THE UNIVERSITY.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18421, 30 June 1925, Page 5

THE UNIVERSITY.

COMMISSION IN AUCKLAND. DEMAND FOR AUTONOMY. (rBESS ASSOCIATION TELEGBASI.) AUCKLAND, June 29. "The New Zealand University is purely an abstraction," declared the Hon. G. Fowlds, in giving evidence before the "University Commission toda}'. "It has neither body nor soul. There is nothing tangible about it. The New Zealand University is represented by a central office in 'Wellington and a peripatetic Senate which graces each of the four large cities in turn once in four years. The result is that it;belongs to no one." ''Public-spirited men," he continued, "were being led to the conclusion that their energies in the cause of education must be barren of any visiblo result if devoted to what at present was an institution bound down by what in the public mind was merely a colourless abstraction wielding a deadening influence on higher education in the North. The present system of control of University education merely acted as a wet blanket towards local enthusiasm. The creation of a separate University for Auckland would obviate all this policy of masterly inactivity in regard to the local offers of assistance In its. attempt to meet local needs. Auckland did not grudge to Otago and Canterbury the fine, educational institutions the South Island possessed, but it must be admitted that it was now Auckland's turn to expand its University. Until the present University sys'tem in New Zealand was done away with, expansion could not take place. It was the earnest desire of the Auckland Province that even if the ether three Colleges were not given autonomy, Auckland University College should be allowed to expand into an autonomous University. Mr Fowlds emphasised the alleged, mofficierjey of tho central office and an all powerful central executive functioning at intervals of three anti. nine months. He also described the benate's treatment of Auckland's youth in the matter of special schools as an attitude of "gross unfairness." The present nosition was that the South Island had a majority of votes on. the Senate, although its University district contained only one-third of the population of the 'Dominion. ProfessQr A. P. W. Thomas said the lack of a corporate spirit was due to the absence of association among students. The night lecture system was a drawback and the reason for the lack of a coroorate spirit. The federal system was not satisfactory and the principle of one professional school for the Dominion was apart from the circumstances. The Government would prevent the growth of unlimited schools. There were still hopes tor New Zealand in the matter of postgraduate research.