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Salient. An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria University College, Wellington N.Z. Vol. 21, No. 11. September 17, 1958
Hamilton University
Hamilton University
The Government decision to establish a training college at Hamilton has raised the question of whether a University ought to be established near the college. To do so now would be a considerable advantage to the college students and would also relieve pressure on the other universities. The report of the committee established to investigate the question proposes that the university should teach only some Stage I arts subjects at the beginning and later as the population of Hamilton increases, to attain full status. The committee also proposes that the university at Hamilton should be administered as a "satellite" of Auckland and should be closely associated with the training college.
Auckland, however, regards this scheme as an unwarranted use of finance as Hamilton will for some time have only a limited population which hardly justifies the establishment of a university. Further, not all training college students seek a university education and it is estimated that of the 350 Hamilton Training College students only about 60 will enrol at the university. Of that small number, the Auckland report states that, judging by the Ardmore Scheme, less than half will pass the examinations and most will be a bare 50%.
The whole scheme is academically unsound as the training college students are not receiving a proper university education.
Moreover, since the universities have difficulty in obtaining necessary finances, it would be unwise to attempt such a scheme under such circumstances.
Rather the Training College students at Hamilton who show that they will benefit by university education should be transferred to Ardmore, where Stage I subjects are taught by the University of Auckland.
If this scheme is impracticable then the Auckland University report suggests that the N.Z. University should establish a competent and properly staffed extramural centre at which the Hamilton students could enroll.
Supporting the view of Auckland, Prof. Gordon referred to Vic's experience with Palmerston North Training College. He said that out of a roll of over 300 only a few took advantage of the Stage I subjects taught. The average pass is quite low in standard and does not seem to justify the increased expense per student. He criticised the Department of Education for attempting to tag University development on to Training College development.
Under the circumstances and also as the University of Auckland had its own difficulties to solve it would seem that a new university is unwarranted.
Dr. Currie expressed the view [unclear: that] this was the time to start a [unclear: new] university if the present ones [unclear: are] going to be kept to a reasonable size.
Financially it is cheaper to [unclear: enlarge] the present universities but [unclear: fo] academic reasons new [unclear: universities] should be built. New Zealand universities, he said, are going to be [unclear: far] too large; Auckland, by 1972 [unclear: will] have over 9,000 full-time students which far exceeds the optimum [unclear: size] of [unclear: a] university which he estimated [unclear: a] approximately 5,000.
Although a university at Hamilton will benefit only a few people a present a start was necessary so [unclear: that] when the peak of university [unclear: entrance] is reached, Hamilton will be able [unclear: to] relieve the pressure on the other [unclear: four] universities.
Dr. Currie also pointed out that [unclear: a] university contributes much to [unclear: the] social, cultural and educational [unclear: life] of the people in that area and [unclear: he] felt that the people of [unclear: Hamilton] have a right to this advantage.
Financially it is quite likely [unclear: that] the new university would use [unclear: money] that was not available to the [unclear: other] universities.
Dr. Beeby pointed out that [unclear: the] training college was not the [unclear: reason] for a new university but that the increasing number of students attending universities would bog [unclear: down] Stage I classes unless some [unclear: attempt] was made to build new [unclear: universities] where they were necessary.
He also referred to the difficulty of the Government if the Senate [unclear: did] not support the scene for a university at Hamilton. If it went [unclear: ahead] with plans for a training [unclear: college] only, it would be accused of [unclear: short]-sightedness. If the Government [unclear: did] plan for a university then it [unclear: would] be accused of interfering in university affairs without support from the Senate. Whatever the Government did it would be wrong unless the Senate approved of the scheme.
He expressed his agreement with Dr. Currie's remarks and thought that Hamilton was the place for the new university that is necessary.