THE UNIVERSITY.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1961, 19 January 1914, Page 6

THE UNIVERSITY.

SENATE IN ANNUAL SESSION,

CHANCELLOR'S ADDRESS,

THE REFORM MOVEMENT. "

EXTERNAL EXAMINATIONS. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) Dunedln, January 17. Tlie forty-fourth annual session of tho Senate of the University of New Zealand opened at tho Qtago University this morning. Tlio members present ■wore: Tho Chancellor (Sir Robert Stout, Chief Justice), Professors J. B. Brown and T. A. Hunter (Wellington), Professor H. W. Segar (Auokland), Professors C. Chilton, J.. Right, and J. MacMiilan Brown (Canterbury), Professors W. Howitson, J. H. Scott, and P. Marshall (Otago), tho Revs. A. Cameron (Otago), nnd W. A. Evans (Wellington), Messrs. H. F. Von Haast (Wellington), H. A. Gordon (Auckland), and G. Hogben (Inspector-General). Tho Registrar (Mr. Barclay Hector) also attended. 'In his annual address Sir Robert Stout said: "I have the honour to report that since tho last meeting of the Senate there have been tho following changes in the rank of Fellows: Professor Benham, D.Sc, F.R.S., of Otago University, has resigned, and Professor J. H. Scott, M.D., has been elected in his place; Professor V. D. Brown, M.A., j3.Sc, of Auckland University College, has resigned, and Professor Segar, 'M.A., has been elected in his place. ■Professor Shand, M.A., LL.D., C.M.G., who was ono of the three first profesBors of Otago University, and began his duties in July, 1871, has retired, i He has been a Follow of the University j since 1877, and is still with us. Wβ ; liope that wo may still have his services 'in tho Senate for many years to come. Members of the Senate have no doubt heartily congratulated' him on tho repent honour conferred on him by His fklajesty. Another Professor of tho Otago University (tho Rov. Dr. Salinond) has also given up his duties as 'Professor of Mental and Moral Science. He has been a Professor of tho Otago University" f0r..28 years, and was form-, erly. one of the professors of. the Otago Theological College; he also will not bo forgotten, for his work's sake, and for the great success' that has attended his professoriate., "Two Professors of tho 'Auckland University College have retired, Professor 1 ,, . •D. Brown and Professor Thomas. Both have, been Professors for 80 years, since the founding of tho University College. Professor Brown held the two Chairs of'.'Chemistry and Physics, and 'Professor Thomas was Professor of Biulogy and Geology. For tho positions they held four professors have now been appointed. Professor Brown has at present gone to England, but it is likely that lie will return to New Zealand hnd spend his well-earned leisure from professorial work in our Dominion. Professor Thomas is likely to reside in Now Zealand. Both these professors have ■been Fellows of our University —Professor Brown for thirty years, and Professor Thomas for' five years. They have performed great services, not only for the Auckland University College, but also for University education throughout the Dominion, and wo hope that they will still bo found to help us in all that pertains to the advancement of higher education." REFORM OF THE UNIVERSITY. ■ CONSTITUTIONAL QUESTIONS. 'Continuing his address, the Chancelfor said: "The Senate at Its last session had appointed a committeo to consider the constitution of the University Committee, and had held several meetings, and submitted to the councils of tbe four affiliated institutions, to .the professorial boards, and to tho graduates three schemes for a new constitution. Replies and suggestions wore received, and after discussion the committeo recommended tho creation of a new body to assist in the management of University affairs. Wo have, as members of tho Senate aro aware, no less than fourteen bodies engaged in managing University education in our small Dominion. Wo have His Excel-; lency the Governor in council as visitor, and no statute passed by the Senate can havo any operation unless it is approved of His Excellency and his Ministers. His Excellency and Ministers liave also the appointment of four Follows of tho Senate. We havo a Senate of twenty-four Fellows. Then there is a council for each of tho affiliated institutions, and there are 64 members of these councils. Tho professorial clement is represented by four professorial boards, and theso boards havo 97 members. There are four graduates' associations, one belonging to each college. Some members aro on more than one of the managing bodies. The councils, boards, and graduates elect. tlio other twenty Follows. 'of. : the Senate. The practice of tho Senate has hitherto been to consult the professors of the subjects if any change was deemed necessary in their programme of subjects. The views of the professorial boards have also from time to time been asked on various University questions. The committee proposes that a.new body, ■ termed a Board of Studies, 'shall bo appointed. It is suggested that it shall consist of sixteen members, four appointed by each professorial board. Tho members are to hold office for four years. It was thought by the committee that such a chango in the constitution of tho University should be mado by Parliament. A Bill has been prepared, and will be submitted to the Senate. The committee is to meet today to frame its final report if possible. Cot Rid of Non-Essentials, r "I do not desire to anticipate tho discussion that such a proposal may evoke, fcut I feel bound to say that I doubt if liny advantage will accrue, to our Uni-j-iTsity by tho founding of this additional governing body. In my opinion, lio change in any of our programmes of titudies for students desiring degrees, ftiiplomas, or certificates should be mado ■j.'ithout consulting the teachers of tho (Subjects mentioned in any programme /if studies proposed to bo changed, and these teachers would be more likely to be able to advise the Senate regarding tho proposed change".'tlid'ri''a board of studies. The cost"'of tho additional University body will not bo negligible, and we need funds for the teaching of many subjects not provided for in our colleges. Tho outlay on education in New Zealand has, considering our population, reached a high figure, and, in my opinion,.wo should try to economise by sotting rid of non-essentials. "The last session of Parliament saw Bime of our professors appealing to our legislature for interference with the fiinnagement of our University institutions. This.is the second occasion on which some professors of our affiliated institutions have appealed to the Legislature. Tho petitions were referred to a Committee of the House of Representatives, which spent much time in hearing complaints and taking evidence. Tho report of the committeo does not seem to havo been satisfactory to three of tho professors, for they stated in an address to the members, of tho House of Representatives the following:—'While everyone will admit that tho committeo was competent to deal with the question referred to it by the House, no one will deny that a body better equipped than members of the Educational Committee for the work thoy have actually undertaken could easily havo been found^-

Objects of a University. "These professors ought to hart known that all petitions are referred to a committeo, and they could have known tlio names of tho committcc beforo the petitions were presented. They desired a Royal Commission to bo appointed to deal with University education. If appointed, and if a thorough overhaul of our University education is necessary, I approhend tho commission ivould have had to examine into and consider the )vay in which every teacher is performing his or her duties. Tho form of government is not the main thing in a University; its main functions aro two — teach' and to certify to knowledge attained; may I say tho first is tho more important? I mention tlio bringing of our University before Parliament for a special reason. Beforo the Education Committeo tho University had no representative. The petitioners were allowed to be present, to call evidence, and to examine and cross-examine witnesses. Tho University did not know what evidence was given till the evidence was published with tho report. Charges were made, and there was no opportunity afforded to the University to answer them. I was invited t-o give evidence, and I attended, but I did not know what ovidence had been given, and after I was examined many witnesses were called. It is only just and fair to every State institution that, if complaints aro mado.by petitioners beforo a Parliamentary Committee, someone should be called on to represent that institution. If there is to bo further inquiry before a Committee of Parliament I hope tlio University will bo afforded an opportunity of being represented at such inquiry. A Matter for Parliament. "I may add that tho constitution of tlio governing bodies varies. No two aro alike. In our Senate the Government of tho Dominion is represented by four members, and the affiliated institutions by eight mombers, tho Professorial Boards by four members, and tlie graduates by oight members. I do not know if any fairer arrangement bould bp made. Tho constitutions of the councils of the affiliated institutions are diverse. It is difficult to say that one is any better than any other. An effort, more or less successful, has been made to havo on theso councils representatives of Education Boards, of touchers of primary schools, of local bodies, and of professors, and it would be interesting to know wherein these constitutions are defective. At all events, it is a matter for Parliament to settle, and it does not seem to me. that, regarding tho constitution of the governing bodies of our University institutions, Parliament requires any more information than can be got by .comparing the constitutions of various University governing bodies in tho world, and 1 that information can be got from books in the General Assembly Library. If our Parliament is competent to pass our general laws, it is surely able to deal with the comparatively unimportant question of the constitution of tho governing bodies of the higher education." External Examinations. The Chancellor then dealt at length with the subject of external examinations. It appeared to him, ho said, that there was much difference of opinion amongst graduates of the oldest English Universities as to what took place regarding the appointment of examiners that he thought it right to communicate with the registries of Oxford and Cambridge on the subject. In reply to a number of questions, he had received from Oxford information that professors, tutors, and lecturers examined in all the sclhools of the University, if they were selected by the Nominating Committees and appointed by Convocation. ' "Whether they havo been actually. engaged in tho teaching .of tho subjects of .the. examination, or, not," said the Chancellor, "only a comparatively small proportion of tho staff examine in eadi year. No examiner examines viva voce any candidate who belongs to any college or hall in which he is tutor or in which he has been tutor during tho two years preceding, or who has been his private pupil within the two years preceding." In practice, an examiner took no part in the discussion, upon a candidate who belonged to his college, or who had been his pupil. As a general rulo, an examiner was appointed to hold office for three successive examinations; coaches or private tutors were very rarely appointed to examine. It would bo seen, said the Chancellor, how careful Oxford University was not only to obtain able and impartial examiners, .but to so regulate tlio mode of examination that it could never bo suggested that a candidate for honours or degrees had been favoured by his teacher. He had good reason in believing that the practice at tho Cambridge University was very similar to that of tho University of Oxford. Fostering Agriculture. "In my last address," continued, tho Chancellor, turning to other guest-ions, "I referred to the~~ generous gift by Sir John Logan Campbell to tho Auckland University Oollego, to promote tho teaching of agriculture. Much is boing done to oncourago tho study of agriculture in some of the technical colleges, and in 6omo of our primary schools; but all that has been done is not all that is required to bo done. I hope that at no distant date there will bo'professors of agriculture in all our affiliated institutions. With tho cstablislunent of such Chairs, tho country may bo able to encourage, by the founding of agricultural scholarships, studies that aro so necessary for the promotion and. perfection of our main industry, agriculture. Our young people ought to realise that there is in Juture as great a career possible in agriculture as in any of the professions.' Preliminary Business. It was decided to defer till Monday morning consideration of matters in the Chancellor's report. The Revs. W. A. Evans and A. Cameron, Professors J. MacMiilan Brown and Hunter, and Mr. Von Haast were appointed a business committee. Professor Scott, acting for the Hon. Dr. W. E. Collins (Wellington), gave notico to move on Tuesday that tho Senate recommend that facilities be given to medical students, who are in their fifth year, to carry on their studies at any of tho four principal hospitals in tho Dominion. The Rev. A. Cameron gavo notice to move, on Tuesday, that a- special examination he held annually, m Marcn, for those who have obtained a partial pass in tho matriculation examination. Mr. Von Haast gavo notico to movo that some svstom of of tho New Zealand' law examination is advisable, and that the matter bo referred to the Law Committeo to framo such a. system for consideration by Senate. Professor Segar gavo notice to move, "That Section 1 of Chapter VIII, University Terms,' bo reworded so as to make'its meaning correspond more definitely to tho practice of tho University." .. . Mr. Von Haast gave notice to move, "Tliat henceforth, until the Senate decides to the contrary, tho degrees bo oonferred at a. meeting of the University Senate." 1 SOON MY FORMER SELF. "About 8 years ago I had brass poisoning which caused liver trouble," writes Sir. W. A. Peer., Annat, N. 7,. "I could not sleep or oat, and wasted to a shadow. After taking Chamberlain's Tablets for a short timo my health was greatly improved, and I have had no return of mv trouble. lam now in good health, and reckon I owe it to Chamberlain's Tablets." —Advt. Messrs. Levin and C 0... Ltd., have been instructed by Mr. W.'H. Cruictehnnks. "Bowlnnds," Bideford, Masterton, to sell the wholo of his stock on Monday, January 26, commoncine at 13 noon. Woods' Great Peppermint Cure For Cojslu miil Colda It, W.<