J. A. THOMSON.'

49

L—l3a

47. Supposing we asked an Australian professor to come over here, do you think Ik should examine with one professor — I do not mean with a Hoard of four professors, but with each professor in his own subject?—l think it would be satisfactory with one professor in each college. 48. You referred to the standing of medical schools as compared with our school here?— Yes. 49. On what evidence do you base your opinion that our standard in medicine compares favourably with the standard at Home? —Well, I have not got complete figures in regard to the success of New Zealand students, but there have been so many students who have failed in New Zealand who have won even prizes in Home universities, in Edinburgh, and gained scholarships, and that goes to show that in science and arts they are not keeping up to the same standards. 50. Have you seen the statements in the pamphlet to the effect that there are quite a number of New Zealand students taking a medical course in Edinburgh?— Yes. 51. In what way would you account for that? — I have no doubt that those who can afford it go to England, and like to go to a college that is better known abroad. The Edinburgh degree has been recognized so much longer and is better known than the New Zealand degree; and you can get so much more experience in the hospitals, and in a great many cases it is certainly the case that the course was easier. 52. The success of our students has encouraged others to go because they thought they could get through more easily there? —It is the general opinion of medical students in Otago that only half will get through the final, and the other half do not wait, but they go Home. 53. On the subject of keeping terms, did I understand you to say that in Oxford the separate colleges did not insist on the students keeping terms?— The terms are kept by residing at the colleges. The colleges direct the course set for the students. They either tell them to go to the professors' lectures or they may send them to their own lecturers or private coaches. They have a general direction of their study, but there is no fixed percentage of lectures, and so on. 54. Mr. Allen.] Can they get degrees without keeping their terms? —They cannot get their degrees. The requisites are sleeping forty days in Oxford each term. 55. The Chairman.'] But no examination? —No.

FttIDAT, 22ND SErTEMP.EK. 1911. (No. 15.) Mr. G. M. Thomson: I desire to put in the following memorandum re library equipment:— Memorandum re Library Equipment. The number of books in the Otago University library is put down in the Reform Association's pamphlet approximately at 3,150, but it is admitted that the correct figures were not obtainable. Professor Benham informs me that the number of volumes in the University Museum library is about 5,000. " This includes the series of volumes in the various periodicals and Proceedings; the ' Challenger ' reports; the Fauna and Flora of the Naples Station; the valuable set of zoological catalogues issued by the British Museum; the various publications of the American institutions; and the books on zoology belonging to the Biological Department. All these are available for any one doing research, and are almost entirely works on biological matters." Mr. D'Arcy Haggitt, Librarian of the Supreme Court library in Dunedin, states : " The number of books in the library is quite 6,000. This includes the Law Journal Reports, numbering about 300 to 400 volumes; the Law Reports, numbering fully as many; and all the other report books. All students belonging to the Law Debating Society are allowed to use the library at certain hours." Geo. M. Thomson. 18th September, 1911. The Chairman: Does that include the Hocken Library? Mr. G. M. Thomson: No. Professor Hunter: I thijik we have made it clear that we have had to rely for our figures on the information supplied at our request by the Registrar of the Otago University. Mr. G. M. Thomson: I'also wish to put in the following return : — Comparative Analysis of the Contents of the "Transactions of the New Zealand Institute," showing by what Classes of the Community the various Ptipcrx were written. The figures give the number of pages in each volume contributed by each of the four classes specified.

7_l. 13a.

Volume. Graduates of New Zealand University. Professors Graduates of to;*i™ + -„„ • •« rr 1 l HI • TT • *i • WltllOUt ailV in New Zealand Forei-rn Universities TTn .- v ._, ;tv t>. ' „„. University Colleges. (mostly Uritish). UniTCTSltv »W*"1 2 3 I 5 6 83 299J • 78 207J 327i 721 254 38| 339 11H 243 38 111* 308J 8S| 297 113 482 • 7 8 9