THE UNIVERSITY

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2980, 18 January 1917, Page 5

THE UNIVERSITY

ANNUAL MEETING OF THE SENATE

CHANCELLOR'S ADDRESS

POST-WAR RESEARCH WORK

.By Telegraph—Press Association. ■ Auckland, January 17. In Ilia annual address to tfio University Senate, the Chancellor (Sir Robert Stout) said thut the students (had necessarily been affected by the (war, and it was surprising that tho lectures had been so well attended. Discussing the entrance examinations, he Isaid: "We cannot delegate to another ihody.the funotion cast upon the University by the statute. -Jf tho University is not to undertako tho examining of those who desire to become its Students it seems better to me that the [University should be abolished." With, reference to leaving certificates ho Said: "Our University does notrequii'o more than five subjects. There is, however, a danger of commencing specialisation in learning too early. I -think such specialisation should be discouraged." The Chancellor uttered a warning as \o the effect of the financial stringency arising from the war on education expenditure. He said it was their duty to maintain the present system with all its vigour and efficiency, and to see ■that there was no waste of resources. (Another matter under this Head was overlapping. Were not the technical schools performingtheprimary schools' work? Were secondary schools performing university work? This was a matter requiring consideration by tho Senate. ,

Science Research Work. The Chancellor dealt ab 6ome length ftvit-h the possibilities of developing scientific research and education in the Dominion. He stated that throughout •the Empire the'need for promotion iof further scientific education hod been discussed, and cmghasised in New Zealand. "There have even been publio meetings to consider tho need of scientific research work bang started," he said.. "Some people seem to : bo unaware that the Government has several scientific Departments under its control. "There is in Wellington a largo Government chemical laboratory, and also, a biological., laboratory; there is a Geological Survey Department, and much • scientific work is done in the Agricultural and Mining [Departments. If we leave out the cost of tho Dominion Museum, I suppose I am not overstating the amount expended on scientific work by various Departments when I say that it comes to at least £10,000 a, year. . In 1887. a proposal was made in ParliamenS"that the scientific work of various Government Departments should be put under one control, and utilised for research purposes. /The suggestion ' was that there should he started in Wellington a University College with special development in science. Unfortunately the Bill creating this new institution was Sdefeatbd in the Legislative Council.

Why Not 7 "It is now suggested that there Should he a now institution called ''The Science Research Institute.'- Is it too late to suggest that the old proposal of 1887 should bo reconsidered? Could not tho various scientific Departments of the Government bo united with one of our University colleges? Possibly it may be necessary, tho administration of Government being located in Wellington, to join them to the Victoria University College. Ido hot see why this could not he done, and a scientific Department created that could perform ■ general research work without any additional cost to the State. For example, we have at present a very large and_ valuable chemical laboratory in Wellington l belonging to the Government. fiioharge of it is an able and skilled director,' and he has, I understand, able assistiants. Why could he not be made Professor of Chemical Research in connection with the University College? This would not interfere with the present Professor of Chemistry in the University. College, as ho would have tho ordinary teaching of the students to Supervise. Again, the Geological Staff could do all the geology required of tho College, and there could be a Professor of Research in Biology dealing with research that would be useful to our (agricultural, horticultural, and pastoral industries. It might be provided that no more money should be spent than is spent now on science, and I believe new work could be done without •any additional expenditure. Perhaps baoteriogical work should' bo undertaken mainly at a medical school. In order to - facilitate this union of a Scientific Research Institute, with tho Victoria College, alterations might have to ho made in its government. There would probably have to he appointed a principal or president, so that the administration of the college might be Continuous and efficient. lam of opinion that this is tho best and the cheapest way to get an effective Scientific (Research Institute started in New Zealand. It is not suggested that them should not bo research work carried on at other affiliated institutions as •well.

Tho Curriculum. "During the past year considerable discussion has been carried on in New •Zealand as well as in our Homeland on the question of what subjects should he taught in our universities. University education should, when \t encourages the highest form of specialisation, take care that its graduates havo general culture. This is why I have never favoured the lessening of the number of subjects requisite for the \ordinary B.A. or B.Sc. degrees by allowing what is termed 'repeat subjects. _ University colleges are not institutions merely for the development of specialists. They are institutions for the adaptation of peoplo to social life. I believe a graduate ought to know something of science, that is, of the world, and something of its past history. Ho should also know something of tho literature of his nation, and something of tho history of tho race. I deeply regret that in our •'o«tjinio;i, with all its marvellous resources and its unapproachablo climate for people of the temperate 7,ohc, so few have attempted to becorao oxperts in our foundation industries—our agricultural and pastoral pursuits. What a waste from want of knowledge havo wo not seen in our treatment of forests j-.nd of soils? We have lost untold millions of money. Why should the highest, education bo denied for our industries? We aro wasting our time in 'considering whether a B.A. degree should be given with or without Latin, otc. We cannot do without literature, and no one should get a degree in our university unless he has not only a knowledge of his own language, but also tho ability to uso. it. What wn must aim ,?t, • in my opinion, is an all-round education for our students. No student ' should have a degree in the university unless ho knows something of tho humanities and also something of scienco.

Moro Languages—Esperanto? "In this connection wo will have to consider whether'wo should not extend the number of languages that may qualify for a degree. At present tlio only open for selection, aro Latin, Greek, Hebrew, French, and

German. We have had no students as yet offering to take any other modern lauguago than French and German. I think wa should add Spanish, Italian, and Russian. 80 far ns Germany is concerned it cannot bo said that modern German literature is of high claBS, though there are in the German language many masterpieces of literature. We should direct our young New Zealanders to other modern languages. Perhaps tho day may not be bo distant as it at present appears when one language will be used for all commercial dealings, just as Latin was onco tho language of all learned, and B'rench was, and is now, mainly used for diplomatic correspondenco between nations. Wo have such a language m Esperanto, find the suggestion has been made that it should be tho language of commerce If tliis suggestion were adopted, commercial correspondence • would become easy and our commercial men would not hare to acquire several modern languages, and, further, ono step forward r/onld have 6eeu taken in promoting the brotherhood of men." After tho adoption of tho report the Senate went into committee business during tho afternoon.