UNIVERSITY SENATE.

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2685, 3 February 1916, Page 9

UNIVERSITY SENATE.

YESTERDAY'S PROCEEDINGS STUDY OF LATIN.DISCUSSED AGAIN. The Senate of the University of New Zealand resumed its sittings yesterday, the Chancellor, Sir Robert Stout, presiding. Mr. H. P. Von Haast was appointed treasurer.

Professor Kirk Moved that n student should not bo admitted to the B.A. degree unless he had either at the matriculation examination, or later, passed an examination in Latin at a standard not lower than that o< matriculation. He considered that the resolution which was adopted by the Senate on Monday would have the effect of virtually abolishing the study of Latin in the secondary schools. The Chancellor pointed out tliat tho Senate had already decided that Latin was not to be compulsojry for the'l!. A. degree, and that the student could keep his terms without having passed in Latin. After some further discussion tho Chancellor ruled that the motion was oiit of order under standing order 19. Dr. P. Marshall moved that the resolutions passed by the Senate during the session which abolished Latin as a compulsory subject and made one science subject compulsory for the B.A. degree be referred to tho N Board of Studies for consideration and report. Professor Hunter seconded the motion. Tho Chancellor said probably the better plan to adopt would be to refer the whole question of tho requirements of the B.A. degree for consideration. ■ Dr. M'Dowell said that if they were to make Latin no longer compulsory for the B.A. degree, it was a question whether they should not make Latin compulsory for matriculation. The Rev. Mr. Cameron moved as an amendment that tlie motion of tho Senate this session, with regard to compulsory Latin, do not take effect this year, and that the whole question of the requirements of the B.A. degree, together with the resolutions passed by the Senate, with reference to tho B.A. degree, bo referred to the Board of Studies. ; The amendment moved by Mr. Cameron was agreed to. On the motion of Professor Sight, it was agreed that the secondary schools' conference be asked for its opinion as to tho effect of making Latin an optional subject for matriculation in arts and for the B.A. degree. It was decided, oil the motion of Professor Malcolm, to adopt a recommendation by the Medical Committee (which had been postponed from fclio previous day) that the medical intermediate examinations be held iu tho first week of October, and tho special intermediate examination early in March. On the recommendation of tho Medical Committee, the medical travelling scholarship for 1916 was awarded to Mary Francesca Compere Dowling. On the motion of Professor Eight, a recommendation of tho Entrance Exam-' illations Committee was adopted: That the question of tho over-prcssuro in girls' schools, and more particularly of the influence of the university entrance examinations on the education of girls ho referred to tho Jhinedin Kccess Committee, with instructions to consult the Secondary Schools Conference (meeting in May) and the Board of Studios, and to report to the next annual meeting of tho Senate. Tho committee, which had inquired into the matter, he said, liad found vory little evidence of overpressure in respect of boys' schools, but that there was room for further investigation in regard to girls' schools. The Degree and Commerce Committee reported that complaints had boon received of examiners setting questions outside the syllabus, and recommended that examiners be asked to take care to keep questions within the syllabus. • This recommendation was agreed to on the motion of Professor Segar, as ivas also a further recommendation that the general question of instructions to examiners referred to the Canterbury Recess Committee to report. Professor Segar moved that tho fees of wounded soldiers sitting for any of tho accountancy professional examinations be reduced to one-half of the normal. It was explained that the New Zealand Society of Accountants was defraying tho other portion of the foes. • Mr. Cameron proposed that tho concession should have a general application to university examinations, A motion to refer the matter to. the Finance Committee was lost, and tho proposal made by Mr. Cameron was carried. The Science and Agriculture Committee recommended: "That the statute 'Course in Agriculture' be amended by substituting the words 'farm engineering' for 'mechanics, as applied to agriculture,' and bv deleting clause VII, paragraph 12 (Calendar, p. 260), and substituting the following:—Farm Engineering: Applications of the principle of the lever, the inclined plane, the wedge and the screw, screw-presses, lifting-jacks, • the wheel and axle, spur gearing. The elementary principles of hydraulics and pneumatics including tho use of simple formulae for the determination of flow in pipes and channels. The capacity and application of wind-mills, waterwheels, turbines, and pumps. The elementary theory of the strength of henms, tho design of simple culverts, bridges, roofs, and farm buildings. The mechanics and practical details of farm implements, the high pressure non-con-densing steam engine and boiler. Tho elsmentary theory and practical details of tho internal combustion engine.

"That the National Research Scholarships bo not restricted te science subjects and that steps be taken to amend the University Amendment Act, 1914, accordingly. "That after the termination of the w-ar the value of r. National Research Scholarship be raised to ;Gl6'o per annum." ,

The recommendations were and the Senate adjourned till to-day.