E.—lo

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viously if there was to be a reduction of subjects there would be a reallocation of marks for each subject. The significant thing was, what relative marks were you going to give to the subjects? He trusted the Conference would carry the motion. He felt sure the mover of the resolution was as anxious as Professor Thomas that science should have a fair share in the educational System of the country. Mr. Bevan-Brown could not help thinking that Professor Thomas had, to use a homely phrase, drawn a red herring across the scent in talking about the claims of natural science. What had that to do with the question of whether candidates should take four or five subjects? It could only be on the assumption that a student would omit science; and tiny knew perfectly well that would not be the result. Under the present marking, unless a boy took science lie was heavily handicapped. The majority of members of the Senate rather encouraged than disparaged science. He knew that a majority of masters of the secondary schools agreed with him that overstrain undoubtedly did exist in '.he higher classes of the secondary schools. He hoped the Conference would give sympathetic consideration bo the motion, which he conceived to l>e of very great importance. The Conference divided on the amendment. —Ayes, !>: Noes. :i4': majority against, 25.— Amendment negatived. The Conference divided on Mr. Bevan-Brpwn's motion.—Ayes, 22; Noes, 21 : majority for, 1. —Motion agreed to. University Examinations. Mr. Bevan-Brown moved, That this Conference suggests to the University Senate that moderators be appointed to supervise the question-papers set in the University examinations. There should be more care taken in keeping the standard of examination at a reasonably uniform level, and that could be done by the appointment of experienced men to supervise the question-papers. Professor KutK seconded the motion. He said there were not only serious blemishes in the standard, but there were other blemishes that a moderator would look to. Professor Haslam desired to see the principle extended to University degree examinations. Professor Thomas said what was complained of was the change in examiners and the total change in the style of the paper. The West method of dealing with the difficulty would be to have two examiners, who would confer. It was very difficult to interfere with the examiner's right to settle the examination himself. He must be left to fix the standard, but continuity of standard ought to be maintained. Motion agreed to. University Pass Examination*. Professor Kirk moved, That in the opinion of the Conference the time has come when the University should conduct at least its pass examinations within Australasia, and largely by help of the professors of its own colleges. People outside New Zealand knew nothing and cared nothing as to who our examiners were. The present system was archaic and inoonvenient. In the early days it had much to commend it. A long interval elapsed between the examination and the announcement of bhe results. During that time —from November till tin' end of March—little solid work was done by tiie average student owing to the uncertainty. In the case of written examinations conducted at a distance, the examiners could take no account of the students' originality of mind. The time had arrived when these drawbacks could he avoided. The present system tended to lower the professoriate to the position of coaches. Proper recognition could not he given to the better class of work that was done by the students. The existing system of examination led to discounting originality, and tended to demoralize the university system. Mr. Fleming seconded the motion. Professor Gilkay said that this subject was discussed at the last meeting of the University Senate, and that a motion in favour of the retention of the Home examiners was carried by a large majority. Theoretically a good deal could be said for examining pass students in New Zealand, but it was very important to get first-class Home examiners; and in order to gel them they required to be well paid. If only scholarship and honours work was given (c> the Home examiners the remuneration would be so small that it would not be possible, he thought, to g<4 first-class men to act. As things are at present, the New Zealand University was able to com mand the services of the best examiners in the various departments of study to be found in Great Britain. It was sufficient to "mention, amtfng the dead, the names of such greal men as Routh and Edward Caird, the late Master of Balliol. He was afraid we could not get the same class of examiners if the Senate adopted the suggestion in this motion. It should not be forgotten that at present the New Zealand professors can, in the annual examinations for terms, fail any candidates they consider unfit to sit for B.A. or B.Sc. He thought the Edinburgh system, where it was practicable, was really the best. In Edinburgh University the professor sets half the questions, and the external examine]- sets the other half. The external examiner then reads the papers, but before announcing the results he confers with the professor. The object of this arrangement is to give the professor an opportunity of protecting such candidates as, while not doing themselves full justice in the final examination, had yet done consistently good work during the session. This Professor Gilray believed to be the ideal system. Under Ihe conditions at present existing in New Zealand, and in view of the competition of the affiliated colleges, he was personally in favour of the retention of the Home examiners, and would therefore vote against the motion. In reply to a question, the Chaiisman said the practice differed very widely in different parts of the world. It differed even amongst the Home universities. Professor Thomas said it appeared to him that the chief injury done by the present system of examiners was that it degraded the University colleges here into mere institutions for cramming. We did not know whether (lie examiners selected in Great Britain would turn out to be good examiners or not, and very often it led to serious disappointments. The Edinburgh system was a better one, but he did not think there was much chance of getting that ideal system quickly.