes in a better position to judge of the general fitness of things than

are the academic gentlemen who in a large sense cannot be in such touch with the outeijde pulse and the world's requirements. There is no doubt, however, that most people would like to see a larger leaven of the professorial element, for our professors are men who bring to New Zealand a knowledge of University methods in the great centres of. University culture at Home. This; advisory body, which the Conference will really be, should be able to achieve some good work in the direction hoped by the reformers, an)d will probably pave the way for yet more radical improvements in the disposition of our University system.