REPRESENTATIVE IN ENGLAND

Hokitika Guardian, 2 November 1931, Page 8

REPRESENTATIVE IN ENGLAND

THE UNIVERSITY. DR.. HARROP TG SUCCEED MR JOYNT. LONDON, August 13. Mr J. W. Joynt, M.A., wild tor the past' twenty-one years has represented the University of New Zealand in England islgiving up his work in this country owing to serious illness. He has been given six montlis’ leave of absence, at the end. of which term his official retirement will take place. Th e Vice-Chancellor of the University., Professor T. A. Hunter, who left this week for America with Dr J; Hight on his return to New Zealand completed the arrangements for, the work of Mr Joyaifs office, and he is to be succeeded by Dr A. J. Harrop, a distinguished New Zealand graduate who has been in this country since 1921. Dr Harrop (who is the eldest son of the lateMr A. N- Harrop of Hokitika) was senior scholar in history of the University of New Zealand in 1921. After graduating M.A. . with first-class honours in history, lie. came to Gonville and Oaius College, Cambridge, completing the Ph.D. degree in 1925. He is the author of several books, including “England and New Zealand,” and a contributor to the Cambridge History, of the Empire, now in course of publication. v

The duty of the representative of New Zealand University here is only known to those who are closely interested in his work. It deserves to be more, widely known that papers are set here for Final B.A. and B.Sb., for Honours and (Masters’ degrees in vTirious faculties, for Engineering Degrees (Mechanical, Electrical, Civil and Mining) and for certain higher Law examinations. In addition., theses for various doctorates are sent Home to be adjudicated upon.

THOUSANDS OP PAPERS. The extent of the work involved can be gauged by the fact that for the present year’s examinations in New ‘Zealand 1.88 individual papers have been, set in Great Britain and Ireland and printed in. London. These are sent out,; not-in single’copies but in thousands, eadh paper 1 made up 1 info little sealed packets or sets, varying in number and contents according to the different entries and requirements of the ; thirty or move examination centres used by the University.

I All this, of course, is a 'survival of the-.earlier days of the New Zealand University, when there was practically nphodv in New Zealand capable.of examining up to full University stand- I ‘ ard. Its survival to the present day ’ . (when the University is about sixty 1 years old) is due to a variety of j causes. In the first place, in the course ! of those sixty years, there have developed four University Colleges, institutions full of life and energy, each engaged in healthy competition with the others for University distinctions for its students, post-graduate scholarships and the like; and for such competition and external and independent test saves heartburnings. Another reason dictates the keeping up of. this office in London, since through its means the New Zealand University keeps in close touch with developments in the British. Univerjsi ties. In the third place, although the j staffs of the University Colleges are mainly composed of able and distinguished scholars, they could not possibly cope, with the whole mass of ex- : aminations, having at present as much 1 examining to do as they can manage. • Lastly, as “external examiners”. are » now regarded as an indispensable ae- - cessory, New Zealand, having in her--1 self no adequate supply of material • for such purpose, is still obliged to 1 fall back on the Old Country. • 1 : While Mr Joynt’s friends regret the 1 cause, which has led to his retirement, > the succession to his work of Dr Hn.r- ---> rop can only be welcomed as an equal- -! ly good choice, for Dr Harrop. has close - knowledge of the work of the Univerr sity in New Zealand and has equally ) wide acquaintance with the work of ■'the English Universities, particularly ! of his own Cambridge.