HC Deb 27 July 1915 vol 73 cc2224-9

(1) It shall be lawful for the University Courts of the four Scottish Universities to submit to His Majesty in Council a joint representation showing that it is expedient that specified provisions of Ordinances applicable to one or more of the Universities, or to the Joint Board of Examiners, should be modified or suspended in their application to graduates, students, or intending students, who are, or have been, engaged in naval, military, or other public service connected with the present War.

(2) It shall be lawful for His Majesty in Council to refer such joint representation to the Scottish Universities Committee of the Privy Council, who shall report to His Majesty thereon.

(3) It shall be lawful for His Majesty in Council to approve such joint representation or any part thereof; and by Order to confer, under such conditions and for such time as may in the said Order be prescribed, upon each University Court, and upon the Joint Board of Examiners, the power, after consultation with the Senatus Academicus concerned, to modify or suspend the application to such graduates, students, or intending students, of the specified provisions, or any of them.

Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Clause stand part of the Bill."

Mr. WATT

This is a measure in which my Constituents are interested, as I have the honour to represent a constituency in which one of these universities lies. I have no desire to oppose the Bill; I rise simply to ask a question. Under this Clause a joint representation of the four universities is required in order to modify or suspend an Ordinance. An Ordinance may apply to only one of the universities, and yet this Clause insists that the four universities should present a joint representation to His Majesty in Council. I wish to ask whether it is necessary that the four universities should act unitedly in this matter? The right hon. Gentleman is well aware that in many cases it is difficult to get unanimity of action. An evil may exist in only one university, and the others may not be sympathetic. I think that perhaps the right hon. Gentleman is making a mistake in insisting on a joint representation in order to get a modification which applies to only one university.

The SECRETARY for SCOTLAND (Mr. McKinnon Wood)

This is a proposal of the universities themselves. The object is that all the universities should deal with the matter in the same way, and that no university should deal with it in a manner which would give it any advantage over any other university. I am sure my hon. Friend will agree that that is a desirable course, and will offer no further opposition.

Question put, and agreed to.

Bill reported without Amendment.

Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Bill be now read the third time."

Sir H. CRAIK

I am sure the House will allow me to pay to these Scottish universities, two of which I have the honour to represent, a tribute which I think the House will agree their conduct in this crisis fully deserves. If there is one thing more than another which distinguishes the Scottish universities, it is that they are rooted in the soil. They have traditions of 500 years, during which they have been linked with all the memories, with all the storm and stress of the history of their country; and I think that all who know what their conduct has been will agree that they have acted up to their traditions during the present crisis. These Scottish universities are, above all, popular institutions, not in the sense of being lower in their standard of education, but in the sense of being framed to meet the needs of the country which they have to serve. The students at these universities are drawn from every corner of the country, the remotest glens and the humblest purlieus of the city. They come as the result of hard toil, earnest thrift, and long years of self-sacrifice on the part of Scottish parents. So much the more does the breaking of their career, which the service of the Crown now demands, mean for these students. They have not come there merely to get a top-dressing of education; they have come as the result of toil and sacrifice to make their careers. So much the greater is the sacrifice they make in breaking those careers.

I wish briefly to state the facts with regard to the two universities which I represent. From Glasgow University over 2,000 graduates and students are now serving with the Colours. In addition, there are a large number in the Royal Army Medical Corps, which is largely recruited from these Scottish students. Besides those, 250 Glasgow students have bound themselves to serve in munition works, not for a certain number of weeks or months, not merely during the holidays, but to the end of the War. They have paid their toll, and a very heavy toll it is. We have had more than 100 casualties. On the other hand, we are proud to have had one Victoria Cross, three Distinguished Service Orders, and three Military Medals. The students of St. Margaret's College have not been behind, more than 100 of them having given their services. From Aberdeen, the smaller university, 1,200 students are serving with the Colours, and more than 100 have given their lives for the country. I have only to quote two or three words uttered by the principals of these universities. The principal of Glasgow University, Sir Donald Mac-Alister, said:— These sacrifices have been made by our students and graduates for the country and the university, which stands or falls with the country's cause. Principal George Adam Smith, of Aberdeen University, said:— Dear and supreme is our duty to God, to the liberal institutions with the development of which He has entrusted us throughout the Empire, to our heroic neighbours of Belgium, and to the sacred cause of good faith among the peoples of Europe. The Scottish universities cannot perhaps claim the great endowments of the ancient seats of learning. They have traditions of which they are as proud, which have made them as great as these other seats of learning. I think the House will agree that they have not fallen short of these traditions in the great services that they are rendering to the country in this time of crisis.

Mr. LYNCH

Before this Bill finally passes from this House I should like to say two or three words which I trust will have a salutary effect on education in Scotland. Whatever diffidence I might feel would be dispelled by the words of Burns himself:— At gath'rin' votes you were na slack; Now stand as tightly by your tack, Ne'er claw your lug, an' fidge your back An' hum an' haw, But raise your arm, an' tell your crack Before them a'.

Mr. BOOTH

Will the hon. Member translate that?

Mr. LYNCH

Burns is always in season. What I have to lay to the charge of the Scottish universities is that they have fallen away from the true spirit of Burns. They have lacked that inspiration. I speak in this way because no man more than myself has a greater admiration for Scottish genius—not only for the light and bright flashes of Scottish men, but also for their indomitable perseverance, persistence, and pertinacity. These qualities are not now rendering themselves full justice in this year of grace, 1915, and to this genius of Scotland; for, after all, those qualities have been famous in every walk of life throughout the world. The intellectual product of Scotland in these latter days is not a credit to Scotland. [HON. MEMBERS: "Withdraw!"] That would be brought home if one were to trace out the separate parts of great studies in which Scotland shone of yore. I refer to one, that of mathematics. Scotland as a nation has the great names of Napier, Maclauren, and many other great mathematicians, with many others of lesser rank. What is Scotland doing to-day in that field? I do not wish to discourage any activities, but the fact remains that the output of Scotland, in this branch in which Scotland of yore was distinguished, is small in comparison with Great Britain, and small in comparison with that of Europe.

Take the case of Scottish thought. The great German philosopher Kant, after all, was of Scottish descent—of a very honoured descent. His grandfather was a Scottish saddler or shoemaker I believe. He is the great star of German philosophy. He is so, I believe, by virtue of true Scottish qualities, of a great desire for truth and by a true persistence in tracing out the lines of analysis in order to reach the foundation on which a great system of thought may be erected. I say this, although I believe the whole transcendental philosophy to be radically false. Then descending from, or rising to, Kant, we have others who perhaps even more reveal or show genuine Scottish genius—men of the Common-sense school—Reid, Brown, and Dugald Stewart, and Abercrombie—

Mr. HEALY

And Pringle!

An HON. MEMBER

Where is he?

Mr. LYNCH

The name of an hon. Member held in honour in this House has been mentioned. I join in that honour, because I recognise that every time he speaks he does so, not only with shrewd common sense, but with that sparkle, wit, and humour which we delight to associate with the Scottish mind. I believe, however, that even in its best days true Scottish thought was clouded; and clouded by devotion to false traditions, by a certain conventional attitude toward great truths, and frequently towards minor truths as these affect society. It is because that tendency is becoming deepened that I rise to utter a protest which I hope may influence Scottish Members, and especially Scottish University Members, and will sink deep into the minds of young Scottish students, of whom I have the greatest hopes for the future. To go back to Burns again, who is always in order. He was a true Scottish saint—one of those for whose possession I envy Scotland. I should like to see arise in Ireland one similar, one not only endowed with the faculty of song, and wit, and humour, but inspired by that noble emotion which accompanies aspirations for the onward march of humanity itself. Scotland must return to the spirit of Burns. I doubt if there are many Scottish Members in this House who can quote Burns—at any rate, from beginning to end. [Laughter.] Yes, but that is not too great a desideratum, and I think it should be placed as a sort of sine qua non before Parliamentary candidates in Scotland. They have fallen away. They now worship false idols. In place of the pure breathing inspiration of Burns, we find a stuffy atmosphere of mid-Victorian furniture. Burns is so actual that one may quote him concerning the actual conditions prevailing to-day, even in the House of Commons. Let me quote again from the poem that I quoted from at the beginning:— Yon mixtic-maxtie, queer hotch-potch, The Coalition! [Laughter.] That is received with laughter. I much regret it. My purpose is serious. But I will not follow those arguments further. I hope that these few significant words will sink into the heart and mind of any Scottish Members and any Scottish students now growing up, for it is on them we must build—on the untrammelled, unsophisticated minds, is the hope for the future. I should like to say this to the universities of Scotland. Instead of following their routine derived in great part from England, they should become exemplars, marching in the foremost ranks of thought, capable of vying with the great universities—I will dare to say it—of Berlin and Paris. This is due to Scottish genius, Scottish thought, Scottish courage, to those qualities which throughout the ages have illuminated and honoured the Scottish race.

Sir R. FINLAY

I do not rise to follow the hon. Member who has just spoken, and who, I gather from some of his remarks, is not altogether satisfied with the direction of thought and action in Scottish universities at the present time. I am perfectly certain, however, that there is one sphere with which even the martial ardour of the hon. Member who has just addressed the House will be satisfied in the Scottish universities, and that is the part they have taken in this War. But I really only rose to express on behalf of the Universities of Edinburgh and St. Andrews, which I have the honour to represent, our great satisfaction at the passing of this. Act. It is a measure which has been introduced in deference to, first of all, the Scottish Members; and I desire also to express my acknowledgments to the Secretary for Scotland for having in this way, and having being permitted by the House, to give effect to the desire entertained by everyone of us.

Question put, and agreed to.

Bill read the third time, and passed.