2

I.—-13a

Government and Administration 1. There are thirteen different bodies—Senate, Professorial Boards, Councils, and Courts of Convocation' —with statutory powers in University affairs. Exclusive of members of the Courts of Convocation, there are 143 members of governing bodies. This number is excessive, and detrimental to efficiency 2 These bodies are quite distinct, and their functions have not been co-ordinated. 3. The distribution of powers among these bodies is most unusual, and has been proved by experience to be very unsatisfactory The Senate (a lay body of twenty-six members, six of whom are professors) frames and controls the curricula and syllabuses —technical work which the constitution of the Senate makes it unfit to perform, and which, in other universities, is a function of professors. This unusual distribution of powers has led to serious lack of progress in University methods and ideals. Hours of Study Too much of the instruction at "victoria College and Auckland University College (770 students) is given in the evening A Royal Commission on the Melbourne University (1903-4) said, ' The following observation is largely "applicable to the scope of the work of the colleges forming the New Zealand University : ' It may be said that, on the whole, the evening work is on a distinctly lower plane than the day work; that generally its aim is not as high, and it does not provide so comprehensive a course of study as the day classes.' " Students Abroad. It seems to point to a defective university system that so many young New-Zealanders spend their years as undergraduates in universities abroad. In a recent year (1909) forty-eight NewZealanders passed various medical examinations at Edinburgh alone, and in 1908 only eighty-one students were enrolled at the New Zealand Medical School (Dunedin). Examinations 1 The system of external examinations is one that has been tried in London, India, South Africa, and elsewhere State papers show that the results have been disastrous. South Africa, like other countries, has now abandoned this system, and is spending £500,000 in reorganizing its universities. The system has been condemned by Commissions on the Scottish, London, Melbourne, and other universities, and by the foremost educational experts. 2 The cost of examining alone is about £5,000 per annum, while the total expenditure of the Auckland University College is little over £7,000. Among the strictures passed on this system by Dr Starr Jordan, President of Leland Stanford, Junior, University, were the following : — (a.) " It tends to degrade the New Zealand professor to a coach, his work to be judged by persons at a distance and unfamiliar with the conditions." (b) " It tends to check alike his originality of thought and method and his power of adapting his work to the needs of New Zealand." c.) 'It is most injurious to the student himself. Preparation for outside examination on the part of the student is cramming pure and simple, and its result is not mental strengthening, but mental dyspepsia."

Finance. 1 Comparative Table of Yearly Incomes

2 Comparative Statement of University Expenditure of North and South Islands, New Zealand, 1908

This marked difference in the expenditure in the two Islands deserves serious consideration,

University. Population. Income. Income per Head of Population. California* 1,500,000 (1900) Toronto (Ontario, Canada) 2,200,000 (1900) New Zealand 1,000,000(1910) £ 100,000 (1902) 140,000 (1908) 60,000 (1908) d. 17 15 14 f * It is to be noted that this refers simply to the State University. G privately endowed, including the famous Leland Stanford, Junior, Universi f In New Zealand this income isjspread over four separate colleges, ar not much more than half as efiectivejas if applied to'a centralized universi Jalifornia has, in additio: ity. nd the New Zealand Ui l, other institutions iversity is therefore ity.

Expenditure. Students. Specialization in— South Island forth Island £ 32,000 17,000 720 770 Medicine, dentistry, mining, engineering. Law, science, commerce, mining.