UNIVERSITY REFORM.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1428, 1 May 1912, Page 4

UNIVERSITY REFORM.

ACHIEVEMENTS AND AIMS. THE FUTUHE PROGRAMME. Tho University Reform Association h<?H its second annual meeting last night. Mr. A. L. Herdman, M.P., presided, and there were upwards of twenty members present. Tho Year and the Future Tho chairman moved the adoption of the report ami balance-sheet (already published). Although the committee hud not hntshod the year with a surplus the year's work hail been a very sntistactory one. It was a diflicult matter to make the public imdorstaml that university _ colleges were public institutions. A section of people had beeu induced to interest themselves in university education, but uusiness men could riot be persuaded that universities were of great valuo- to tho community even from a commorcml point of. view, The association believed that those who had be«n responsible for the control of university life in New Zealand had slumbered. In other countries wide-awake authorities had gone ahead, whereas tho New Zealand authorities kid stood still, if they had not gone backwards. One of the aims of the association was to stimulate those responsible for our university system into Fomclhing like tho activity being displayed in other countries. In tho course of tho first year the association had l>ocn able to satisfy the Education Committee of the House of Representatives that a case had been made out for reform in the system of the Now Zealand University, and that more use should !» made of our professorial staffs in conducting examinations in framing syllabuses. The committee had also conio to the conclusion that tho colleges throughout New Zealand, should bo put on a substantial financial basis. Victoria College finances, as everyone knew, were not in a satisfactory condition, and tho work of tho college was sorely hampered in consequence. Eil'orts had been, made by the association to get on tlio Victoria Collego Council, and on (he University Senatc, men who were willing to voice tho views of the association. Having accomplished so much, the association would not lead an idle life in tho future. It was theirintentkin to have a Bill drafted to alter tho constitution of Victoria College, to give the professors more representation on the council. The association would also organise a deputation to the Minister for Education. And, mainly ae a result of tho eil'orts of the association, a conference of university professors would meet in Wellington. Ho believed, however, that reform agitations could not succeed unless backed up by the opinion of a recognised authority from outside New Zealand. This should, bo cmlmdied in a report to Parliament, which could then pass suitable legislation. H« suggested Dr. Alex. Hill, of Downing College, Cambridge, as a suitable man to make such a report. If reform was to )» undertaken, it must not be undertaken piecemeal.

Royal Commission the Only Wny, Professor Hunter seconded the motion. Tho association had been told that although tho Scnnte had at length been forced—he insisted that forced was the right word—to call together a professorial conference to discuss academic matters, tho cnlliiiK of the conferonco would end tho business. This he did not believe. It might not bo a solution of the difficulty, but it might go some way towards iinding one. , Ho contended that there wns still a wide range of subjects in which professors could not control students by terms examinations. Tho Senate also' could draw tip courses without any regard lo whether tho colleges wero equipped to teach them or not. Then tho college councils had to make their arrangements. In tho end, there were two governing bodies at variance—for tho Senate existed and made money by creating examinations. Also, (hero was no really effective control within the colleges. There could bo no really effective control of university work until the men on the Senate shaping tho policy were thosr who must put it into effect in the nffilt a red colleges. Jit his opinion, no systeir which would efl'ect this could ever b< discovered without a Jioy.il Coin mission. The report was adopted without further discussion. Election of Officers. The election of officers resulted as foU lows:—President, Mr. A. L. llcrdmnn, M.1 , .; vice-presidents, tho Kev. Dr. Kennedy, Dr. «. H. Auson, Dr. T. Cahill, Dr. J. M. Mason, Dr. A. K. Newman, M.P., Messrs. J. H. n. Coatcß. T. B. Fleininii, \V. Frnsov, M.P., C. B. Morison, H. H. Ostler, K. Troeesr, A. P. Webster, A. H. Hindmnrsh, M.P.. W. H. D. Bell, M.P., 15. C. Lower, and H. C. Teireley; committee, Mrs, Richmond Hursthouso, Miss P. Myers, Dr. \V. Fell, Professor Laby, Messrs. ]?. G. Stuelcev, A. E. AtkinJ. son/A. Hamilton, and the Rev. V\. Jelliej lion, secretary, Professor T. A. Hunterj hon. treasurer, Professor T. H. Easter* field. Wrong Impressions. Mr. Fisher asked th« chairman to cor* rect specifically two wrong impression? which had got abroad. It had been stated thnt tho association aimed at centralising iho university system of New Zealand, and it had also been stated that the object of the association was to make all the classes at tho colleges any classes; and to discontinue all night classes. < Mr. Hordman assured Mr. lisher that tho association'had no euch objects. _ Professor J.nby amplified tho !>. oln ? about evening lectures. He explained that all that tho association had asked I'c-r was that tho North) Island colleges should bo placed on ihe snnio footing as tiie South Island colleges, and that there should be day classes as well as night elates Tho fact that there wow only ni"ht classes induced tho students to become evening students merely, and now that youths wore expected to take tnoir part in defending their country, it was but fair that those who could attend day classes should lxs given an opportunity to do so, in order that the strain of evening work might be lessoned, llmt was surely not an unreasonable or an undemocratic proposal.