UNIVERSITY SENATE.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16451, 19 February 1919, Page 9

UNIVERSITY SENATE.

SITTINGS OPSNED.

The Senate of the University ci Now Zealand opened its sittings yesterday morning in the hall of Canterbary College.

Tlipro were present: Sir Robert Stout, Chancellor; Professor J. ?»ioc- • niillan Brown, Vice-Chancellor; the lion. J. A. Hanan, Professors R. J. Scott. T. Gilrav, J. Hight, "W. B. Bonham, A. Waif, H. ]3. Kirk, T. A. Hunter. 11. S. Dettman, H. AV. Segar, . D. 11. Lindo Ferguson, the Rev. "W. Henitson, the Rev. W. A. Evans, the Rev. A. Cameron. .Messrs H. F. von Ilaast, and J. T. Adams. CHANCELLORS' ADDRESS. Tlio Chancellor in his address to the S"nato regretted the loss the Senate had sustained by the death of Dr. McDowell. who was first appointed to the Senate in IDOiJ. Reference was also made to the deaths of two other educationalists—the Rev. T. Roseby, LL.I)., and Mr T. S. Foster, 31.A. The Chancellor said he felt sure that the members of the Senate would desire to convey their sympathy to the respective families in their bereavement. With regard to changes in the membership of tho Senate, Professors Wall and Gilray had heen elected to fill the places of Professor Chilton and Dr. Marshall, and Professor Dettman that of Dr. McDowell. The war had affected the attendance of students at affiliated institutions and at examinations during the past year. They had lost many of their ablest and mo«t heroic youths and he hoped that a record of nil graduates and students who had given up their lives for tlie country would bo carefully collected and . In respect to the finances i i niversity he would mention that there was a balance of £63,3 to the credit ol the Universitv. There had been no selection of a Rhodes bcholar during the past year. POSTPONEMENT OF EXAMINATIONS. "In consequcnce of the severe epidemic that broke out, in New Zealand," said tho Chancellor, "the committee of the Senate thought it proper to the matriculation examinations to January 21st. 1919. These have now been "field, and tho results 1 will be laid before tho Senatdf The Degree examinations commenced on November sth, and were continued until Friday, November 15th. On that date, so tar as Wellington was concerned, thoy were illegally stopped by the Minister of Public Health. It is necessary that 1 should stato exactJy what took place. About 9.15 a.m on the morning of Friday when I reached my Chambers 1 was told that the Health Department had been calling lor me on the telephone. • I at once communicated with the Department, but found that no one in charge had auy knowledge of any message having !?® en sent to me. Shortly afterwards 3lr Isorris, the Registrar'of the University, arrived, and informed me that tho examinations had been stopped bv order of the Minister of Public Health. I at once communicated with the Minister by telephone, and was surprised to learn that he had, without any legal warrant, stopped our examinations which were being hold at Victoria College. Ho informed me « i.. Jj ? T i dono so as Minister of I üblic Health, and that tho ground for his action, was tho danger of infection from the epidemic. I informed him that there seemed to me to be little danger from infection from such a cause, and that, at all events, he hact no authority to stop tho examinations. I also informed him that I understood he'had not closed the hotel bars, and that was a more likely, source of infection than the presence of students in a well-lighted airy, and sunny loom. I stated that I wpuld try and get tho students together so that they could proceed with their examinations. It ••was found, however, that they had -lelt tlie examination' room after the •papers had been disclosed to them The result was that in the subjects' for degrees on Friday and Monday, name--7< English and Electricity (Honours), Applied Mathematics, Philosophy, •Economics, and Latin .(Scholarships' Philosophy, Economics, and Applied Mathematics (Pass), and Rights and Duties of Trustees (Commerce), the students attending Victoria College were not examined. An attempt was lnade to stop tlie examinations at the other centres, but in Christchurch and •Auckland they wero proceeded with both on the Friday and Monday, and were concluded. In Dunedin also the IJriaay examination was concluded, but on. Monday, without reference to the Central office, tho examination was closed. This has placed the University in a great difficulty and caused it much expense. I have no doubt that the Minister did not mean to inflict *uiy injury upon our "University nor upon our students, and that he*' was really upset by the panic created by the great pestilence. Ha had informed, that one of the students who r j our examinations had died. This was incorrect. No :tudent who had attended the University examinations had died. It is wortn noting that an examination that vas held on tho Friday under tho Edu< ation Department in ine Training .College was not stopped. Xne Wellington committee arranged to have the students who were preven-ed from taking their Latin examination on the Friday examined by the Vice-Chum cllor and Mr Morrell, the principal or the Otago Boys' High School, and tlleir report on the examination will .bo laid before you. Other examinations have been hold, and their results Kill be communicated to the Senate, "ine extra expense to which the University was put will no'doubt bo mot tv fthe Health Departmt.it. Subsequently tn amendment of our University Act v. as passed by Parliament which enables tho Universitv to deal with the situation." EXTERNAL EXAMINERS. The Chancellor, continuing, said that the Board of Studies, without being asked by tho Senate to consider the had again passed resolutions dealing with external examination. He did not know whether its members had before them the final report of tho Royal Commission on university education : n Wales which was presented to tho Parliament of tho United Kingdom last year; but judging by the rcsolutions'passed, ho did not think so. The Commission unanimously came to the conclusion that tho external examiner should be continued, and it summarised its conclusion, in the recommendations a 6 follows:— "The University should not concern itself with the examination of undergraduates except for admission and for tho initial degree. The constituent colleges shouid in general make their own arrangements for intermediate examinations on their own responsibility. In the final examinations for the initial degree, both pass and honours, the University should be represented on each body of internal examiners by a single external examiner, who should have a veto on tho passing of any candidate. Ail grades of teachers should take some part in the examination of tho students whom they have taught." Before dealing with the various proposals of the Board of Studies, it was necessary to again fetate why there should be an external examiner in the Umvorsity of Now Zealand. Tlio Uni-

rersi.y Ms a State institution dependent upon the Stato for its finance, and under State control, the GovernorGeneral in Council having the right to veto any statutes passed by the Senate. Tho university was in no sense a private institution; it was part of the State educational machinery, and if it was the function of the State to provide education for its citizens, it was surely tho function of the State to see that that education was efficient. It was no mistrust of the teachers to require that the Stato should be informed of tho University's efficiency by others than the teachers. This was recognised in other departments of the °State scheme, such as the primary schools and tho secondary schools that were under State control. In both these classes of schools the Government Inspector examined the schools and examined the children to see, first, whether the education receivod bv the children was efficient, and, second, whether it was properly given. Viscount Haldane in an address delivered by him on education some time ago, said: "TI'.J State has, therefore, the right to see that those who conduct education are nt to conduct it properly, and the State has also the duty of enforcing this right by seeing that unfit persons cb not teach. But what I have eeen does not mean that a national system, must of necessity be bureaucratic —that is to say, controlled in its detail I v a Government department. Such a system may succeed best if a large discretion as to its details is left to those who are most familiar with the different parts of the country and the conditions and sentiments which prevail in thorn, be they local authorities or be Ihey individuals. But these, if they are" allowed to take part in educating the coming generation must, under an adequate system, give proof that they are lit to do it, and that they are actually accomplishing it. The State must superintend, even though it does interfere with their work, and it must guide and stimulate and aid that work. This it can do in many ways which are indirect, without trenching unduly on that liberty of judging on tho spot, which is the great advantage of decentralisation."

Now how could tho State satisfy itself of the efficiency of University education? Tho Inspectorate had not been considered suitable in dealing with University institutions- The system that was adopted' in superintending priniarv and secondary instruction was not confined to an inspectorate; it practically controlled details of educational work, and had an inspectorate in addition. If an external examiner was dispensed with what control could the State have over tho University, and what control or what knowledge could the State havo of University work. In fact, the only moans of obtaining any knowledge of Univeisity work must bo through the external examiner, or through Royal Commissions set ut> from time to time, or by some system of inspectorate. It would therefore be scon that the external examiner really performed the ftuction of an information bureau for Stato purposes. There was no other means of determining what was being done in the University colleges, and if i. 1 -, had been found necessary in Wales to keep an external examiner, it was I more necessary here, and for these reasons. Tho only University institution in New Zealand was the University of | Now Zealand. If the students aro discontented with the teaching in our University affiliated institutions, thero vas no other University to which th-ry could go. It was quite different in the Uiited Kingdom. There were numerous universities there.

The Board of Studies considered no less than five proposals differing in manv rospccts from ono another. Tho scheine it hud placed first was that in each subject a Board of Examiners might be appointed consisting of responsible teachers from the four Colleges, with whom might be associated (if thel Board of Studies on the recommendation of the teachers of tho subject thought) fit) an assessor who might or might not be a teacher at an affiliated college. This scheme was approved of by eleven votes to seven. It contained no provision for an external examiner, unless, indeed, it bo said that the three examiners wero external to the fourth College. In a sonse that was true. It was not, therefore, the teachcrs who were to examine their own students: it was to be examination by a Board. He understood in the past that the main argument against- external examination was that tho teacher was the only proper persoji to examine the students. This scheme did not make such a provision; and it did not provide for an impartial, outside, or external examiner. Now the Welsh recommendation was that the external examiner should have power to veto the passing of any student. That wns not the propositi of tho Board of 1 Studies. There might bo an assessor appointed, but he was not to have a vetoing power, and he was only to bo appointed if the teachcrs requested it and the Board of Studies approved. The second suggestion was that an assessor might bo appointed from New Zealand or Australia, that the papers wero to be examined first by the assessor and afterwards by the teacher, and in case of a conflict "between the teacher and the assessor, the doubtful papers were to be referred to the other professors in that subject. This was passed by eleven votes to seven. This left-the power of veto in tho professors, not in the external examiner. The'third suggestion was similar to the first. The fourth suggestion was that thero was to be no assessor at all. This was passed by ten, votes to eight. The fifth proposal be-' fore the Board was nogatived by eleven votes to seven. It was that the external examiuer should have the power of veto. If any of these suggestions of the Board of Studies was accepted, it meant that there was to be no external examiner to deal with the granting of degrees by the University, and he doubted very much if the State would be wise to agree to any such proposal. The fact that the Royal Commission did not see its way to grant to the University Colleges of Wales the power to examine their own students ought to bo of some advantage in considering the question.

"In considering these proposals of the Board of Studies," said the Chancellor, "it is necessary to emphasise the point that the Senate cannot delegate the power of appointing examiners to the professorial boards, or to a board of professors. The Senate has the power to appoint and remove all examiners. It may by resolution delegate that) ! power to the Chancellor or Vice-Chan-cellor. It has also power to delegate to the Board of Studies, the power of appointing examiners; either jointly or for any specified time, and either subject to or without restriction; but that power of delegation to the Board could be withdrawn, and, at all events, would end when the time specified expired. The Board of Studies therefore asks the Senate to agree to what is really an amendment of the University Act, and such a matter would have to be referred to the Legislature. The University Act specifically provides in Section 3 of the Statute that our University is established not for the purpose of teaching, but for the purpose ot encouraging, in the manner thereafter provided, the pursuit of a liberal education, and to ascertain by means of examination the persons who have acquired proficiency in literature, etc. If the control of the examinations, which means the appointment of examiners from timo to time, is to be taken away from the Senate, its main function ceases. The Senate ougntto take into consideration the fact that these proposals of the Board of Studies wero only carried by narrow majorities. Surely, if there is to be an amendment ma'de in the Statute or in tho University regulations, somo more unanimity should be required amongst those who are the experts on the Board of Studies. It might also be well to consider whether this question of .external examination is not one which should be settled by our statesmen and not by a few of our teachers. The State has to consider what is best for our students, and what will best encourage and _ popularise the higher education and give the people confidence in our University institu-' tiona."

THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNIVERSITY.

_ Referring to the government of the Universitv the Chancellor described tho Welsh proposals —a federal institution with several university colleges. The proposed governing body of the University of Wales would be ossenj tially democratic in its construction, and the professorial element on the Academic Board was far more restricted than is the professorial element- on our Board of Studies. The council had I full power of appointing examiners and dealing with a great number of academic questions without asking the iidvice of the Academic Board : and it seemed to him it would be well to urge the Government to alter the iunctions of our Board of Studies to correspond with. those of the Academic Board in ales. He did not suggest that _W ales and New Zealand were exactly in the samo position regarding university education. Wales Wivs "a and compact country compared with New Zealand. This showed that our colleges required to be perhaps more independent than the constituent colleges of W ales, and it also showc<l that we could not have a court of such numbers as they had in Wales without going to such a great expense as would Ik* quite unwarranted. Whether, instead of convocation, wo should create a now court with more powers than are held by the Convocation, and on a more popular basis, was a matter that required consideration. His object, however, in referring to the report of the Royal Commission was to point out that the leading educationists m Britain apparentlv saw that if higher education was to be popular, there must ho more democratic representation on its managing bodies than at present existed, and that one way to popularise education was to givo wide powers to local bodies. "There is always a struggle in English communities between what is termed the centripetal and the centrifugal political forces," Sir Robert Stout went on to say. "English people do not seem to take kindly to federal institutions. If there had been a lovo of federalism throughout the United Kingdom we might have seen a Parliament different from the Parliament which now exists in the United Kingdom, and perhaps tho Irish Home Rule question would have been solved on federal lines. Tho English people, trained as they have been in what is termed unitary government both in the Stato and the State Church, and having no practical experience of federalism, always struggle for centralisation. In New Zealand we have often followed, this example of the English people. We destroyed our federal system in 1875, and wo nave not yet got a system of local government or of local administration that is pleasing to the people, or is effective; and whenever we discover faults in our State administration wo are apt to call in the aid of our central Government, as if we believed it could never commit blunders. If, however, education is to bo popularised, wo must havo what I suggested in my report of last year, namely, move decentralisation that we now have whilst at the same time we retain ono University for New Zealand so that there may be an encouragement of a national life. If we keep our central Univereity, it must have the power of 6upervision of teaching colleges, on the lines of the powers given to the council of the University of Wales. It is apparent from. the evidence given before the Royal Commission that there is in Wales a strong popular demand for higher education. Tho Welsh people are willing to make monotary sacrifices to populariso university training. Thero is the samo demand in other parts of the United Kingdom. In*the United States of America some States have enacted that an annual tax shall bo levied for university purposes. AVo have not yet developed any very strong enthusiasm for higher education, though in some parts of the Dominions much lias been dono by the public!to assist in the development of university colleges. I believe if we havo not devoloped so much enthusiasm for higher education as other countries, it is because our people have not yet realised the fundamental part thatthe higher education must play if we are to progress in efficiency and in civilisation. To keep the popular interest and popular feeling aroused tho proposal in Wales is to democratise the management of the universities. We may have to follow this example. I once thought that wo might have_ popular lectures or speeches on university subjects once a year at least in connexion with our university colleges, and that on the only day in tho year that then University came prominently in touch with the public—tho time when it publicly granted degrees —might havo been a suitable occasion for bringing before the public some phases of university work. Unfortunately such occasions proved to be unsuitable. They becamo the scenes of frivolity, discourtesy," and buffoonery, and instead of helping to create a popular feeling for the higher education, it had tho opposite effect. It seems to me that now the only thing left would be to try tho Welsh system of popularising the university management. This is a matter for tho Minister of Education, tho Government, and Parliament to consider." UNIVERSITY LECTURES. "Perhaps the most striking tiling in after-war reconstruction is the i.i.iversal favour in which oduoaiiDuai schemes are received by the people of the United Kingdom, "it is rocoguioeu 3hat if thoro is to be progress in tno Empire, more attention must be paiu to education. It has actually been . proposd that a rate on property'in the nature of a county rate should be imposed in. parts of England whero there are few opportunities for university education, in order that further university teaching institutions should be founded. There have also been established not only new chairs in older universities but greater teaching facilities in the shape of lectures and university institutions have been inaugurated. It is to be regretted that the custom that prevailed in •/lie or two of our university colleges in the early days has been discontinued, in Canterbury lectures used to be deliveied by the Professor of English cn Saturdays, which were largely attended t>y students and teachers. We hear much of the hours of labour being shortened. Could not arrangements le made for our university professors to give lectures on what, may be termed "Labour Holidays," say, on {Saturday afternoons ? These lectures could bo open to the public. There is nucli need of various questions uein'j; publicly discussed, such as economics and civics, as well as health ai:J the general principles of science. There iisvo now been established classes for economics at all the university ; l u: what is needed is not merely 'cuiuu>:i for under-graduates, but popular jecoures for those who may not have under-graduates and who arc no: c;e----!l university education. 1 he effort that has been made by the Government in founding university elates for soldiers should show as wiiat c;m be done in this direction. I do r.ot know what the teaching hoais of our Pressors are, but I feel sn: c ii;<y would be only too willing, eacii and e\erv one of them to <iive, say nio i!!- S a Saturday afterao ja ler public lectures. I would sm , ,* u st tnat the subjects might be English', history, economics, principles of science, perhaps biology or chemistry. There night also be practical lectures on public health, etc. It ,s not the ft i clon of this I niversity to provide teaching, but the Universitv should encouiage such lectures by'providing that those who attended should, after exam.nati"", be entitled to a certificate oi diploma. The Son:.t--> '•<>;;!,] lecommend to tho teaching institutions nf ra^ lhtv of this kind or university extension. EDUCATION OF OUR SOLDIERS. Our great war of the past four 11 s niil "v surprises, but pel haps nothing has been so wonderful . s )e oiganisjition of ordinarv educaTl?;l l ' !I! \ tlt " tin " s °» the batt!cfi«,Js. Ihis has been carried -hi tho.-.' ,-nd ir. Eugland. Nothing like this has c-er

happened before in any ar "J u , ' ,^S r that many of our New diers should get the benefit of 1 sitv terms and obtain a sttU's -vUniv.rsitr on their return to New Zealand, "it is necessarv that vh.y should pass the matriculation or ntrance pxamination to our 1 ni An application was made to ue versitv office for a matriculation examination to be held in Englan ■ /- correspondence regarding this *\ppl <j" tion will be laid before tlie Senate. The suggestion was made that -»lr Jovnt. our Home agent, x wa'rt. and Professor Adam:-, two or our professors who are both «n should, with the assistance of other competent educationalists, hold a. matriculation examination. I consented to this being done, stating, that such action nnist be ratuici i> the Senate. I understand that the Home universities will give certain facilities for the students acquiring their training, and the status they attain in the Home universities will no doubt bo accepted in our University. This is a matter for the consideration of the Senate. GREAT INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY. '"A striking proposal to found a great international University in Plymouth, England, has been made,bv the eminent educationalists. Dr. Ilendel Harris. Lord Bryce, and Professor O'ilhert Murray. The proposal is to found a great, educational institution "to celc,brate on the ono hand tho close of) the war, and on the other the reconciliation of Great Britain and tho United States." Tho institution is to be called the "Mayflower" University, and it is to keep in prominence, our English language and literature, and to provide for research by postgraduate students It is a noble ideal, and if it can in any way aid in uniting together for justice and peacol thef Eng-lish-speaking peoples of tho world, its foundation ought to be promoted. I commend it to tho consideration of our peonle who desire a real peace in. tho world. OUR STUDENTS AT THE FRONT. "I made application to the Government- for preferenco to be given in demobilisation to our University students so that ther might he able to at onco resume their studies, and not loso an academic year. 1 regret to say that this modest request was denied. I notice in the Press that it is stated that, a- .similar request for preference to be given to coalminers was acceded to." The Vico-CEancellor, Professor Macmillan Brown moved a vote of thanlcs to the Chancellor for his address, which was carried. DISCUSSION. ON ADDRESS/ The Hon. J. A. Hanan, discussing the Chancellor's address, said he thought it would certainly do good to consider the reform of university government in IVcw Zealand. He advocated the democratisation of control to a certain extent, and ho thought it better that any such reform should come from within than be imposed from without. There was a need for educational government being based on broader lines, and. for a more perfect co-ordination between all phases of education for the primary schools to the university. As matters were at present, the forms of examination prescribed by tho University dominated the lines upon which primary and secondary education were laid down. The whole matter was certainly one that needed the most careful consideration. One thing that was ignored practically altogether was the physical education of tho students, and the dreadful results of the recent epidemic showed the danger of educating tho mind and neglecting the body. At present such courses of physical education as were provided by tho Government curriculum were ignored in the examinations of tho University authorities, and students naturally worked on subjects which would help them to pass their examinations. " v Professor Hunter said such extension of the University's work could not bo properly carried out without additional financial assistance. He< moved that the Finance Committee be asked to report on the finance necessary to carry out tho work of tho University and affiliated institutions. The Rev. A. Cameron stressod the necessity of providing adequato assistance for the professors. It was a great pity to waste the time of liighlvqualined professors in routine work and examinations when they could be better engaged in research work of a high national importance. He thought the professors should be relieved from much of tho drudgery thoy now had to undergo. X° n -^■ moved as an amendment that a sub-committee, consisting of tho Hon. J. A. Hanan, the Rev. Cameron, and Professors Scott, Se«ar, and Hunter, be appointed to consider tiio matter. i Ir J T / , I nan asked th at his name be Mt off the committee. He suggested that the commitee should consider the whole question of finance most comprehensively from the point of view of the general development of university education. The Rev. A Cameron said ho thought there should be two representatives iroin each college instead of one. He thought Professors Higlit, Detman and Kirk and Dr. Ferguson should be added to it. -' bo Chancellor said that the question of local bodies subsidising university education was one which would probably have to be considered. After tho luncheon adjournment the Rev. A. Cameron's amendment was put and carried, the Hon. J. A. Hanan's name being omitted, as requested bv him. CHANGE OF BOUNDARIES. On the motion of Professor Hunter, seconded by the Vice-Chancellor, it was decidod that the memorials regarding the change of boundaries forwarded to the Senate by the Canterbury and Victoria University Colleges, should be forwarded to the Government. The change referred to was the transference of the Westland district to Canterbury, it being under the jurisdiction of Victoria University at present. A SOLDIER'S APPLICATION. A request was received from a senior scholar, at present in the N.Z.E..F., to be allowed to hold his scholarship at a British university. The Chancellor said it was his opinion that such a scholarship was not tenable at an outside university under the regulations. Mr von Haast said lie considered that under a clause in tho Act of 1916, the Senate had ample power to comply with the request. He moved that the request'be complied with. _ The Chancellor) held that Mr von Haast was mistaken, and that the course he suggested was contrary to their statutes. The Rev. A. Cameron suggested that the Senate should withdraw the present scholarship and then award the applicant a special one. Ho moved as an amendment that in this case and in all other cases of a like nature the Senate. agree to issue a new scholarship of the same value. Tho amendment was lost and the motion carried. CO.MM l" NIC ATI OXS WITH EXAMINERS. In reply to a communication from the Auckland University Professorial Rr»arfl it Avns decided «.o repl\ that the Senate had already laid down the prinSe that there should bo no communication between professors and examiners except through the Senate. HOME SCIENCE EXAMINATIONS. A protest was received from two , i z;,/cpipnce examiners against a rehome . t ], e j r fees which had been i mad' The matter was referred to the | Finance Committee. j FORESTRY. Arr H F von Haast read a report on behalf of the Wellington Recess Com-

»»ttce. which recommended that so soon as the finances of the University allowed, some arrangements should be n ? • 0 to inaugurate travelling scholarships in forestry. The report gave details of the negotiations which the University had had with the trustees of the late Mr Cunningham Bruce, but no definite scheme had been laid down or arrangements made. The report was adopted.

INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC

Mr H. F. von Haast submitted » lengthy report from the Wellington Committee on the influenza epidemic, the cessation of examinations by the Minister of Public Health, and the arrangements necessitated thereby. The November examinations wore in progress when the epidemic was at its height, and several students were incapacitated from sitting. Legislation (Section 3.1 of the War Legislation and Statute Law Amendment Act, 1918) was passed in order to avoid undue hardship to students. The report set out in detail the action taken by the Wellington Committee. With reference to scholarships it was recommended :— (1) That, the Economics Scholarship bo awarded upon the results of the paper set in England and the paper setin New Zealand by Professor Grossmann. and that this committe-i be authorised to make a recommendation as to trio award to the April meeting of the Senate, consulting Professor Grossmann in ease there should be a difficulty in placing the candidates. (2) That the Latin Scholarship bo awarded upon the results of the two papers set in. England and the paper set in New Zealand by the Vicc-Chaucellor and Mr Morrell, and that tho committee be authorised to make a recommendation as to the award to the April meeting, consulting the Vice-Chancellor in case there should be a difficulty in placing the candidates. (3) That the Scholarship in Philosophy be awarded in t.ho two papefs taken by all the candidates, and that the paper on ethics bo disregarded in the award of the scholarship. It -was further recommended: That the committee be authorised iii the case of the examinations in which the papers were set in England (except scholarships) where a candidate alleges that he was prejudicially affected by the epidemic to take into consideration the reports of the English examiners in conjunction with those of the Professorial Boards, holding n conference with representatives of those Boards if considered advisable, and to prepare a report for tho April meeting of tho Senate with its recommendations as to the passes and honours to be granted and degrees to be conferred. 1

Tho report was.adopted, and it was.further resolved : That the statutes ana regulations of the University of New Zealand be temporarily suspended and modified so far and so long as is necessary for the purpose of avoiding undue hardship to students or candidates by reason of the interruption of their studies or examinations through the recent epidemic of influenza, and also so far as it is necessary to enable tho Senate to grant dogrees without examination in one or more subjects, and that the action of the Wellington committee be approved and its recommendations as to tho course to be followed be adonted.

On the motion of Professor J. Macmillan Brown the Wellington committee were thanked for their splendid services in working out the scheme necessitated by tho epidemic. With reference to Dr. J. Hight's suggestion that candidates should be informed of the cabled results of the examinations, it was decided to postpone consideration, a motion on the subjecfj to be prepared in tho meantime. CONSTITUTION OF COMMITTEES. On the recommendation 9f the Business Committee tho following committees were constituted. — Fin vice: Mr von Haast, Mr Evans, Mr Adams, Hon. J. A. Hanan, Hon. Dr. Collins. December examiners: Vice-Chancel-lor, Dr. Anderson, Rev. Mr 'Professor "Wall. Science and Agriculture: Professor Benham, Professor Kirk, Professor Scott, Professor Ferguson, Rev. W. Evans, Rev. W. Hewitsori. Engineering, Architecture, and Town Planning: Professor Scotft, Professor Stegar, Mr Adams. Medical. Dental, and Home Science: Professor Ferguson, Hon. Dr. Collins, Rev. Mr Cameron, Professor Benham. Statutes and Ad Eundem and Relationship of Old and New Degrees: Professor Hunter, Professor Segar, Professor Wall, Professor Kirk, Professor Gilray. Entrance Examinations: Professor Kirk, Mr Tibbs, Dr. Anderson, Professor Gilray, Professor Deitman, Professor Higlit. Arts and Commerce: Professor Ilight,' Professor Wall, Professor Hunter Rev. Mr Cameron, Professor Segar, Mr von Haast, Professor Detman. Law and Music: Hon. J. A. Hanan, Hon. Mr Tole, Mr von Haast. The Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor will be ex officio members of all committees. RECESS COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATION S. 'The .Senate considered the report of the Wellington Recess Committee, which made recommendations regarding tho setting up of committees, the matters to be considered by tho Senato. and the matters, of a non-contentious character, which were to be referred to tho various committees sot u;> for consideration.

Senato adjourned till 9.43 a.m. today.