“THREE MEN RUN A RACE”

Taranaki Daily News, 28 January 1921, Page 5

“THREE MEN RUN A RACE”

A MATRICULATION POSER. SCHOOL GIRLS AND ODDS. Three men run a race, and odds are offered against them of two to one, three to one, and four to one respectively. How much should a person lay upon them respectively so as to win £3 5s whoever wins the race? The above .question figured in one of the mathematics papers set for the matriculation examination last year. It was considered by the Entrance Examinations Committee of the New Zealand University Senate, which reported as follows:—“The paper was carefully moderated, and no objection was made to the question referred to. The committee has, therefore, no recommendation to make.” “Personally,” said Mr. H. F. von Haast, when the report came before the Senate. ‘T am going to say that the question was wrong, not because it introduced the fact and element of gambling, but because the headmistress who took objection to it said that her girls did not understand what laying odds was. In examination a certain .amount of general knowledge must be presumed, but I don’t know whether we have to presume that our young people have a knowledge of the transactions of betting. The question might have been put in such a way as to obviate the use of these technical terms.” Hon. J. A. Hanan: It is a qualification for a bookmaker. Mr. von Haast: It does not make the slightest reflection on the examiner. It is quite a natural presumption for him to make, but it is a fair thing to say that girls who did not understand the question would be at a disadvantage. I would move that in our opinion the question assumes a knowledge of gambling that is not to be expected of candidates. Mr. J. W. Tibbs: The examiner states that the question has been answered correctly by a large number of the candidates. (Laughter.) Professor Macmillan Brown: May we inquire into the sex of those candidates? (Laughter.) The Chancellor (Sir Robert Stout): I hope that after this mention of the matter in the Senate we shall not have a question like that again. I don’t think it would be wise. ‘There was a little further discussion. Mr. von Haast suggested several wordings for an amendment to the committee’s report, but in the end he did not press his amendment, and the Senate adopted the report. The Chancellor remarked that the discussion would be a sufficient guide to any examiner in the future.