The Globe. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1879.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1561, 19 February 1879, Page 2

The Globe. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1879.

It certainly is not to the credit of. tlio Board of Governors of tho Canterbury Collogo that no quorum could bo got together for Monday's meeting. The meeting was a special one called foi* a most important object. At tho meeting of the Board bold on tho :>o(h of January, tho College Committee brought in their report., in which, white it. stated its opinion that the University of New Zealand should bo the only body empowered to grant dogroes in New Zealand, was embodied a recommendation that, in tho ovont of tho Olago University applying for a Royal Charter, the Canterbury College should make a similar application. On this Mr. Fraser moved that two Universities should bo formed, one for the North Island, and ono for the South. Mr. Wakefield, on tho other hand, stood up for taking action in opposition to tho Otago University, and strongly maintained tho policy of in any case staying by the University of Now Zealand. Tho wholo mattor was relegated to a special meeting on the express grounds of its magnitude. One member characterised tho subject as one of the greatest importance, to tho consideration of which all members should turn thoir most earnest attention, and ho consequently thought that they all should have ample notice of the debate to be held, in order that thoy might approach the discussion fully prepared. And lie was perfoctly right in designating the subject as one vitally touching tho interests, both of the Canterbury Collogo as a part, and of the University of Now Zealand as a whole. The entire scheme of University Education in this colony was, more or loss, on tho tapis. On the decision the Board might arrivo at possibly hung the future status of all degrees to be granted in New Zealand for an unlimited period. Whether the country was to be dotted over with little shanties of colleges, or whether one fabric, already founded, was to bo fostered, until it grow into a stately building including within its bounds all that was scholarly and humanising in tho colony—all this was possibly at stake, and yet, at a special mooting, a quorum could not be got together. We unhesitatingly declare that it is disgraceful that such a thing should havo occurred. Here are a body of men whose claims to manage our University affairs rests on tho assumption that thoy are not only qualified in an educational point of viow for, but are thoroughly interested in,the work which they have taken in hand. Motions are brought forward bearing on tho most vital interests of the institution, over whose destinies they preside, and yet—a quorum cannot bo got together. If their every day avocations are of such transcendant importance that thoy cannot sparo tho time to consider whether University education in this colony is to be a mere thing of shreds and tatters, or a garment woven without seam, their proper place is not on the Board. They should give place to men who, even if less qualified, at least would be ablo to spare the necessary time. If, on tho other hand, they thought that by staying away from the meeting they would bo able to shirk tho responsibility attendant on passing a resolution one way or the other, they should have given a passing thought to the folly of the simple ostrich who hides his head in the sand, and smiles, happy in the idea that he has baffled his pursuers. Time flies —tho question is more pressing now than it was at the end of last month, when its consideration was postponed purely on the ground of its importance. Should events prove that the apathy of the Board has been most detrimental to the true interests of higher education, the public will havo none other to thank than those members who were conspicuous by their absence on Monday. We have now a Commission on Higher Education roving the country, and, at great expense, collecting evidence and preparing a report wherein to ventilate their ideas. To our mind it is an anomaly that, concurrent with this fact, at one of the principal centres of education in the country, an educational question of such vital consideration should be so grossly neglected that only seven members of the Board of its College could be got together to consider it.