The Evening Star. MONDAY, AUGUST 3, 1874

Evening Star, Issue 3571, 3 August 1874, Page 2

The Evening Star. MONDAY, AUGUST 3, 1874

Mr Yogel’s University Bill is one that may produce good or bad results, according to the mode in ■which it is worked. It cannot be objected to this Bill that its aim and object are not definitely stated. The University is explicitly declared to be established not for the purpose of teaching, but for the purpose of examining students, and of giving credit and honors to those who may be found to deserve them. The teaching institutions that have already received aid from the New Zealand University are to continue to receive such aid for three years, and then their endowments are to cease. There can be no doubt that in a scattered community like that of New Zealand some sort of peripatetic University is the only one that can deal satisfactorily with the higher Education. Every large town in New Zealand is naturally thought by its inhabitants to be at least as good as any other j if the University were localised in any of these, the other towns would feel themselves aggrieved, and would probably refuse to co-operate in the work of education. Thus the good effected would be almost confined to the seat of the University. One principal intention of Mr Yogel’s Bill appears to be to carefully avoid giving the University a local habitation, and it will be well if no attempt be made to alter this, Let the University be

what it is called—the University of New Zealand—and let the meetings of its Convocation audits Senate be held at such times and in such places as may be found convenient; thus the effects of local jealousies will be reduced to a minimum. Accordingly the Bill provides that neither the Senate nor the Convocation shall meet twice consecutively in the same town. It is difficult to see what sort of objection could be made to this mode of meeting a difficulty, which has hitherto been the “ rock ahead” in every case where an attempt has been made to deal with this matter in a comprehensive manner. The governing bodies are to be constituted as follows ;—The Convocation is to consist of all Graduates above the degree of Bachelor, and of all Bachelors of two years’ standing. This body will share with the Senate the power of electing Fellows; that is to say, it will elect every alternate member of that body ] it will also be allowed to discuss any matter connected with the University, and to give its opinion with regard to it. Besides this, it may deal with University charters, and entirely manage its own concerns. On the whole, this body has but little to do, and its influence will probably not be great. All the real power is in the hands of the Senate, a body whose

members are to be chosen alternately by the Convocation and the Senate itself. The Senate is to have the entire conduct of the affairs of the University and to make and alter Statutes and Regulations. Until the Convocation is constituted—that is, until there are thirty persons who have the required qualification the members of the Senate are to be appointed by the Governor-in-Council. From the nature of the Convocation, it will necessarily result that its meetings will be few and far between. It would seem, too, that when it meets it will have very little business to do; practically, its only business will be to elect Fellows. It is true that the members are to be allowed to discuss the affairs of the University, and to record the opinions they may have formed on any subject; but then they could do this even if they were not members of Convocation. It seems a pity that a body of this kind should not have some sort of legislative function : the Convocation will, most undoubtedly, include in future years the very choicest representatives of Young New Zealand. Why should not these be entrusted with some power! It is easy to see that the Senate will consist, in the main, of elderly men who, while they certainly could not be spared from such an institution, will be, on the whole, contented with things as they are $ who have successfully fought the battle of life under a certain system, and who will be inclined, for the most part, to

look unfavorably on any change. In short, it may be said that, while the Convocation will undoubtedly be the more progressive and libera] body, the whole of the power will be in the hands of the highly respectable, but probably too conservative Senate. We hope that some alteration may be made in this respect. Much of the success of the University will depend on the degree in which it is capable of being influenced by the new ideas which are introduced into the world of thought from time to time. A University to be thoroughly successful must be in the van of modern thought, and not form part of the rear-guard. We should have been glad if some provision had been made for permanently endowing the University with land. As it is, the sum of £3,000 is to be paid annually by the Colonial Treasurer out of the consolidated revenue. This is a handsome sum, and will be, no doubt, amply sufficient for the required purpose, but it is not secured. There is nothing to prevent the amount from being reduced to LI,OOO, or to nothing; and although this will certainly not be done while we have Parliaments like the present one, or while the Colony continues as prosperous as it is at present, bad times may come, and the temptation to cut down the University grant may be irresistible. Many years must elapse before the good effected by the University will be made so clearly manifest that none can deny its usefulness. In the meantime, it

might be considered a fitting object for vituperation and abase by unprincipled and scurrilous writers, and have its efficiency marred and its Professors vilified, in exactly the same way as some of our educational institutions have been systematically abused by our contemporary the ‘ Daily Times.’ The only way to prevent this sort of thing from happening would be to render the University virtually unassailable by permanently endowing it with land. Should this Bill be passed, much of its success will depend, as we said before, on the way in which it is worked, and especially at first. If the Government can succeed in getting together at the outset a liberal and progressive Senate, the New Zealand University, as provided for in the Bill before us, is sure to prove successful.