New Zealand Tablet Fiat Justitia.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume I, Issue 2, 10 May 1873, Page 8

New Zealand Tablet. Fiat Justitia. SATURDAY, MAY 10, 1873. THE UNIVERSITIES.

Her Majesty has not been advised to grant charters incorporating two Universities in New Zealand, and no one is in the least surprised. Hardly any one expected Her Majesty's Ministers would act otherwise than they have Indeed it can scarcely be imagined that even our Colonial statesmen who amxed their approbation to the two petitions sent by the councils of our two Universities, fancied for a moment the adoption of a different course. People felt that the twofold recommendation was nothing more than a temporary expedient to escape a pressing difficulty. Political combinations and party interests had to be considered, and Otago

could not be left in the sulks without endangering the very existence of the Ministry. Were it not for this, it is very probable that the twofold recommendation would never have been heard of.

But what about the future? What course ought the Legislature to adopt ? Clearly such as is likely to be most conducive to the general interests,, and best calculated to dojustice to all classes and denominations. We, of course naturally regard the question from the point of view of our own interests > and looking at it in this way, there can be no | doubt whatever Catholics- have a greater chance of obtaining fair play and justica from the New Zealand University than [from that of Otago. The latter insists on attendance at , lectures and tuition in Dunedin as a sine qua non, whereas the , New Zealand University will affiliate colleges in the several Provinces, even Denominational Colleges. The honors 1 degrees, and emoluments of Otago are confined exjlusivelyi*d studeilt » who attend at lectures given by the University Professors in Dunedin, no matter how objectionable the Professors and their lectures may be to students, or how opposedto their most cherished principles. It may, most probably will be, necessary for students in Dunedin to study moral' Philosophy and history under men not only hostile to Catholicity, but even to Christianity itself. Of one thing however, we may be absolutely certain, that a kind, fust or generous word in reference to the Catholic Church will never be uttered in the halls of the Otago University. In this University, therefore, Catholics would be compelled: to seek for degrees and honors at the sacrifice of self-respect and everything manly and independent, whilst running the risk ot loss of faith and moral principle. It is different, however, in the New Zealand University, Mere our young men can graduate and compete for all honors and emoluments whilst remaining under the care and tuition of their own colleges, All that is required is— and it is a reasonable requirement— that these colleges shall have suitable buildings, a competent staff of professors, the necessary appliances of scientific teaching, and regular courses of lectures ion prescribed subjects, On- these conditions all the degrees honors, and emoluments of the N.Z. University are open ti Catholic students, whilst residing in their own colleges,, or attending lectures id them* surrounded by all the safeguard* , necessary for the preservation of their faith and morals As. far, therefore, as we are concerned the New Zealand University possesses advantages not to be found in her rival of Otago Not only Catholic^ however, but the entire colony beyond the limits of Otago will find greater and more easily available facilities of culture in the New Zealand University than in that of Otago. Each Province can have one or more University Colleges, instead of being compelled to send its alumni to reside amidst the dangers, of a large busy commercial and manufacturing city, such as- Dunedin promises to be within a very short period.

But thas is not all. It appears to us that here there isdanger of the true idea of University, as a place of culture being lost sight of, and of the University itself being converted into a manufactory affording merely professional and technical teaching. Professional and Technical schools are very desirable, and even necessary, but a University ia not to be confounded with such schools. Now, any one who ha< watched the controversy concerning the examination for N.& University scholarships last year, cannot fail to have perceived that the tendency here is to place more importance, and give grater Weight to physical science-chemistry for example, than to the hlgh culture inseparable from a scholar-like knowledgeof LatmandGreek— thetwogreat huroanizersof civilized nations. Men who are not themselves scholars, or who attend more to the acquisition of £ s. d., no doubt prefer chemistry, <kc, &c.; but those who know how to appreciate the great advantages a community derives from a large number of highly cultivated citizens, will prefer a University whose aim, it is to turn out scholars in the true sense of the word, to that whose chief object would seem to be to give us a few adeptsin money grubbing. o^o^ua