THE EPIDEMIC AND THE UNIVERSITY

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 125, 20 February 1919, Page 4

THE EPIDEMIC AND THE UNIVERSITY

MR. RUSSELL REPLIES TO THE

CHANCELLOR

THE DEFERRED EXAMINATIONS

The postponement of the University examinations during the influenza epidemic was the subject of a statement made yesterday by the Minister of Internal Affairs (Hon. Ct. W. Russell). The Minister replies to statements made by the Chancellor of the University (Sir Robert Stout) at the meeting of the University Senate in Chnstcluircli, on Tuesday. , . ~ "A week before the opening of the University examinations," said Jlr. Russell, "I forwarded to the Minister of Education, on the suggestion of tiie Act-ing-Chief Health Officer, a proposal that certain examinations should be postponed. I am not able to say without referring to the records whether this specially referred to University examinations or not. It was surprise that I learned later that the University exnminntions were being The desirability of students conserving their powers of resistance to uw epidemic and avoiding the confinement incidental to examinations was a:)p-irent. lhe Minister of 'Education replied to me that the matter would be considered, ami subsequently ho informed me that there was ; a., difference of opinion as to whether i the examination should be postponed. Thev therefore proceeded. . "During th<> week the sxanunatwns were beiis held I made careful inouiries, i and ascertained that, at Auckland only BO candidates had nresenteil tl'cmselves out. of .M who had entered, wline in Wellington several candidates had to leave the examination room i through breakir.? down on account of influenza. On the Friday roornins T endeavoured to reae.li Sir Robert' Stout, Chancellor of the University, in order to inform hun of the action I proposal to take. I rang un his house' anil his office, and exhausted every means of reaching nun, nut failed. I vi«h?d to consult him upon' the matter. } therefore took the responsibility of instructing that he examinations should not bo proceeded witn, nnd ordered that the necessary messages should be sent to nil health officers throughout the Dominion. That was done the same morning. "I took this action after careful consideration, bccaus.e it appeared to me that it was not fair to students who had been prevented from attendiug that the examinations should proceed during the epidemic, or fair to students who had broke;, down during the examination'' In all these cases it would have meant the. loss of an entire year s work to the students. The step that taken in practically the examinations forced through bv the University authorities has compelled them to-mate other provision under the authority eiven bv the Parliament last session. Section 35 of the War Legislation and Statute Amendment Act of law session makes provision for avoiding undue hardship to students bv reason of the interruption of their studies or examinations through the epidemic. It gives power to the Senate to temporarily suspend or modify anv of its statutes or regulations, and to appoint such examiners as may be required. This made possible the wise substitutionary method that has been provided by the Seriate. My only regret is that at a time when the students required, to conserve every ounce of their resisting forces many of' them were comnelled bv a decree of the Senate and bv the unwillingness of the Senate executive to postpone the examinations, to go through so trying an ordeal.