THE UNIVERSITY
Sir,-I read with interest the article on the University in your issue of December 6. There is an alternative proposal (I believe not entirely new) which does not appear to have been covered; namely the establishment of a genuine teaching University of New Zealand. It has been suggested, in several quarters I believe, that a University of New Zealand be established in some comparatively small but central town, catering only for full-time residential students. The present Colleges could be continued for the benefit of those who might for varying reasons be unable to attend the central institution, but they would be subject and responsible to it and such students as would attend them would do so on the basis of extra-mural students of the central University. It. is, I submit, only by the establishment of a full-time residential University that the essential nature of a university (i.e., a community of scholars with each individual thinking and learning to think for himself) can be achieved. The centralisation of university education would avoid much unnecessary duplication and render more easy the offering to professors and lecturers of a salary more commensurate with their ability. Mr. Turner argues, with justice, that the establishment of four separate universities would enable the professors at each to specialise in those aspects of his subject in which he is most interested. But the same end could be achieved equally well by widening the range of alternative syllabi for Stage III. and Honours subjects. The departments of a central university could well be staffed with specialists in aspects of the subject other than those which might most interest the professor. It may be argued that this suggestion of a "New Zealand Oxford" is an impractical dream. But at ‘this time the various Colleges are talking of spending much money on extensions to buildings. This money, I submit, would be far better spent on an establishment. such as has been here proposed.
PIERS L. R.
ABRAHAM
(Wellington),
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New Zealand Listener, Volume 16, Issue 394, 10 January 1947, Page 5
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330THE UNIVERSITY New Zealand Listener, Volume 16, Issue 394, 10 January 1947, Page 5
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