OUR UNIVERSITY.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1238, 21 September 1911, Page 6

OUR UNIVERSITY.

THE REFORM MOVEMENT. AN INTERESTING DISCISSION. An interesting discussion on tho subject of university reform took placo at the Victoria College Council last evening, when Mr. H. I'. von Haast, referring to tho petition which had been presented to Parliament in connection with the agitation of the University Reform Association for a lloyal Commission to inquire inio the New Zealand University system, remarked that the Education Committee of the House should have its attention drawn to the urgent necessity for making adequate provision for placing the finances of tho two North Island University Colleges upon a better footing. Tho exact position of tho college should be put clearly before tho committee. He moved:

"That this council calls the attention of tho Education Committee of tho House of Representatives to tho urgent and immediate need of a substantial increase in the capital grants to, and the annual income of, the two University Colleges in tho North Island, and points out that the Education Department is in possession of all the necessary information on this question and refers t'ho Education Committee to the memorandum submitted by this council to the Minister for Education on tho financial position of the colleges." If, he said, they waited till a Royal Commission investigated the whole question of university reform, it might be two years before anything would be done. Mr. J. G. W. Aitken seconded the motion. Mr. Clement AVatson thought that the position should be placed before tho Government. "An Immediate Necessity." "Tho most essential portion of our reform," observed Mr. R. M'Callum, "is to get monev." "An immediate necessity," agreed Mr. Aitken, who suggested that a deputation should lie appointed to make representations to the Education Department, in terms of a previous decision of the council. Mr. H. H. Ostler at this stage moved:— "That this council, while not expressing any final opinion on tho points raised by the University Reform Association, is of opinion that the need has been established for a . Royal Commission to inquire into the subject of university reform." The motion, he said, did not commit tho council to anything. The Reform Association had solicited replies from university pofessory ot' the highest standing in various parts of tho world, to specific questions 011 the subject of reform-Sixty-five professors had replied in terms endorsingtheviewsof the association. Surely the council would not stand in the way of ail inquiry into the whole question by a Royal Commission? Why should not a commission be set up? It would be a judicial inquiiy. A chance should be given for proving the need for reform in the university system. The motion tabled by Mr. Von Haast was then put and carried, and the debate on Mr. Ostler's motion continued.

Mr. Von Ilaast deprecated consideration of the general question of university reform when only seven cut of sixteen members were present, and passing such a motion without considering what actually needed reforming. "Reform in administration is what we are concerned with," he declared. They should thoroughly thresh the subject before they proceeded to action of tho kind suggested. The Reform Pamphlet. Mr. E. M'Callum said that the Reform Association had done good work in their agitation for reform, but it appeared to him that the pamphlet recently published by the association contained no definite suggestions in the direction of remedying matters. Hr. Von Haast remarked that the association had expressed itself quite definitely at the conclusion of the subject matter of tho pamphlet. Mr. M'Cnllum said that thoso suggestions had escaped his notice, and expressed tho opinion that further discussion should be held over till members of tho council had had 011 opportunity offully digesting the contents of the pamphlet. Ho believed that a majority of tho council was in favour of a departure from tho present system. Mr. Watson said that it would then bo too late. The alleged failings of the existing university system had been supported by expert opinion. "If wo pass Mr. Ostler's motion," said Mr. Von Haast, "it will commit us to the opinion that a Royal Commission is necessary." Mr. M'Callum declared that ho did not and never would agree to academic control in the University system. Mr. Aitken said that the time had come for an inquiry. The conditions now were entirely different, and some alteration in our University, methods was desirable. Expert Opinions. Mr. Ostler contended that the question should not bo postponed. It had been said that tho pamphlet which had been published by the Reform Association was a partisan statement. The expert opinions sot out in that pamphlet—(f)sinterc.stopinions—all agreed to a remarkable extent. Tkero ought to have been a larger meeting of the council. Members knew that this question was coming up, and they should have been present. "They, must have been afraid to face it," said Mr. M'Callum. Mr. Von Haast said that it was Mr. Ostler's ide.i that ,the New Zealand professors should be consulted. Mr. Ostler denied this. The question was raised b.v a Catholic priest at a meeting of the Reform Association. Personally ho did not with that policy, preferring the opinions of disinterested persons. Tho chairman said that if any attempt were made by the professors to arrogato to themselves the position of Supremo Court judges he wouldn't support them. After further discussion, during which a motion for the adjournment of the question was lost, Mr. Ostler's motion was put to the meeting and carried.