THE UNIVERSITY.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18422, 1 July 1925, Page 11

THE UNIVERSITY.

EVIDENCE BEFORE COMMISSION. (rFESS ASSOCIATION' TELKIiSAU.' AUCKLAND. June 30. Giving evidence bo tore the University Commission, Professor Algio said that, facilities, for university education in Now Zealand generally, were adequate arid tho fees could not be described as heavy. Scholarships and. bursaries were very liberal indeed, butthey operated in favour it" the city siudent. Tho facilities were not perfect in respect, to country students, but tho financial problem appeared to be too great. •Sir H. Reiehel: The present system is breaking down with its own weight? Professor AJgie : "Yes, its own weight is becoming crushing. Centralisation must inevitably lead to delay. My experience as chairman of the Board of Studies is that an increase in the staff of tlio central office would not of itself overconio, the present difficulties.'' There was duplication of work bv the Senate and the Board cf Studies, he added, because the Senate reserved the right to discuss in detail what the Board recommended. He favoured the division of the present Xew Zealand University into four separate universities, partly because of the deadlock that had arisen, and because it was inevitable in regard to tho question of professional schools. The Senate appeared to have, no fixed policy on this question. He favoured a change in the examination system, and had a confident expectation that tho new .system introduced by the Senate would work well. _ He opposed accrediting as undemocratic, and not equally fair to all. If the University substituted a discretionary process fcr impartial examinations lie would, however, ta in favour of allowing much weight to the voice of the secondary schools. Professor H, "W. Separ said that defects in tho working of the present organisation were largely due to tho Federal svstem of night- olasses, a.n objectionable feature. Ho supported the establishment of four separate universities. It would be a mistako for each university to endeavour to establish a. school of its own in each branch of professional education. It would ha.ve to be seen how inadvisable multiplication of schools was, to bo prevented without unnecessarily restricting freedom of development. Financial cupport should bo on a, more generous -vale. Tho Government grants should be on a. population basis or dependent on tho number of students at college. He thought that tho colleges seemed likely to develop on the same lineß as the provincial universities of England. Mr J. A. C. Alfum, for the Industrial Association, urged a closer relation between industries and university training by having'direct representation of industries on the Senate. The university, should produce highlyskilled industrialists Mr S. E. Lamb'. of the Auckland School of Engineering, referred to the anomalous 'position whereby Auckland students were prevented from presenting themselves for the degree examination. Auckland had developed an efficient school with very little help from the Government. Mr G. J. Park,' representing tho Technical School Teachers' Association, was against accrediting. The best technical high school pupils should be encouraged to enter _ the university. Provision for them should be made by rearranging the system of:'entry and by increasing tho number* of diploma courses. -