17

E.—7

It is a most extraordinary thing that Canterbury College, which was fairly well endowed by its lounders for educational purposes, has received practically no bequests at all from private benefactors. An institution such as the College should have ample funds at its disposal to establish scholarships and make provisions for research work. Nearly all the improvements and discoveries of the present day come from tho laboratory, and in this respect America is far ahead of any other country. The idea that a University college should be a glorified technical school established for the purpose of training persons to acquire more easily the almighty dollar is losing some, of its popularity. A modern university should be, a great deal more than a training establishment : it should be the fountain of knowledge in the province where it is established. All persons desiring knowledge, whether for their own advancement in life or for its own sake, should be able to apply to the University to obtain it. As medicine is used as a cure and a preventive of disease of the body, so should education, diffused from the University, act as a preventive for many social diseases. Inside tho University college a careful analysis of social questions can bo made of far more value and of a more impartial nature than in the arena of politics. It is manifest that in a few years, as population increases, the whole University question in New Zealand must bo reviewed. Many people hold already that the dissolution of the Now Zoaland University into four separate universities would be a benefit to the, country. Some, may contend that the. status of New Zealand University graduates might suffer ; but there can be little doubt that the graduates of the Universities of Auckland, Wellington, Canterbury, or Otago would have just as high a standing immediately as that held by graduates of the University of New Zoaland. New Zealand is urgently in need of scientific guidance in connection with forestry. Wo all recognize that the natural resources of the country contained in our numerous forests are being quickly exhausted. In the future we must rely on our own work for our timber-supplies. A great deal of planting has already been done in Canterbury, but so far without any very definite scientific knowledge, and I think it would bo a great benefit to Canterbury if the Board could take steps to establish a lectureship in forestry at no distant date. During last year a site was. acquired, in Park Terrace for tho purpose of a Women Students' Hostel. Tho house in question was opened to students after the July vacation, and now, in the second term of its existence, as a hostel, it is quite full. It is clear, therefore, that there is a decided demand for an institution of this nature, and I think it is the duty of the Board to provide more permanent accommodation for the country women students who wish to reside at the hostel during their University course. T propose to bring before the Board at an early date the question of building a suitable hostel at Park Terrace for women students. The Board should first decide upon the number of students that it is desirable to accommodate in one hostel, and, having done this, should then obtain plans for a complete, institution. The present building could be used for a few years for administration purposes and as rooms for study. The, Board has also acquired half an acre of land and two houses in Bolleston Avenue, immediately opposite the College, and has opened a hostel for men students. There are at present thirteen students in residence, and, as this is the first term of its existence, it cannot yet be ascertained how many students arc likely to avail themselves of the great advantages offered to them in a community life. Under a resolution of tho Board passed some time ago returned soldiers were to be remitted their College fees, but owing to tho Repatriation Act of 1918 there is no longer any necessity for this to be done, as that Board has now, under that Act, to pay such fees wherever it is necessary to do so. The question of the salaries of the Board's staff is a matter for careful consideration. At the present time the average salary of a lecturer at the College or an assistant master in the High School is less than the. income made by many men engaged in manual work, whilst, the salaries of the men in the leading positions in education arc much less than the incomes enjoyed by third-rate men in other professions. The Board last year advanced a groat many of the salaries of those on its staff, but I cannot but feel that many of our employees are not, receiving a remuneration equivalent to their services. School of Engineering and School of Art. —[See E.-5, Report on Technical Education.] The, Workers' Educational Association. —lt is perhaps somewhat premature to allude to this association as one of the institutions under the Board, though its lecturers and tutors are appointed and paid by tho Board. At the same time, one feels that any movement in connection with higher education should of necessity come within the activities of a modern University college. Tho Workers' Educational Association is undoubtedly one of the striking movements in higher education of the present day. It originated in Oxford in 1903 as a result of a conferonc between Labour and educationists, when the workers demanded from the distinguished scholars of the University a share of university education and of higher learning. It is a practical movement by working-men to obtain a cultural mind, and not merely a technical education. Its aims are to train and produce an educated democracy and to humanize education. The movement is only in its infancy, but, judging from tho enthusiasm shown by workers wherever tho movement is known, there is likely to be a very groat extension of tutorial classes under tho association within the next, few years. It is, in my opinion, the duty of the Board and those who have heretofore obtained tho advantages of our college education to give for those asking for knowledge a share of the benefits of higher education. If adults seek for higher education every effort should be made by those, who control or influence University colleges to supply the demand from the. University. The effect of adult education in Denmark has been of more marked influence in the development of the country than its social and industrial activities. The following is a summary of extensions and proposed extensions in connection with the college, : Establishment of Chair of Education ; establishment of Chair of History ; acquisition of High School buildings and site for University purposes ; extension of School of Engineering ; erection of a suitable hostel for women students.

3—E. 7-