THE UNIVERSITY.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1347, 26 January 1912, Page 3

THE UNIVERSITY.

MEETING OF THE SENATEDIVINITY DEGREES. ' ! AND THE SECULAR IDEAL. Tho Senate of tho University of New Zealand reassembled yesterday afternoon, the morning having been devoted to committee work. The Chancellor (Sir Robert Stout) presided. QUESTION OF LEGALITY. Professor Salmond moved: "That before action is taken under tho motion appointing an annual conference'of representatives of professorial boards, the Senate take professional advice as to the legal validity of the motion.'" He pointed out that there was considorablo doubt as to the legality of tho proposal, and if it should turn out to be illegal, the consequences might lie serious. It would lead to considerable expense, and if it should turn out that payments had been made illegally under it, members of tho Senate might be called upon personally to pay inconveniently large sums out of their own pockets. The Senate would be more comfortable to bo assured of the legality of the scheme. The rnotion was carried. IS THEOLOGY A SCIENCE? REALMS OF BELIEF. Sir G. Maiulco O'Rorke moved: "That the Senate regrets that the did not comply with the Senate's, request of last session''that the law be amended so as to enable the Senate to grant degrees in divinity 1 as well as in other subjects,' but hopes the Government wiil this year comply with that request of the Senate by submitting such measure to Parliament some time this year." He explained that he did not ask the Government to make the matter a Ministerial question, but merely to allow such a Bill to be introduced. He did not suggest that. Divinity should be taught, but merely that there should he a curriculum laid down, and that it should be .made possible for the 'University of New Zealand to grant degrees in divinity. ' -The Rev. A. Cameron seconded the motion. Professor Salmond supported the motion, the justice of which he thought should appeal to everybody. The objection to the scheme .hitherto had been mainly on the ground that it involved sectarianism. Theology was a science, and a man could be examined exhaustively upon it without the question beinj raised as to whether he was a Roman Catholic, a Unitarian, or an Episcopalian. He urged that there never was a time when there was a wider human interest in theology than there was at present.

The Chancellor said he proposed to vote against the motion. In his opinion it was an interference with the 'system of secular education, which had been the model established in this Dominion. They might beat about the bush as they pleasecl, but if the highest educational institution in the land were to introduce religion, the system would break down. It would be impossible to entertain the proposal without entering the realms of belief. A curriculum would have to be laid down, and a number of text books would have to be prescribed. Other colonial universities were not allowed to grant degrees in divinity, and ho saw no reason fur departing from the model. It was for the religious bodies to combine and approach the Government for authority to grant degrees, but they had no right to attempt to thrust this duty oti the University. It was only in those countries where there was. a StateChnrch recognised that the universities were required to grant .degrees in divinity. No State university in any country that he knew of ever, granted degrees in divinity. Mr. Von Haast agreed with the Chancellor in opposing the motion. The Eev. 'A. Cameron thought the objection to the motion was groundless. Another lxidy with power to grant degrees might be formed, but it would not be satisfactory to a graduate of the University to accept a degree from a less well-known institution. He emphasised the point that there was no demand that there should be teaching of religion, but the University would be doing a grievous wrong if the opportunity to obtain degrees in divinity were withheld. Mr.. L. Cohen said he could conceive no-course in divinity which would equip a man to become a Rabbi. For this reason people of one religion would be shut out of this course, and however small the class to be excluded, any act to exclude them would be a violent act against the spirit of the .charter of our university. Dr. Fitchett supported the motion, stating that he believed the objections of the Chancellor were baseless: The cry of sectarianism did not apply, for sectarianism was only possible among men with one-sided, incomplete views. And a man could not get a degree in divinity if he knew only his own religion. He must also know what others believed. The Eev. W. A. Evans supported the motion.. He urged that there were alternative courses possible in theology as in ether science.;. This would meet Mr. Cohen's objection. Sir Maurice O'Korke replied, speaking against the introduction.of sectarian feelin'/ .into the disciission. The motion was carried by H votes to 10. LOANS OR SCHOLARSHIPS? Professor F. D. Brown moved: "That steps be taken to establish a fund by means of which assistance by way of loan may be furnished to graduates if the university who desire to obtain more extended professional experience in other countries, and who are unable to do so without such assistance." He. explained the idea of the proposal, which he had made tentatively at last session of. the Senate. It was to supply to young men seeking wider experience the necessary funds to obtain it, on their undertaking to repay the money when they were established in their professions. The scheme had been tried in Germany, and the loss under it hud been found to be very timall. Even from a pecuniar} - point of view it would, therefore, be advantageous, for sums of money conld be used, many times over instead of only once, as was the case when bursaries were granted. Dr. Collins seconded the motion. Professor Scott could not \agree with Professor Brown. He did not think it wise to encourage the borrowing habit, and it .would not be well to handicap young men starting out in life with the repayment'of a fairly large sum of money" to the State. Mr. Hogben was in favour of the proposition, but thought it must be only supplementary to other systems. The comparison with Germany he thought scarcely a good one, for in Germany less was done to help poor students than in the British Empire. The scheme was also well known among certain companies and guilds in England. He suggested that before the motion was pa.*sed a small Recess Committee should be set up to obtain information, draw np a scheme, and report to the Senate at next session. The motion . was carried, and it was referred to the Finance Committee. DOCTORATE DEGREE. Mr. Hogben moved: — 1. That before presenting himself for the dc«rreo of Doctor of Literature, Doctor of Science, or Doctor of Lawa, a candidate must have been admitted to the degree of Master of Arts, or Master of Science, or Master of Laws, as the case may be. 2. That Section I of the statute, "the Decree of Doctor of Literature," Section II of tho statute, "the Degree of Doctor of Science," Section I of the statute, "the Degree of Doctor of Laws," and Section IV of statutes of admission ad eundem, be' amended accordingly. Professor Right seconded tho motion. ■The subject matter of this motion was discussed at some length the previous day, on n motion introduced by Mr. Hogben. This motion he withdrew, giving notice of a more general motion. There was wme little discussion on the revised

resolution, but it was mainly a recapitulation of what was said un the first motion. 'L'ho motion was carried by IB votes to (i. nml tho matter was referred to the Statutes Committee. MEDICAL STUDENTS. Professor J. H. Scott moved: "That the following resolution adopted by the Faculty of Medicine, University of Otago, be referred to the Medical Committee for report—'That students be allowed to sit for the examination in Public Health in July preceding the final examination, and it they thou fail, they be allowed to present themselves again for examination in this subject at the final examination in January." The motion was carried. THE ENGINEERING COURSE. Tho Recess Committee on Engineering and Architecture presented a further report on the proposed reduction in the length of the courses in engineering. The committee found that it was possible to reduce the length of tho courses in mechanical, electrical, and civil engineering by one year, without affecting the efficiency of the courses. The following is an outline of the changes proposed :— The Preliminary Examination to be retained as at present. In the Entrance Examination the examination in physics to be raised from medical intermediate to B.A. 'standard, and the examination in French or German to be omitted. A three instead of a four years' professional conrso to be taken subsequent to passing the Entrance Examination, with three examinations as set out in tho syllabus attached, instead of two examinations which may be taken in four portions as at present. Tn all the courses mentioned the sub. ject of mechanics of machinery to be omitted, that of applied mechanics to be somewhat extended. Practical work to be added to a modified syllabus of applied electricity. The syllabus for hydraulics and pneiimntics to be extended and the examination to be transferred to. the final (third) examination. Paper (a) mechanical drawing to be transferred to the second examination. In electrical engineering—Honours electricity and magnetism to be omitted and replaced by an examination in the subject intermediate electrical engineering. In civil engineering—Technical chemistry' to be omitted, and the prescriptions for practical geology and elementarv and advanced surveying to be modified. The committee submitted also the following regulations for the engineering travelling' scholarship:—Payment of the scholarship shall be made as follows: .£SO at tho time the scholarship is awarded; ,£25 on the. receipt of the holder's second renort to the Chancellor if the same be satisfactory;, and -£-25 on the receipt of the holder's third report.