98 THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



Further, the State required an accounting for the grant in aid. This 

 form of control was not very effective. Until abuses became notorious, 

 the Visitor seldom intervened. If difficult conditions were attached 

 to grants and inspectors became inquisitive and insistent, the uni- 

 versity was irritated rather than guided, and made outcry against 

 the curtailment of its freedom. 



To-day the British universities, through economic causes, the 

 rapid expansion of their numbers and expensive needs, are becoming 

 more and more dependent upon Treasury Grants. The Parliamentary 

 Grants Committee is exercising its authority with more vigour and 

 possibly with less discretion. The universities, in consequence, are 

 on the one hand clamouring for larger grants, and on the other protest- 

 ing loudly against infringements of their ancient liberties. 



There is much to be said on their side. Bureaucratic control is 

 seldom sympathetic, rarely appreciative of the aims and difficulties 

 of the distant local body and still more rarely patient and long suffer- 

 ing. 



But, on the other hand, if the subject repudiates "Taxation 

 without Representation," the State must deny "Support without 

 Control." In Canada, State support of sectarian colleges embittered 

 strife and wasted resources until in defence of self and of education 

 the State had to assume control. This was done by the democratic 

 governments which came after the granting of Responsible Govern- 

 ment. 



These governments at first administered the colleges through a 

 department of government. To this day this method is followed in 

 the administration of the Colleges of Agriculture in Nova Scotia, 

 Ontario and Manitoba. It was the method followed in Toronto until 

 1906. The method of departmental administration opened the door 

 to the suspicion of party patronage, an outrage to the traditions of 

 university freedom. 



The Toronto Act of 1906 changed all this. It (and in this it was 

 followed by the Acts of Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia and 

 Manitoba) guaranteed the freedom of the university from both 

 political and sectarian interference by placing its government in the 

 hands of an independent Board of Governors, and by holding the 

 President responsible for all academic appointments. Thus was the 

 State university removed from the suspicion of political interference 

 and the academic character of its staff guaranteed. Nevertheless, the 

 strong and abiding safeguard of academic freedom is to be found only 

 in the vigorous and enlightened opinion of the people from whom the 

 university receives its support and whose interest it serves. 



