UNIVERSITY COMMISSION

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXII, Issue 19346, 27 June 1925, Page 2

UNIVERSITY COMMISSION

YESTERDAY’S PROCEEDINGS (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, June 26. The Royal University Commission continued its sittings to-day. Mr J. H. Howell, Director of the Wellington Technical College, gave evidence that, while deprecating nigat lectures he was of opinion that in certain faculties such as arts, law, commerce, and music, provision should be made for private students who could not obtain full-time university training to obtain their degrees. It was suggested, therefore, that the University of New Zealand as at present constituted, with certain modifications, be responsible for the examination and granting of degrees to external candidates. No candidates under 24 velars of age should bo eligible for an external degree. The fixing of such a limit would act as tin encouragement of full-time course and prevent cram mi ng.

Mr R. M. Campbell, on behalf of the Victoria University College Students’ Association, urged the right to elect a representative on the governing b’o.ly ol the college or of the local university, if they should be recommended. Representation would quicken .students’ ’nturest in Hie wider questions of university education, while the corporate life of the university was hot less valuable than the academic side.

Mr H. M. Cormick, in making similar representations, urged the value of wider university life. At present there was no opportunity for corporate life of the college or to develop the college spirit. Students merely attended to pass an examination, largely for commercial reasons. The membership of the “intellectual” clubs of Victoria College was not more than 25, though the total number of students was nearly 800. The fault lay with the system, not with the students. The provision of hostels would improve the position.