THE USES OF LATIN.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 January 1918, Page 7

THE USES OF LATIN.

IS I'i ESSJJN'iJAL TO CULTL'IiI.; Duncdin, Jan. A', a meeting of Hie University Senate to-day Professor Mac.Millan Brown (vkechancellor) mcveil the adoption of the recommendation of the .Board of .Studies ilm as Latsn is no longer compulsory at the pasb standard of the B.A. degree, the Senate i>? askedl? make a pass ir. Latin at the standard of matriculation compulsory on all candidate? tor that degree. He thought- that seeing that Latin had been dropped from the pass standard of ins B.A. degree, a start should oe made 'somewhere with the study of Latin, and the motion vsis the smallest, concession the "cnats should make. Latin had wen tin- basis of all professions, and it was still retained a;< the technical language o." the professions He could lie,; see how anyone could manipulate the finglish language with prcper facility without knowing something of Latin. Those who I wished to know something -of culture must know something of .Latin, l! was /impossible to teach the modern Latin languages, French and Spanish; without i-oiiie knowledge of the grammar oi •it ill Professor Kirk supported the motion, principally 011 the ground? ihat, they should not go, too fast. lie. thought they had gone quite far enough when they abolished Latin as a compulsory pass standard of the B.A. degree. Mr. W. J. Mahon opposed the motion, and quoted authorities in support of the contention that tatin -was no longer essential I." the, Senate, were tc adopt the motion it: meant thfe reinstatement of what had been thrown out. ~tfe considered it would be preferable to drop Latin and give more attention to the studv of the mother tongue. After a lengthy discussion voting on the question was equal, and the motion was accordingly lost on the principle on maintaining the status quo.