T. 11. LAB'S .

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1.—13 a.

3. Mr. Allen. ] Do I understand that that would be an alternative way of providing revenue.' es. A further suggestion is that the Government should put on a definite basis the question of a subsidy on amounts given by private individuals. If ihe colleges receive sums from private individuals, the Government should give a pound-for-pound subsidy, as they do at present irregularly, to encourage local support. I do not think the Treasury would be called upon to pay very much, judging from what already has been given by private individuals for University purpi but there is this to be said in favour of the policy, that it is an encouragement to local people to help their own college, because they would know that a Government contribution would be added to the amount. It is also sound from the Government point of view, because it rather prevents faddish schemes being brought forward. It ought to be definitely said that no constructive scheme of University finance should be entered upon before a well-considered and general scheme of reorganization has been considered. If you fix on any scheme of finance miii tie the hands of the Commission. Supposing one college had started before the Royal Commission began an Agricultural School, or had gut the mere beginning of one under its management, and it was receiving 11 urn the Government £4,000 or £5,000 a year for the purpose. If the Commission then decided io put ihe Agricidtill al School in another centre you would get no support for the proposal. So if the Government or the Legislature fix the financial position ol' the colleges, they thereby al the same time fix the whole policy of the University in many other directions. I think the whole question of reorganization and reconstruction of the University Colleges, both financially and ill other directions, should be delayed until one body could go into the question as a whole, in order that that body can have a free hand. The next question is that of libraries. Professor Hunter described to you very clearly the condition of our libraries, and I do not think that there is any one who disputes the fact that they are in a \rvy bad condition. 11l fact, if you were to recall any univeisity librar\ in any other pari of ihe world, it cannot he said in any sense of the word that we have a university library. I might give you a few particular examples of the poor uess of the libraries in New Zealand. Speaking as a Professor of Science, I say there is not to be found in New Zealand libraries the science journals which record the progress of science, and it is impossible for a professor to treat his subject in an original manner because of tin' absence of books and periodicals. The researches and discoveries of Professor Rutherford, which constitute a new science and form the greatest intellectual achievement of any New-Zealander researches which have gained the applause of the intellectual world —are not to be found as he wrote them in any Wellington library. Such is the respect which we pay to the finest contributions to knowledge made by any New-Zealander—contributions which any nation would have been proud of! 1 think that is a very grave position, and says very little for our patriotism. If ymi just recall how New Zealand depends upon the freezing industry for its existence you will see Ihe enormous Importance of this subject, and yet you will find that Ewing's " Mechanical Production of Cold is not to be found in any Wellington library. I do not know what might be said of the civilization of the community which makes so much out of the freezing industry and yet does not provide a hook of thai kind. 1 know that in the details of chemistry, physics, and mathematics it would be impossible for any New Zealand professor, relying on the public libraries, to write a book which would be original in its treatment upon the subject of his study. Any one who is a candidate for a Chair in this Dominion will ascertain that before he comes out here, and he makes up his mind either to give up research work of an original kind requiring books for its performance or provides them for himself. I could mention two specific cases where applicants for New Zealand Chairs abandoned their intention of coining here because they did not wish to be isolated and have all their future work killed. I would appeal to ymi as a Committee to urge upon the Legislature and the Government that the question of our University libraries should be faced and solved as early as possible. Every one is agreed as to the urgent need of this. Those opposed to us iii university reform are not against us in this matter. The University has been stinted in capita], and this mistake could be partly retrieved b\ placing a capital sum apart for libraries. The next question that I have to deal with is our examination system. The type of university examination which we have in New Zealand was devised by Napoleon 1. Under Napoleon's system strict study, regulations, and prescribed curricula and examinations control the entire system. and the professors were nothing more than instructors who prepared students for the examinations of the Universite [mperiale. Napoleon's system was copied in London, in Ireland, in India, in Smith Africa, and in democratic New Zealand. Everywhere it has been a failure. To my mind, it has been the most disastrous invention ever made in education. Its failure in France has weakened the French nation ; its failure in London has led to three Royal Commissions on thai University, ami every witness before a University Royal Commission for Ireland admitted its defects. In India the system lent itself to such abuse by the Indians, who have remarkable memories, as to make the Indian universities a laughing-stock. In South Africa the harm done is only now being remedied. We are before you in order to ultimately rid New Zealand of the Napoleonic examination system that has been such an expensive failure wherever it has been l lied. I will read to ymi the final report of the Commissioners on the Royal 0 mission on University Education in Ireland. The Commissioners were .lames Patrick Bannerman, Baron Robertson, one of the Lords of Appeal in Ordinary, chairman; Matthew White, Viscount Ridley; the most Reverend John Healy, D.D., and Senator of the Royal University of Ireland; Dodgson Hamilton Madden, Judge; Sir Richard Claverhouse Jebb, D.Lit., Hon. D.C.L., Regitts Professor of Creek in the University of Cambridge; Samuel Henry Butcher, Fellow of the University College, Oxford, and Professor of Greek in the Edinburgh University; James Alfred Ewing, F.R.S., Proor of Mechanism and Applied Mechanics in the University of Cambridge; John Rhys, M.A., Professor of Celtic in the University of Oxford, and Principal of Jesus College, Oxford; ArthurWilliam Rucker, F.R.S., Professor of Physics at the Royal College of Science, London; James Lnrrain Smith, Lecturer on Pathology and Bacteriology in Queen's College. Belfast; William