LINKING TOWN AND GOWN

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 396, 3 July 1928, Page 16

LINKING TOWN AND GOWN

VARSITY’S INFLUENCE ON CIVIC AFFAIRS COURT OF CONVOCATION MEETS “To those graduates who hold _ that the duty of taking a more prominent and direct part n civic affairs need not necessarily include entry into public life, I would say that the university man should be able to give constructive criticism of public policies and civic administration," declared Sir George Fowlds at a meeting of the Auckland District Court of Convocation. at the University College last evening. . "A university man’s opinion on such subjects should be on a sound basis. Support by convocation of the forth- i coming course in practical local government will give a link between town , and gown. Two lines of development should lead to advance. I feel that the main remedy for the lack of benefits and results of residential life at present is not to be found in undergraduate life, but in post-graduate work and college life. We must build our college round our graduates by attracting them to leisurely postgraduate, non-degree study after they have, by obtaining degrees, settled the bread-winning portion of their careers. Largely, any scheme must be built around recent graduates and those now passing through the college. "The second line of development support by the graduates of the lectures on comparative local government, to begin next year. A university education should give a student a threefold opportunity of earning his bread and butter, making life better worth living for himself and for others.” Sir George urged consideration of the suggestions. MORE CO-OPERATION “This year sees the co-operation between city and university recognised by the forming of civic lectures at the request of the Mayor. Mr. G. Baildon.” remarked Mr. A. Gray, president of convocation. “Twenty years ago. Auckland graduates were often advised not to let it be known that they were wasting their youth at university; to-day, hostility has disappeared." Mr. Gray referred to the inadequate provision for university students’ education, to which the Government’s attention had been drawn. Cost to the State for a secondary pupil was £l7 3s 4d, and for a university student. £l6 3s 3d. It was made clear that there was no criticism of secondare expenditure. He read a reply from the Hon. R. A. Wright, Minister of Education, and declared that the claim that primary education coyld be fostered while secondary and university education was neglected would not bear examination. On industrial efficiency, New Zealand required the assistance of experts, in regard to whose education a saving of tens of pounds would result later in losses of hundreds and thousands of pounds. • Quotations from the addresses of the Right Hon. Mr. Stanley Baldwin Sir Alfred Mond, and other statesmen and captains of industry show their belief in the value of higher edueation to industry,” said Mr. Gray. “Are they wrong, and the Minister right? Hbß The university receives meagre finanr ial assistance, and increasing depart mental interference."