The Globe. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1879.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1547, 3 February 1879, Page 2

The Globe. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1879.

Whatever nnay be the grounds on which tlio Otngo University lias determined to apply for a separate charter, whether its Council is moved by political considerations, or by a misdirected zoal for the cause of education, it appears to us that a great blow would be struck at University education in this colony if the application were to prove successful. We do not ruean to say that tlio present constitution of the New Zealand University is perfect, wo do not oven say that the advisability of its boing a purely examining body with a fixed habitation of its own, has been absolutely demonstrated to be the host form in which it can exist, but wo do say that the formation of a number of small universities, and the destruction of a central University for the whole of Now Zealand would be a great misfortune. For not only would the value of degrees granted by these minor establishments be of small value, from the simple fact that they were granted by minor establishments, but the rival universities would be sure in the long run, to bid against each other for scholars by lowering thoir standards of efficiency. Young men living in any University town would of courso attend the lectures of their own "Alma Mater," but those living in the country districts who would havo in any case to move into a town to pursue their studies, would naturally favour that University where a degree was granted the most readily. Consequently as all our centres of population would probably apply for University charters we should havo springing up amongst us a number of minor universities reminding one of those institutions in jl-ormauy which havo been for so long the laughing stock of the lettered world. A story is told of an enterprising youth, who having been "ploughed" at Oxford, rushed over to the continent and took his degree at five different German Universities, in order, as he said " that the Governor might not cut up rough." Possibly this story of early genius is not founded on fact, but it servos to give some idea of the low estate to which University dogroes are capable of falliug. Certainly it is not desirable that these pettifogging little degrees should bo obtainable in this country and wo cannot imagine how people who have really tho interests of education at heart can favor any scheme tending in this diroction. As wo said before, we do not assert that the present state of affairs is altogether satisfactory. We strongly condemn, for instance, the policy of affiliating mere schools to tho central University, but wo hold that these faults are faults of detail rather than cf principle; that tho constitution of tho central University can bo turned or twisted as may bo best deemed desirable, but that when once any attempt is made to dismember the institution, then tho very life blood of a proper University system is in danger of being shed. Mr. Wakefield sounded tho true chord at the lato meeting of tho Board of Governors of the Canterbury College. Tho Professorial Board and tho College Committee had agreed that as the Otago University had applied for a Royal Charter, the Canterbury College should make a similar application. But Mr. Wakefield would havo nono of this. He declared that it would be very much bettor for thorn to take tho course of standing by tho University of New Zealand, and ho moved that "Tho Board of Governors of tho Canterbury College, strongly holding the views that there should bo but one body in New Zealand granting University degrees, deprecates the action of the Otago University in taking steps towards obtaining a separate charter, and that a petition on the part of tho Board should bo drawn up for transmission to tho Imporial Government, praying that the University of Now Zealand should remain intact." This appears to us to bo tho only logical conclusion to arrive at. The timid policy which dictates that as the Otago University is doing what is unadvisablo, therefore that the Canterbury College should follow suit for fear of being left out in tho cold is not, to our mind, a worthy ouo — Aut Cccsar aut millus should bo the watchword. Either lot Now Zealand have a University whoso degrees are respected tho world over, or lot it put up its educational shutters, and .".How no degrees whatever to bo given within its borders. Sir Georgo Grey, when on the war-path, inveighod against the appointment of colonial Honorablos, ho dubbed them shoddy, and declared that no titles were of tho slightest value unless they were recognised all through tho Empire. We wish that all the remarks that he uttered when following so cunningly tin* spoor of popularity had been as sensible. And tho idea is equally sound when applied to educational matters. Either I.'-, us have degrees that will bo universally recognised as valuable or lot us havo no degrees at

all, foot via have no shoddy degreed. With regard to Mr. Fraser's motion at tho meeting it appears to us to bo neither fish, flush, fonl, nor good rod-herring. He moved—-" That, in view of certain action " recently taken by tho Otago College, " this Board resolves that it is expedient " that a University for this island should li ho established, to bo composed in the " first instance of the colleges of Otago '■ and Canterbury." Hero again it is not attempted to bo proved that tho course proposed is right in tho abstract. Tho motion is made simply in view of a certain action taken by the Otago University, ail action that has as yet not fructified, and probably never will. But setting this apart, the result of Mr, Fraser's idea being carried into practical. effect would bo to introduce all the evils which a dismemberment of tho Now Zealand University would bring about, while at the same time it would have no chance of realising any ono of those minute particles of good that might possibly cling to tho ovil skirts of tho dismemberment scheme. Tho craving of tho Otago University for isolation would not be satisfied, tho aspirations of those who wish for a strong central University, and rospoctablo dogroos would not bo satisfied, in fact nobody would be satisfied. It is a half measure, and half measures can nover be satisfactory.