UNIVERSITY REFORM.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1869, 1 October 1913, Page 6

UNIVERSITY REFORM.

The report of tho Education Committee of the House of Representatives on University Education, which made its appearance yesterday, contains some very important recommendations, though tho Committee do not support the request which has been made for the appointment of a Boyal Commission to inquire into the question of reform in University administration and education in New Zealand. The Committee, however, recognise the need of reform in several directions. In the first place, they suggest that legislation should bo introduced to alter the constitution of the Senate so as to make it consist mainly of members elected from the councils of the affiliated colleges. At present the Senate consists of twenty-four members, who are elected as follow: —Four by the Governor-in-Council, eight by . the governing bodies of the four , affiliated institutions (two by each), four (one each) by the Professorial Boards, and eight (two each) by tho four district Courts of Convocation, consisting of tho graduates belonging to, the several University districts. It is further suggested that a body representative of the Professorial Boards should be set up, which would have advisory powers in all academic matters. The leaders of the reform movement contend that the teaching staff does not at present have sufficient control of the academic side of the administration of the University, and this proposal has doubtless been framed with the object of meeting this objection. As regards the strengthening of the various faculties of the affiliated colleges, including grants for specialisation in Victoria College and Auckland College, the better equipment of libraries, and the prosecution of research the Committee adopt the recommendations made by the Inspector-Gene-ral of Schools in his report in 1912 on tho University Colleges of New Zealand. In the report referred to it is pointed out that'the proportion of the revenue from the National Endowments that is devoted to purposes of education amounts at present to £■15,000 per annum, and it is suggested that one-quarter or even onethird (at present £11,500 or £15,000) should_ be set aside for University education. Out of this the InspectorGeneral of_ Schools proposes that £2500 be given to each of the four colleges —£10,000 in all —and that the remainder should bo paid to the Univorsity of New Zealand in trust for the following purposes, as might be required from time to time, namely:—(a) To meet, if necessary, in whole, or in part, the cost of staffing of any new faculties, or chairs, or lectureships, that might be established in any of the colleges with the approval of the Senate, (b) To meet the cost of buildings required in consequence of the establishment of such new faculties or chairs, or in consequence of the increase of students either by grants or by loans repayable over a term of years, (c) For grants in aid of college libraries. The House will later on'have an opportunity of discussing the Education Committee's : report, and it is to be hoped that a matter of such great importance will be considered entirely on its merits. Such questions ought to be lifted out of the arena of party conflict.