UNIVERSITY SYSTEM.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 754, 1 March 1910, Page 8

UNIVERSITY SYSTEM.

MB.. J. W. JOYNT'S OPINIONS. A TRANSITIONAL STAGE. J«st and earnest were closely mingled by Mr. J. W.. Joynt, Eegietrar of tho University, in replying to tho toast of tho university at a students' gathering last opening. Since- he last replied to this toast, said Jlr. Joynt, the university had been badly in the wars. It had been kicked and buffeted about pretty vigorously, and made to feel what a wretched institution it was altogether. (Laughter.) The university might reply with-Shylock: "Still have I borne it with a patient shrug,; For 'sufferance is the badge of all our tribe." Further, tho nniversity might complain in the words of Shylock, when he deecribed the insults r»nt upon him: "You call me ... dog, and spit upon my Jewish gaberdine"—"that is," said Mr. Joynt, "the Chancellor's robo" (Laughter.) But, perhaps, to a very indulgent beholder,' it was quite conceivable that a word might still be said for the New Zealand University. Hβ wouid not ■venture to ss,y for a. moment that the system of a nniversity with four affiliated colleges was perfect and ideal. He felt every year more and more that it was a transitional condition. It was absolutely necessary in the earlier days when teaching institutions of a university standard first began, but the time was steadily coming when this condition of things must pass away, and there was not the (slightest doubt, he thought, that the four colleges would become separate universities. ' When that would conio about he did not kmns.

I During the last few months, when controversy had waxed warm, he had been driven to meditate more and more on university problems. There had been a strong attack on the standard of the university, but lie could see nothing to take the place of the present system, except four universities. That might involve overlapping and more expense, .but there could never be a central' university, in New Zealand, and therefore there was no other solution tban four independent, self-governing and examining universities. He was, perhaps, not nmch more in love with the external examining system than a previous speaker who had referred to it, but a good deal conld be Said on both sides. There was little doubt, to his mind, that the system of external examiners had been given a new lease of life by the debate at the last meeting of the Senate. The decision which was then arrived, at, by a large majority, reaffirming the system'of external examiners might, he thought, have been seriously modified—he would not say r,evorsed—if there had been presented some compact kind of system as an alternative. But .the Senate was left quite in- the dark as to what should take the place of the present system, and was not prepared to take a leap in the dark and surrender a system whioh, in the opinion of. many, was working fairly well for something—it did not know what. I; He always felt a satisfaction in the close working together of the four colleges. After all they, were one (applause) ;andi their relations would closer as time passed and the facilities for travel were improved. He expressed his satisfaction at the step taken by'the Senate in empowering the Eecess ■ Committee to invite a meeting of representatives of the four professorial boards. That he regarded as very important. It-might mean thatihe boards would take.their rightful position as the chief determining body, particularly in regard, to the regulation uf flnrricnla and ' courses of work, which, ■without doubt,-. was better in the hands of the, teaching body than of a general administrative body like the Senate. One member of the Senate hfd said.that if this.tendency went much' further people would soon ask what woe the Senate for? (HeaT, hear! and laughier.) He believed that there would always be a good deal for the Senate to consider. What reconciled him- to his position was the compactness of tie whole of the univereity system, of New Zealand. ■