THE SENATE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16942, 17 January 1923, Page 6

THE SENATE.

CHANCELLOR’S SPEECH. ANNOYED WITH ROWDY UNDERGRADUATES. (Per Press Association’.) DUNEDIN, January 17. “ To see processions of undergrade, ates in vulgar attire giving way to buffoonery does not. in my opinion, tend to advance the higher things in life.” said the Chancellor (Sir Robert Stout), in opening the proceedings 01 the New Zealand University Senate this morning. The Chancellor added that in two of these meetings the chief speaker, though taking part in a New Zealand University function, thought fit. to advocate the abolition of the University. If so what corporation or

authority should supervise universityeducation ? Would there be a body like the Scottish Universities’ Privy Coun oil Committee, or would all power reside with individual universities or in the Minister of Education, assists! by directors? In the United Kingdom there was no suggestion that universities should be free from Government control and do each what it pleased in regard to management. The Chancellor, dealing with the question of specialisation studies, quoted extracts from the report of tin* British conference to show the difficulty of the question there as well as here. Finance could not be ignored. Since 1886. while the mean population of New Zealand had increased from 617.889‘t0 1,285.000. the expenditure on education had risen from £427.000 to £3.500,000. If New Zealand ha 1 four universities and each with tho right to have any schools they pleased it would mean a great increase in the cost without any compensating benefit. The degrees of individual uni versiti.es would not have the same recognition as a New Zealand University degree. Referring to agriculture. Sir Robert Stout stated it was his'opinion that a professorship of agriculture should have been founded at Auckland College years ago. There should be special training for those who were to be farmers in the sub-tropical region of the Dominion. Scientists in the Agricultural Department should be used as teacher* and trainers. In conclusion, he said hi a term as Chancel lor expired at the next meeting of the Senate. Ho had been Chancellor for twenty years and did not intend to le a candidate again.