656 PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION J. 



achieved at all, by the operation of small and tentative jji-ocesses- 

 which will enable the various colonies to discern the strength 

 which comes from union and the advantages which are derived 

 from co-operation. 



The object of this paper is to show that it is desirable that some 

 efforts should be made to secure in some measure, and for certain 

 purposes, a federation of the Universities of Australia. When one 

 first appioaches this subject of federation of the universities one 

 is apt to rush to the conclusion tliat a complete federation is the 

 thing that ought to be aimed at, or else to come, somewhat 

 hastily, to the opinion that one university would be sufficient for 

 the whole of Austx-alia. I confess that at one time I held to ihe 

 latter opinion. It seemed to me preposterous that a population of 

 some 4,000,000, the large bulk of which is engaged in the develop- 

 ment of a new country, and forced by their circumstances to be 

 busy with the satisfaction of their material wants, should require 

 so many seats of learning ; but, closer observation seems to teach 

 that the foundation of these institutions is warranted by facts. 

 First, there is the wide distances which would have to be travelled 

 by students from Melbourne and SA'dney if the sole university 

 were, e.g., in Adelaide ; secondly, there would be the loss of 

 inspiration which a local institution breathes ; and, thirdly, there 

 is the fact that the various colonies are rapidly developing an ethos 

 of their own, and this will be best fostered, encouraged, and 

 directed by those who best understand it. Neither does it seem to 

 my mind expedient that the universities should be bound together 

 by too closely binding a tie. In days when socialism in everything 

 is, rightly or wrongly, widely and loudly advocated it must not be 

 forgotten that individualism has some rights and claims. The 

 individuality of local tone and local color already observable in all 

 the universities should, I venture to think, be to some extent pi-eserved. 

 I, for one, do not wish to destroy it, but I do think that great ad- 

 vantages would accrue to the three seats of learning in Australia if 

 joint examination boards were appointed to conduct the examina- 

 tions for degrees. But, it may be asked, why only do this for the 

 examinations for degrees ? Why not have joint boards to examine 

 in the yearly examinations ? He is an unwise general who, in 

 leading, goes too far in advance of his army. I do think that 

 much would be gained by having all examinations conducted on a 

 joint system, but I do not wish to go further just now than I am 

 likely to have followers ; and besides, I see more difficulty in the 

 latter cases than in the one I have now in hand. 



As an abstract proposition, I fancy that few would object to the 

 correlation of the universities quoad their curricula. Their object, 

 I take it, is one and the same, viz., the promotion of sound learn- 

 ing ; and the means whereby they seek to attain their object is 

 much the same, i.e., broadly speaking, the same subjects, both 

 qualitatively and quantitatively, are taught and tested ; and, as 



