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1911. NEW ZEALAND.

EDUCATION COMMITTEE: PETITION OF THOMAS H. LABY AND TWELVE OTHERS (UNIVERSITY PROFESSORS), (REPORT ON THE). (Mr. SIDEY, Chairman.)

Report brought iiji on Wednesday, 25th October, /■'///, together with Minutes of Evidence and Appendix, and ordered to be printed. ORDERS OF REFERENCE. Extracts from the Journals of the House, of Representatives. Friday, the 4th Day op August, 1911. Ordered, " That a Committee bo appointed, consisting of ten members, to consider all matters relating to schoolteachers, education, and public instruction generally, public-school training of teachers, higher education, technical education, and manual instruction, and such other matters affecting education as may be referred to it; to have power to call for persons and papers; three to be a quorum: the Committee to consist of Mr. Allen, Mr. Hanan, Mr. Hardy, Mr. Luke, Mr. Poolc, Mr. Sidey, Mr. Stallworthy. Mr. ( '■. M. Thomson, Mr. J. C. Thomson, and the mover." —(Hon. Mr. Fowlds.) Wednesday, the 2Cth Day op September, 1911. Ordered, "Tiat the name of the Hon. T. Mackenzie be added to the Education Committee." - (Kight Hon. Sir J. G. Ward, Bin..)

EEPOET. Petitionkxh pray for the appointment of a Royal Commission to inquire into the question of reform in University administration and education in New Zealand. I am directed to report that the Education Committee, having considered this petition, and the evidence of the petitioners and others in relation thereto, is of opinion— (1.) That a case has been made out for reform in the constitution of the New Zealand University, more particularly in the direction of the utilization in a larger measure than at present of the Professorial Staffs of the colleges in the framing , of curricula and syllabuses, ami in the conduct of examinations. (2.) That the appointment of a Royal Commission is not necessary at present, as the ('inn mittee believes there is evidence that the University is itself moving in a direction which will gradually evolve a scheme of reform on the lines indicated, and this is borne out to some extent by the fact that in November, 1910, in accordance with a resolution of the Senate, a conference of representatives of the Professorial Boards was held in Wellington to consider certain academic questions referred to il by the Senate.

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