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needs, and there is reason to hope that next session we shall have as large an increase of students as we had this year. In conclusion, gentlemen, 1 would therefore beg you to ask the Minister ol' Education to consider these facts at the earliest possible moment, and decide to allot £1,000 per annum to establish the home science course permanently. 1 would point out that already Government is subsidizing Mr. Studholme's contribution and that of the Citizens Committee to the extent of £500 per annum, so that we are only asking that this provision be raised to .£I,OOO per annum and made permanent." In considering our plea for help for the various departments of work in our college it may not be unfitting that 1 should remind you of the generous way in which the citizens of Dunedin have helped the Otago University from time to time. We have received from various sources by way of subscriptions, gifts, and bequests over £56,000. Add to this that the Presbyterian Church pays £1,800 per annum for the salaries of the Professors of English, Physics, and Mental and Moral Science, and it will at once be seen that we have done much in the way of self-help, and that our present asking is not the result of public indifference to the claims of our College. In no part of the Dominion has so much been done by the people, apart from the Government, for University education. With confidence, then, we urge upon the Committee the claims of the Otago University, and ask that liberal provision be made for meeting the needs of our Medical School, our arts and science department, and the Home Science School. 1 also desire to read the following letter which 1 have received from the professors and lecturers of the University : — " 10th September, 1913. —The Chancellor, University of Otago, Dunedin. —Dear Sir, —Knowing that you are about to give evidence before the Education Committee of the House we wish you to understand clearly our attitude towards University reform. We need hardly say that we are in no way privy to Dr. Irwin Hunter's attack on the Medical School, and that we thoroughly disapprove of the one-sided account of his evidence that was supplied to the Press. In explanation of the Otago petition for a lioyal Commission we may state that we felt that, after the arbitrary way in which the Senate treated the proposals of the conference and abolished the conference itself, it was impossible to secure reform by any other means than a Royal Commission. We consider, however, that if we can secure the acceptance of the principle of academic control of purely academic matters (for instance, of regulations for degrees and conduct of examinations for degrees and scholarships) subject to review by the Senate, the University may be satisfactorily reformed from within. We shall be grateful if you will make this statement on our behalf. — Yours faithfully, John Malcolm, D. B. Waters, E. Pinder, C. 6. White, D. J. Richards, W. S. Roberts, J. K. H. Inglis, H. P. Pickenll, W. J.. Boys-Smith, G. II Rawson, Geo. W. Reid, 11. L. Ferguson, W. M. Macdonald, James Park, Win. B. Benham, 11. D. Bedford, T. D. Adams, Geo. E. Thompson, Sydney T. Champtaloup, 1 ,, . Fitchett." The Chairman: 1 have received the following letter: "Otago Boys' High School Kectory, Dunedin, 10th September, 1913.—T0 G. M. Thomson, Esq., M.P., Chairman, Education Committee, Wellington.—Dear Sir, —1 was asked this afternoon by Dr. Inglis to sign a petition in connection with University reform. I declined to do so, as J objected to the second paragraph, which stated, 'We need hardly say that we are not privy to Dr. Hunter's attack on the Medical School,' or words to that effect. 1 told Dr. Inglis that I thought it was an insult to us as a stall' to suggest such a thing, but he assured me that certain suggestions to that effect are being made by responsible people, and he told me that if I did not sign the petition it might be suggested that 1 approved of Dr. Hunter's attitude. 1 prefer to take up what seems to me to be a more dignified attitude, and to believe that nobody would publicly make such a statement. That is my sole reason for declining to sign. With tin , rest of the petition lam quite in sympathy. —Yours faithfully, F. H. Campbkll, Lecturer in German." 1. Mr. Hanan (to witness).] I understand you have made a study of University administration and education in New Zealand?— Well, 1 have been intimately connected with it as a student or as a member of the Council of the Otago University anil as a member of the Senate of the New Zealand University since 1875. I have also studied in Edinburgh, Jena, Leipsic, and Berlin. That is my only claim. 2. Y"ou have read the case submitted to this Committee, and also really to the public, for University reform in this country? I read it when it came up before. I was not aware that 1 was coming to give evidence before this Committee until a few days ago, and 1 had no expectation whatever of giving evidence on this large question of University reform, and therefore I have not refreshed my memory as to the statements in the pamphlet since about two years ago. .'!. The Chairman.] The University asked if you could come up and lav a statement before us regarding the financial needs of the University?— Yes. I am quite prepared to answer the quea tiotis on the larger question of University reform. What I mean is that 1 could not profess to answer questions on the pamphlet offhand, as I have not looked it up for two years. i. Mr. Hanan.] From what you have read in regard to the allegations contained in this petition, do you think it necessary to have a Royal Commission appointed? —No, 1 do not. I think that the needs of reform are so well known—all that can be said for ami against the present condition of University education —that the Senate may safely be left, with any pressure that is necessary from outside, to do all the necessary reform itself. I do not think that in regard to University reform the movement should be rapid. It is just as well that reforms should take place gradually, and I think that a Commission is quite unnecessary. Of course, I do not sa\ that reform is not necessary. I think there is no institution in which reform is not needed iii many directions, but I believe that the Senate can do what is necessary itself. 5. Are there any outstanding reforms that you would suggest? -The most outstanding is the one 1 am at present here about —that is, to furnish the various colleges with more funds to enable them to do the work that is required of them. 6. The " sinews of war "1 —Yes, 1 think so.