UNIVERSITY COUNCIL

Evening Star, Issue 24331, 21 October 1942, Page 6

UNIVERSITY COUNCIL

REVISED CONSTITUTION PROPOSED A scheme for the revision of the council was submitted by the District Court of Convocation to the University Council yesterday afternoon. After some discussion, the matter was deferred to enable the proposals to be circulated .among members. The proposal submitted was that the council should consist of 18 members, two appointed by the Governor-General, one by the Director of Education, two or three by the Professorial Board, six by the convocation, one by the City Council, one by the teaching staff other than the Professorial Board, one by the High Schools Board, one by the students, and two to be co-opted. These proposals would mean the elimination of representatives from the Hospital Board, and the Otago and Southland Education Boards, and one each from primary and secondary school teachers and school committees.

The Chancellor (Mr W. J. Morrell) said he thought the council should proceed with caution in the matter. The constitution of the council, altered in 1911, was improved, he considered, by representation from primary and secondary, school teachers and the education boards.

Mr J. Robertson expressed the view that the tendency was to make the University 100 academic. Southland was part of the university district, and was entitled to some representation. Dr 0. E. Herons said the Court of Convocation had not asked for any revision until after the war. There had been immense development since 1911, and as changes were inevitable in any institution they must be prepared to revise the constitution if necessary. On the motion of Dr James Fitzgerald, it was decided to circularise members, and that particulars of other councils be obtained before the question is considered.