UNIVERSITY SENATE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 131, 27 February 1919, Page 6

UNIVERSITY SENATE

DEGREE SUBJECTS

THE MACMILLAN BROWN MEMORIAL PRIZE

By Telegraph—Press Association Christchurch, February 26. At the University feato to-day the MaeMillan Brown memorial prize for 1918 was awarded to Gordon I' , . Samulers of Victoria College, Wellington, Wilfred J. Lester, of Yiotoria College, being proximi accessity. The degree of D.Sc. n-as conferred on Mrs. L. S. Jennings, of Christchurch for her thesis phormium tenax (New- Zealand flax). The Arts and Commerce Committee reported that it had no recommendation to make- in regard.to the prescription for B.A. of Russian, Spanish, and Italian. The ■ committee recommended that the registrar should advise the examiners in England that although there had been a recasting of the B.A. and B.Sc. degrees thero was to bo no lowering of the standard required at the pass grade for 1920. The committee yeconif.'iended the Senate to agree (k> the prescriptions submitted to it for Latin, pass, advanced, and honours; Greek, pass, advanced, and honours; economics, pass; history, ipass; agriculture and mathematics, for JJ.Coin., ■and grogiraphy, for B.A. pass, with certain minor amendments. The committee also recommended tho Senate "to redraft the statute .for the degree of Doctor of Literature, and to constitute the 'convenors of the Arts and Commerce I Committee as a committee , with _ power !to add to their number to revise the LittD. and D.Sc. statutes. The report was adopted. Mr. IT. I) , , von Haast moved:— That the question of tho acceptance of a leaving certificate in certain case.? in lieu of the matriculation examination bo referred to Ihe Auckland Kecess Committee for investigation, and that that tee inquire into the operation of the leaving certificate! system where it is in force in Britain, Canada, Australia, and the United States of America; the schools in Now Zealand from which such leaving certificate might be adopted, and subject to what safeguards as to the course of study pursued for a. certain number of years, and the inspection by n Government inspectorj to ascertain the views of the Secondary Schools Conference, and if deemed advisable submit for consideration of the Board of Studies and tho Senate a scheme for the acceptance, of such leaving certificates." The motio'a was carried.

Professor 'Segar moved:—"That tho Auckland University College be recognised, as a school of architecture." The motion was referred to the Engineering nnd Architecture Committee to ascertain whether'the conditions necessary for the recognition of the proposed school had been complied with.

Some discussion took place on the question of the university recognition of the various agricultural training colleges in the Dominion.

Dr. Anderson drew attention to the fact that in order to take a degree in agriculture a student had to produce evidence of having taken a practical course for two years at a recognised agricultural college. At present Lincoln Col-' lege was the only institution recognised by tho university, consequently many students were debarred from taking a degree in agriculture. Hβ considered the time had come when the Senate should take into 'consideration the, advisableness of recognising one of the other experimental farms in the Dominion.' The matter was referred to the April meeting of the Senate. The Senate, after discussing the matter fully, agreed to the recommendation of the Board of Studies that the taping of terms should bo required in all sub-jects-for the degree of Bachelor nt Laws. The Senate awarded the degree of Doctor of Literature to the llev. •W. G. Ivans, M.A., of Christchurch, for his research work on the Melanesia!! Lan-

guages. v Regarding the suggestion of live Returned Soldiers' Association jthat the privilege of entry for university examinations on payment of half fees granted to wounded soldiers should lie extended to sick soldiers, the Finance Committee reported that while in sympathy with the suggestion, it desired to call attention to the difficulty of decision in such casos and to the strain on the finances of the university that might result, from such an extension. The Senate discussI ed . the matter at considerable length, I and though most of the speakers were i sympathetic they, expressed *the opinion ! that the Government should help in the i matter. It was decided to refer the matjter back lo the Wellington Recess Com- ! mittee to confer, with the Government ! and the Returned Soldiers'. Association ■as to what could be done'in the cireunij stances.

It was decided that a travelling Scholarship in Arts be granted this year. It was resolved that the state of the university funds did not warrant the institution of a travelling Scholarship in Law,, or of an additional Scholarship in Law. It was decided to apply to the Government for an additional grant to cover, the extra expense occasioned to the NewZealand University by the influenza epidemic consequent on the rearrangement of the examinations. An approximate estimate of the amount was ,£450.