New Zealand's University

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 774, 21 September 1929, Page 21

New Zealand's University

* l \ Education s | Debt to the \ Pioneers j (Written for THE SUN hi, CEREDIG RICHARDS.) Ew Zealand owed her first ■ centre of higher learning to the wise foresight of the ™“ s . ter coloniser, Edward Gibbon Wakefield, and to the hardy, energetic character of her early Scots - —— : settlers who, strangers in , . a strange land, yet retained the spirit of their native traditions. ned Wakefield and George Rennie, with whom he was associated in the New Zealand Company at the time the Otago Block was offered for settlement had then developed a new theory of colonisation, based on the experience of former efforts and eliminating that immaturity of conception and lack of careful organisation which had wrecked the earlier Targe scale operations in the North Island. They realised that by no means the least important factor hi the foundation of a successful colony was tho right type of settler. y was the At a particularly fortunate moment for New Zealand came the split in the Established Church of Scotland, when nearly half the mem bers as well as several hundreds of the ministers, broke away and founded the Free Church Here, then, were the ideal people for Wakefield's purpose. The dynamic force behind this religious cataclysm was what was needed to change the colonising scheme from a possibility to a reality. Five years later the first settler sailed into Otago Harbour. The idea of creating a University in the new land born in Scotland, where the democratic educational system is probably a more intimate part of the national life than in any other country of tho world. The founders of the province were also the true fathers of the University. Under the terms of purchase from the New Zealand Company, one-eighth of the sum paid for the land, generally £2 an acre had been set aside to form a fund for religious’ and educational purposes. Somewhat similar arrangements had been made in the settlement of Canterbury, although the proportion was slightly different. Of this sum. Parliament in 1866 put aside one-third for the endowment of a literary chair or chairs in connection with any University or College that might be erected in Dunedin. In the same year the Presbyterian Synod set a substantial portion of the church endowments aside for the maintenance of secular chairs in a future University. A special gift to the Church from the New Zealand Company had Included sites for a school and a college. These were leased and a fund formed to maintain what is now Knox College. That the time was not ripe for the establishment of a University in the Dominion was the decision of Parliament in 1867. Instead, it was decided to found eight scholarships to be held in a Home University. Meanwhile Otago had become the centre of world-wide interest. The discovery of gold in southern rivers had brought diggers rushing feverishly across the seas. Otago sprang in two years from her position as poorest of the four provinces to be the richest, and her population soared from under 13,000 to over 49,000. Although many of the gold seekers had, by this time, passed on to newer fields, Otago was still the foremost province when, on June 3, 1869, the Provincial Council passed the “University of Otago Ordinance.’ by which the University was established with power to grant degrees in Arts. Medicine, Law and Music. It was to be governed by a Council of Id, of which six were to be laymen. The Rev. Dr. Burns was elected first Chancellor and three chairs were founded (1) Classics, English Language and Literature; (2) Mathematics and Natural Philosophy; (3) Natural Science under the divisions of Chemistry and Mineralogy. These, with the Chair of Mental and Moral Philosophy, endowed by the Presbyterian Synod, were regarded as an excellent basis. Stormy scenes in the House marked the passing of the “University of New Zealand Act" of 1870. Under this, the University of Otago was to be dissolved and its endowments vested in a newly-formed body, the University of New Zealand. However, the Otago University Council, on the ground that the Act did not give it sufficient control over the southern endowments and that the province was insufficiently represented on the New Zealand Council, refused to proceed. This action was supported by the Provincial Council. The difference was no nearer settlement when the Otago University opened its doors on July 5, 1871. Classes began the following week with SI students, the first to enrol being the Rt. Hon. Sir (then Mr.) Robert Stout. K.C.M.G.. P.C.. later Crief Justice. It has often been claimed that the University of Otago was the first in the British Empire not only to admit women to its classes on an equal footing with men, but to grant them the right of obtaining all degrees awarded by the Council. Actually the New Zealand body, in 1877, was the first in the Empire to confer a degree on a woman. Otago University issued only one degree, that of 8.A., which was conferred on Mr. A. W. Williamson, of Wanganui, on June 23. 1874. Mr. Williamson was later granted a degree by the University of New Zealand. Meanwhile the Attorney-General had given it as his legal opinion that any degree issued by the University of Otago under the charter given by the Provincial Council would carry no weight outside the province. Application was made accordingly to the Secretary of State. The same mail home carried a similar application from the University of New Zealand. Canterbury College was founded in IS *3 by the Provincial Council as a teaching institution solely. A conference between the newlyformed College and the rival Universities agreed to bring forward a bill establishing the University of New Zealand as an examining body exclusively, the University of Otago agreeing to suspend its power of confering degrees and. with Canterbury College, concentrating on teaching. This bill passed both Houses without difficulty in 1874, the examining body was granted a Royal Charter, and the system of higher education as we know it today came into being. Otago University was housed for many years in a building which had been erected originally as a post office. New quarters were built at tne end of the ’Bo’s and these had later to be cn-

larged owing to the steady growth of higher learning in the province. Lean y stars followed and the L'niversity's revenue declined, although the deficit, over £2OOO a year, was largely made up by public subscription whien the need was recognised. Of recent years, however, financial difficulties of any magnitude have been unknown in the south and the University has been able to add to her buildings and establish many new Chairs. At last the original schema of the early settlers has reached fulfilment. The University today includes four residential colleges, an important adjunct to its social and intellectual life. Most fortunate of all the Colleges through the foresight of the founders of the province, Canterbury College has had few difficulties to contend with since its establishment In 1573. The leaders of this Anglican settlement scheme set aside liberal endowments, which evade possible the erection of excellent residential Colleges. splendidly equipped. One of these Is controlled by 1 the students themselves. The other two Colleges, those at Auckland and Wellington, were established as a result of recommendations made by a Royal Commission appointed in 187 S. Endowments were arranged through gifts of Crown lands. A College was established in Auckland in ISS3, a building formerly used as the District Oourthouse. by a small expenditure, being made suitable for use. For years the College authorities had a continual struggle to house the evergrowing body of students. It was not until 1922 that tenders were signed for the construction of the present fine Arts building In Princes Street, which was opened officially four years later. Owing to lack of funds nothing could bo done in Wellington until 1897. when Victoria Oollege was founded. Classes began two years later, and in 1906 the College buildings in Salamanca Road were opened. These have since been enlarged. and plans are now being pushed forward for a men's hostel. Young though she is in years, child of bitter personal strife and provincial jealousy, the University of New Zealand is the atma mater of many prominent men. Two haws reached world-wide fame, Sir Ernest Rutherford and the late Professor R. C. Maclaurln. Sir Ernest Rutherford. Kt., 0.M., F.R.S., was born in Nelson in 1871, being educated first at Nelson College and later at Canterbury College. He early showed an aptitude for physics and mathematics, graduating with rtr at-class honours in both of these subjects at tlve age of 22. The following year he secured his B.Sc. degree and won a science scholarship which took him to Trinity College, Cambridge. Since then Sir Ernest has gone from conquest to conquest. Innumerable degrees and prizes from Univer sitles all over the world have been awarded him for his investigations of radio-aativity. Today he is an outstanding figure in a race of scientific giants. Lesser known in New Zealand was the late Professor R. C. Maclaurln, M.A., LL.D. (N.Z. and Cambridge), but he was none the lees ono of the Dominion’s greatest sons. While still an undergraduate he went home to Cambridge to study, returning to New Zealand late in 1899 as the first Professor of Mathematics at Victoria College. In 1907 he also took ower the Chair of Law. Professor Maclaurin then went to America, where he became President of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Boston, and was recognised as the most brilliant mathematician in the country and one of the greatest the world has seen. The high honour in which he was held by those who knew him is shown by the excellent provision made for Ms family when an early death overtook him. Others of a younger generation who may well be expected to rise to great heights are R. G. Syme, lecturer in Classics at Oxford, and A. C. Aitken, D.Sc., M.A., F.R.S.E., lecturer in Mathematics at Edinburgh, to mention two almost at random. The Otago medical school has already produced a number of surgeons of world-wide repute in their profession. Two New Zealanders whose work is of vital Importance to the Pacific and, in a lesser degree, to the world in general, are Dr. J. B. Condliffe. research secretary of the Institute of Pacific Relations at Honolulu, and Dr. P. H. Buck (Te Rangihiroa), ethnologist of the same institution. Degrees issued by the University of New Zealand are accepted abroad on an equal footing with those of the best English institutions, and the higher degrees are immeasurably superior to those of all but a few of the American Universities. Outstanding natural ability due to excellent hereditary and environmental factors is exceptionally common among New Zealand students. This is borne out by the report of the Rhodes Scholarship trustees last year, which commented that “New Zealand students are consistently head and shoulders above those of all other nations.” Were the Colleges better equipped and staffed, they would be able to bring their methods up-to-date, and, instead of being compelled to rely on an inefficient lecture system, could introduce newer group discussion methods. The Student’s Part The students themselves take no meen part in controlling the Colleges. The Students’ Associations, thoroughly democratic bodies, are in charge of the multitudinous clubs which fill so important a place in college life. The Associations also keep discipline among their members, are in charge of the common rooms and represent the students when and where necessary. The Students’ Associations have changed of recent years from purely undergraduate bodies. Ever growing financial problems consequent on a wider range of activities have demanded closer attention and business experience, and today those who hold the reins are former students and graduates. A feature of the year’s sports programme ts the inter-College tournament held alternately in each of the four centres. At Easter next year, Auckland's student athletes will compete against about 160 visitors from the south, the sporting cream of New Zealand’s 5,000-odd University students. The real value of a University to the community can be gauged only In part from her degrees, her buildings and her record. It Is from her corporate student life that one can best judge her greatness. Here, in the interaction of mind and mind, are developed a quality of judgment, a breadth of outlook and a keenness of intellect from which the community benefits as a whole, no less than do the students themselves. When finance makes possible improved teaching methods, and wider opportunities are given advanced students to counteract insularity of outlook by final study abroad, New Zealand may hope to play a part in world leadership out of all proportion to her size and population.