1.—13 a.

68

PROFESSOB ADAMSON.

'■', I. Where do they come from'/ —I could not say offhand. Two of them are in lawyers' offices in Wellington, and one is in the Civil Service. .'l2. Are vim drawing any .students from outside your own district? — We are drawing one or (wo, but ] could not say how many. We have had arts graduates. ■'s;i. Can you explain to us why you are not drawing more/ Is it because the school is not thoroughly equipped, or because the conditions will not allow the men to conic?— l think it is probably because it is not well enough known. ."S4. You mean the law school is not well enough known?—lt is not well known that an attempt has been made to specialize in law. :'>'). I should have thought that the undergraduates knew —the Law Societies know, do they not'/ —Well, the information is to be found in the University Calendar and the local calendars. .'36. J do not know whether it is because it is not known, but do you not think it is rather because the conditions in New Zealand are such that it is very inconvenient for students to come.'—My answer is that it is not more inconvenient than in other countries. 1 have had experience of Scotland. •'!7. Mr. Side,;/.] Can you tell us what you would add to the staffing in order to make it what you consider a properly equipped school?— What I would consider my ideal law school? 38. Yes; how many professors would you add on/ —My ideal law school is Edinburgh. 39. Taking the conditions as they are here to-day, and knowing that the Minister wants to tind out how he is going to thoroughly equip this school in accordance with the present conditions and requirements of New Zealand, what would you ask for f—My answer would be that " Rome was not built in a day." 40. 1 want to know what you would ask for under these circumstances/ —Besides what 1 have already mentioned 1 should say we should have a lecturer in conflict of laws; I would have other subjects which are not taught at present, and a lecturer on administrative law; and, limited to the present circumstances of New Zealand, 1 should say that that probably would suffice. 41. Two additional lecturers for what might be regarded as a properly equipped school? — Yes, in addition to what 1 have said. 42. Two professors, four lecturers, and two assistants/ —Yes, that is the total, and subject to this qualification, that 1 should make the law degree selective —that is to say, you might have an option of subjects. You need not have all the subjects that are on the list, but you may select them, as is done in most countries. 43. Hon. Mr. Allen.] Specialize in law?— That is specializing in law. 44. Mr. Sidty.] Supposing you got what you say is necessary —that is. you get another four lecturers and another assistant, which would give you a completely equipped school—you would then, I understand, have no objection to what is provided for as the minimum for the other colleges? —None whatever. 45. Then your only objection is to spending public money before Wellington is properly equipped? —Yes; and you will allow me to add that while you earmark sums for specialization in other subjects no sum is earmarked for law. 4G. You mean in the estimates? —No, in the report. 47. There has been a special vote granted in the estimates for years for specialization?— Yes. 48. Vim are referring to Mr. Hogben's report?— Certainly. I!). That there is no mention of specialization in any subject /---I take Table 1 on page 11 of the report. Each of the colleges gets ,£ll,OOO. 1 see that Canterbury gets £3,000 for engineering; Otago gets £1,000 for home science for the Hist time, .£l,OOO for mining, nearly ,£J,!M)U for medicine, and £1,100 for dentistry. 1 say, why should Victoria College in respect to law be the Cinderella / 50. Now, until Victoria College is thoroughly equipped in the matter of law, supposing the Law Societies and others interested find money for teaching in law, do you say that the State should not subsidize in the meantime? —Yes.

Professor HuNTEB examined. (No. 21.) 1. Hon. Mr. Allen.] I should like to ask a question about the specialization. The professors know that specialization in engineering is established and is a going concern in Canterbury, and that specialization in medicine, mining, and dentistry is also established in Otago. and, practically speaking, home science. They know those arc established, and that there is not much possibility of those being specialized in elsewhere. I want to know from you what suggestions vim have got to make with regard to other specializations which might be taken up at Victoria College or in Auckland; because, as far as I am concerned. I am very anxious to see the specializations spread, and if you can suggest that which would be useful to the Committee to enable it to come lo a conclusion in the way of specialization in Auckland or Victoria College 1 should be glad. 1 understand, for instance, you wish law in \ ictoria College. Have you any other suggestions to make? —We think a Royal Commission should inquire into this matter. The only other thing we say is that we have had specialization —the word " specialization " means very different things. but we have had grants for specialization in Victoria College. 2. For what purposes?— For science and law; and Auckland, 1 understand, has had a special school of mining, and wants to change to engineering. What we say is that the whole question of specialization in this country is of such paramount importance, considering the limited amount of public money there is for this purpose, that there ought to be a thorough inquiry before that point is determined. That is one point on which a Royal Commission could speak with authority.