UNIVERSITY MATTERS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1363, 26 January 1905, Page 4

UNIVERSITY MATTERS.

(Per Press Association.)

Auckland, laet night.

The Chancellor, Sir Robert Stout, in his opening speech at the Univorsity Senate, reforred to the ecclesiastical agitation for a change of the basis of primary system education. He said that if given effeot to it must affect the University, and perhaps end it as a secular institution. He concluded : “All of us would deeply regret to see introduced into the University any subioct which would cause dieoord of management and Isad to sectarian oontrol of its work.” The Chancellor emphasised the importance of having highly eduoated teachers from the primary Bohools to the Universities. He expressed regret that none of the Universities were able to appoint a professor of education. Even with additional grants to colleges they would still bo hampered in the development of Auckland and Wellington, both poorly endowed. On the subject of scholarships he said they should provide rewards as accessible to those who talro the modern side as those on tho olossical side in secondary sohools. In the highest classes of secondary schools history was inadequately tanght. Koforring to technical education, he said the industries on which tho colony mainly relies are pastoral, agricultural, and mining. Care should bo taken that technical education was not divorced from these industries. Eor many years we shall be mainly concerned in the production of raw materials. The selection of Bhodos soholnrs for 1905 would be mado on February 27th. Regret was expressed that National scholarships were confined to one clasß, and were not given as a reward to the ablest, most efficient, and most gifted.