VICTORIA COLLEGE AND COMMERCIAL EDUCATION

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 149, 19 March 1921, Page 9

VICTORIA COLLEGE AND COMMERCIAL EDUCATION

Sir.—lt would appear that cortain tomarks made by mo at the annual meeting of the Wellington Accountants’ Students’ Society in reference to the lack of provision for tuition in accounting at Victoria College, have proved nnpalatnlilfi’' to the council of that college, and in your issue of the lt6h instant appeals a report submitted to the college council dealing with the matter, with a nummary of tho discussion which took place thereon. The report in question is unfortunately misleading in two respects, firstly in regard io reasons for the decrease tn students subsequent to 1913, and, secondly, in the statement that the Society of Accountants withdrew its subsidy in 1917. It is certainly a fact that 1913 was a phenomenal year, owing to the waiving of the entrance examination tn that year, but the University records disclose that despite the war period, the entries for the examinations in 1910, 1J1> ( and 1917 exceeded in each year 300, and in 1916 reached the total of 595 throughout New Zealand, over one-third being Wellington candidates. The statement in the reixirt that "in 1917 the New Zealand Society of Accountants withdrew its subsidy” is also quite incorrect. Ihe society in 1912 offered the sum of .LLiil per annum (subject to Government s’”- 4 " sidy of £ for £) for a period of five years; this with the object of establishing the classes and placing them on a good footing. At the conclusion of the five years the society further considered the position, and agreed to offer Ito per annum for a further three years, an offer which Victoria College council refused, and at the same time notified that it was discontinuing the classes. The three other colleges at Auckland, Christchurch,'and Dunedin promptly accepted the new offer, and instead ot discontinuing the classes, set about extending the course, with the result that the commerce classes are thoroughly successful. Having pointed out the inaccuracies referred to, I just wish to. make tho following comments on the position: 1. It is clearly evident, that the commercial classes at Victoria College it ere a failure, and that the classes in the three other centres have proved most successful. . 2. The commerce examinations of tne University of New Zealand are now the largest conducted by that University, as tho following figures disclose, (the figures B.A. and law professional being stated for comparison):— 1918. 1919. 1920. Total candidates .... 1501 2413 2927 For B.A. Degree 233 450 59l For LL.B, and Law Professional 251 559 866 For Commerce and Accountancy 425 457 10'4 3. The candidates sitting for commerce and accountancy at the four chief centres during tho past four years is as under: 1917. 1918. 1919. 1920. Wellington 77 77 169 308' Auckland 142 123 112 252 Christchurch 56 88 72 180, Dunedin 26 41 50 39 and it is interesting to note that the entry for the law. examinations in Weilirfgton in 1920 were 166, or 14-2 Iww wan for accountancy. 4. The commercial classes in Dunedin actually disclosed a profit on last year’s working, while the classes at both Auckland and Christchurch were practically paying their way. 5. That the Now Zealand Society of Accountants has already contributed .£3500 towards these classes, which with the Government subsidy makes a total of .£7OOO. The society has shown every evidence of desiring to still further assist such colleges as aro prepared to do taeir' share in tho interests of commercial education. 6. That tho ’trend of commercial education in London, Birmingham, and other large centres, and the establishment of chairs of commerce at the universities at these places, points to tho necessity for such a course being followed.

7. That despite the fact that there are more commerce students in Wellington, and that Wellington is recognised ns the commercial centre of Hie Dominion, and, further, that the accountancy examina'tions are the largest and most popular of the University of New Zealand, yet Victoria College council candidly admits that it made a failure of its classes in flic past, and for that reason has decided that students should go elsewhere for the knowledge which they are called upon to acquire. I desire to say in conclusion that I do not consider it necessary to reply to the personal criticism of Mr. Forsyth, a member of the Victoria College council, further than to agree with him that I knew all the facts of the case, and perhaps, after perusing these same facts as set out above, he will do something to promote an interest on the part of the college council in the commercial educibtiori of, the young men. of the Empire City. I again state, without any hesitation, that it is a disgrace to the Empire City that the important subject of commercial education, is neglected by Victoria College, and that it is not to the credit of the council of that college that such is the case. —I am, etc., ERNEST W. HUNT. Wellington, March 18, 1921.