UNIVERSITY REFORM.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1710, 29 March 1913, Page 6

UNIVERSITY REFORM.

OPINION OF THE GRADUATES' association; "THE MOST PRACTICAL WAY." The eighth annual meeting of the Victoria College Gradutes' Association was hold last evening, Mr. H. M. Ostler presiding. Thu annual report presented by tliu coiuuiitleo read as follows:— 'tlio.number of muiubers is steadily increasing, and is now liu. in bepteuiber 1.110 association gave a uinnor in nouour in tne grauuace members 01 tne present Jlinistry. 'ine Hons. 11. 1). iieii, jas. Allen, tv. It. Hemes, and Dr. j-oinaie wero present. 'J'liere was a representative gatnermg of graduates 01 »iciona College, and many otner Universities, and tuo lunction was- a successful one. "Mr. J. U. H'. Ait Ken, 0110 of the Brauuates' representatives on me College council, retired last April by elfiuxion ot time, but was re-elected unopposed. Air. A linen has taken a deep interest in tne wellaro ot Victoria College, and has been a consistent and strenuous advocate lor amendments to the College Act calculated to give the prolessors a greater share in its government. In May, l'Jl2, Mr. .Louis Cohen, representative on the Senate of the Graduates of Victoria College district retired by rotation, and oliered nimselt lor re-election. \'our committee,' however, in obedience to-ythe mandate it received from tlie last annual meeting, desired to put forward a candidate in favour ol radical reforms in tne system of U utversity education in i\ew Zealand, and, alter consultation with the college prolessors, prevailed on Professor Hunter to offer himself' for election. After a vigorous campaign, in which, your committee took an-active part, enough proxies were secured by the president to render Professor Hunter's 'election assured, ana he was elected.

"The seat of Mr. A. E. Meek, one of j the graduates' representatives on the Co.' lege Council, becomes vacant next April ' by effluxion of time. There will bo no election of a graduates' representative on tiie Senate this year. "With the exception of the election of Professor Hunter' as a member of the University Senate, the cause of University reform has not made any remarkable advance during the last financial year; indeed, it has -apparently received a set-back; for, after'agreeing, last year with, the principle that the . professors should prescribe the course of studies for degrees, setting up an annual conference of professors for this purpose,' this year the Senate not only refused point blank to accept the expert advice of the conference of professors held in Wellington, but clearly indicated that it did not propose to toilow tho advice of experts by-rescinding its previous resolution, and abolishing the annual professorial conference. But the ,Senate itself has recog-, nised that the system of University education in force in New Zealand is unsatisfactory, for at its last meeting it appointed a committee to consider the best means of bringing about reforms, aiid tho outlook.for reform is really more hopeful to-day than it has ever. been. The constitution of the New Zealand University .was modelled'on that of the University of London, which has been unsparingly condemned by modern educationists, and has- in consequence been lately remodelled. ■ If it required remodelling, so' also dbes the constitution of our University, and your committee is convinced that the most practical way in which that reform can be accomplished is by filling every-vacancy on the Senate and councils as far as possible by advocates of .reform. ' ' | "This year's, accounts show a credit i balance of £2 10s. id," Officers wero elected as follow for the. ensuing year:—President, Mr. S. Eichelbaiini, LL.B.; committee, Miss. Jenkins, M.A., Miss Watson, M.A., Mr. HallJones, LL.B., and Mr. Nicholls, LL.B.; secretary,-Mr. C.' J. Cooke, 8.A.; treasurer, Miss Pcmberton, 8.A.; auditor, Mr. G. Dixon. -