History of council, 1895-1916

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COUNCIL OF EDUCATION,

WITWATERSRAND.

HISTORY of COUNCIL,

1895-1916.

Johanucaburg :
Argus Co., Limited.— -181)16.

GIFT OF

COUNCIL OF EDUCATION,

WITWATERSRAND.

HISTORY of COUNCIL,

1895—1916.

Johannesburg :
Argus Co., Limited.— 18916.

" The year under review is the 20th since the formation of the Council,
the twenty-first anniversary having been reached in April, 1916. We
therefore considered it desirable to publish, by way of celebrating that
anniversary, a history of the Council's activities since its foundation. "-

(Extract from report of Syndic for year ended 30th September, 1915.
Presented to Council '2 1st July, 1916.)

SECRETARY :

ALFRED WAUGH, F.C.I. S.,
P.O. Box 854.

OFFICES :

AFRICAN BANKING CORPORATION CHAMBERS,
JOHANNESBURG.

History of the Council of Education,
Witwatersrand.

April 2nd, 1916, was the twenty-first anniversary of the foundation
of the Council of Education, Witwatersrand. The Executive, has
thought that this is a fitting occasion to publish a short history of the
Council, showing how it came to exist, and giving a sketch of its
various operations which have had a far-reaching influence in connection
with almost every kind of educational activity on the Witwatersrand.

The Council owes its inception to the unsatisfactory conditions that
prevailed on the Witwatersrand in respect to the education of English-
speaking children in the early nineties. In order to convey more
clearly what these conditions were and how they arose, it is necessary
to give a brief account of the earlier educational legislation in the
8outh African Eepublic.

EARLY EDUCATIONAL LEGISLATION IN THE TRANSVAAL.

The first published Education Law of the South African Republic
was Law No. 4, of 1874. In terms of this Law three classes of schools
\\vre recognised — (1) Ward Schools, (2) District Schools, and (3) Gym-
nasium (at Pretoria). In practice the W7ard School was described as a
Farm " School, and the District School as a " Town " School. The
Svmnasium was not realised till 1893. In terms of this Law, instruc-
tion was undenominational. The medium was Dutch or English at the
will of the parents. Thus, when the first School Inspector (Mr. Van
Gorkum) arrived in the Transvaal, in 1876, there were eight Farm
Schools. There were four schools in which the medium was wholly
English, viz., Pretoria, Heidelberg, Lydenburg and Zeerust, with a
total of seventy-one pupils. In three schools — Pretoria, Potchefstroom
and Lydenburg, with fifty pupils, the medium was Dutch. One school,
with twenty-nine pupils, had both Dutch and English as the medium.

The next educational legislation of significance was Law No. 1, of
1HH2. The distinctions between town and country schools ceased ;
Lower Education (Standards I. — III.) and Middle Education (Standards
IV. — VI.) were recognised, and annual subsidies of £3 and £5 per
pupil were paid on account of the respective groups. This law laid
it down that schools were toJ^ opened and closed by prayer, but that

doctrinal instruction was Vo "be left to the Churches. The medium of
instruction was to be Dutch. The medium clause was not rigidly
enforced and English schools, as a rule, had no difficulty in earning
their subsidy. A reference to the number of pupils undergoing instruc-
tion furnishes evidence as to the liberal spirit of the Administration.
Thus, in 1883, the year after the publication of the Law, numbers had
nearly doubled, and in 1892 they had increased tenfold.

From 1892 onwards a marked change of attitude towards education
on the part of the Transvaal legislators is observable. Discussions in
the Volksraad during the few years immediately prior to this betrayed
much uneasiness as to the possible effect of the existing system of
education upon the spirit of nationality. Thus, when the propriety of
paying bursaries to students in Europe was under debate, a member
urged that the boy would return as a stranger to the land. Another
member put an end to the argument by pointing out that Moses was
educated at a foreign court, and on his return he was not only a patriot,
but became the leader of his people. In reply to a member, arguing
against the English language, it was shown that many who had been
educated at the Cape had fought in the War of Independence, and were,
therefore, nothing the worse for knowing the language.

Mr. Mansvelt, a teacher from the Victoria College in Stellenbosch,
had been appointed Superintendent of Schools in 1891. In the following
year Law No. 8, of 1892, appeared. The more important provisions
of this Law were as follows : —

1, All teachers must be members of a Protestant Church.

2. All lesson books must be written in Dutch. Not more than

three hours per week, in Standards I. — III., and four hours
in Standards IV. —VI. may be devoted to instruction in a
foreign language.

Under (2) all English-speaking children, including many from the
Cape, were excluded, and Eoman Catholics and Jews were subject to a
further disability under (1).

The arguments addressed by Mr. Mansvelt to recalcitrant Boers,
in support of the new legislation, are significant. ' The use of
English," he says, " is fraught with serious consequence to our
national existence " and he inveighs bitterly against the parents who
have sent their children to English schools " where they can get fuller
scope to their short-sighted desires . " As a result of two years' working
of this Law attendance at schools foil off 27.7 per cent, throughout
the Eepublic and about 40 per cent., taking the town schools alone.

It was estimated that the bringing into effect of Law No. 8, of 1892,
resulted in turning some 2,261 children out of the schools of the Trans-
vaal. The Witwatersrand, being largely an English-speaking centre,
was the most seriously affected. The exodus of children from schools
brought about an agitation amongst those on the goldfields interested
in education, and the result was a Volksraad Resolution purporting to
meet the case of private schools by a subsidy. The subsidy was to be
paid on account of English-speaking children who learnt Dutch, but
the payment was so hedged round with conditions as to render it almost
impossible for schools to earn it. At no period were there more than
200 children earning the subsidy under this resolution.

COUNCIL OF EDUCATION, WITWATERSRAND.
Efforts were made by the Transvaal National Union and other
bodies to induce the Government to make some special provision for
the education of English-speaking children, but without result. The
obduracy of the Government set men's minds working in order to find
a way out. Various plans were proposed, but the credit of suggesting
u scheme calculated to deal with the problem in a practical manner
is due to the late Mr. H. S. Caldecott. At a meeting, held in Johan-
nesburg, on April 2nd, 1895, Mr. Caldecott addressed the assemblage
on the subject of " Our Boys and Girls." After showing what had been
done in the two. South African Colonies and the Republic of the Free
State, Mr. Caldecott pointed out what was not being done in the Trans-
vaal, and especially in Johannesburg, and he went on to say : — "I think
an Educational Council should be elected by the people, who should
draw up a charter and appoint trustees and collect funds, and establish
and endow the schools I have indicated, on broad and liberal principles."
The. meeting adopted Mr. Caldecott's proposal; considerable sums were
subscribed on the spot and a body, with the title of Council of Educa-
tion, Witwatersrand, was elected to administer the funds.

PRELIMINARY WORK.

The Council forthwith proceeded to collect further funds and to
secure the services of an official in order to give effect to the aims it
had in view. Mr. John Robinson was appointed Secretary and Director
and he assumed duty in September,. 1895.

Mr. Robinson at once proceeded to traverse the reef from end to
end and to visit schools in order not only approximately to ascertain
how many children were not attending school, but also to gauge, as
nearly as possible, the value and extent of the educational work actually
being done.

From Mr. Robinson's report it appeared that one child out of
every three of school-going age was not attending school, and that
the prevailing type o£ school was the small private adventure school.
In Johannesburg itself, including half a dozen mines in the immediate
vicinity, there were 55 Uitlander schools. Of these 13 were housed
in school buildings, 14 in churches and 28 in rooms of private dwellings.
Only 46 out of 187 teachers working in these schools held teachers'
certificates. The number of children of school -going age was esti-
mated at 6,000, and it appeared that about 2,000 were not attending
school.

A comprehensive scheme, intended principally to meet the needs of
2,000 children on the reef (excluding Johannesburg proper), who were
not attending school, was submitted. A plan of the reef, showing the
sites of the proposed schools, was prepared. This scheme involved a
capital expenditure of £60,000. It was clear that so large a sum was
not likely to be forthcoming from individual donors, and efforts were
made to interest the Chamber of Mines in the matter. The Chamber
met the Council's advances in a friendly spirit, and approved of the
scheme. A scale of assessment was drafted, under which the mines
were recommended to furnish the Council, not only with the capital
sum required, but also with a liberal annual contribution towards
maintenance. The Jameson raid took place at this juncture, and the
political uncertainty of the subsequent months made it impossible to
press the mines to give effect to the Chamber's recommendation

CONSTITUTION OF COUNCIL.

Meanwhile the Council had taken steps to have its status in the
Republic defined. A trust deed was drawn up in terms of which the
gentlemen, elected at the public meeting in April of 1895, were to
form the first Council. The following names are appended to the
original trust deed : —

J. G. Auret. C. Jeppe.

A. Bailey. Chas. Leonard.

B. Bertram. H. B. Marshall.
H. S. Caldecott. Lionel Phillips.
S. H. Farrar. T. Reunert.

E. Hancock. \Y. H. Rogers.

H. J. Hofmeyr. J. Tudhope.

The constitution conferred powers to found and maintain schools,
to support or subsidise schools not founded by the Council, to support
or assist technical or night schools, endow bursaries, and, generally, to
further education within the area of its operations. The sphere of
work was restricted to the Witwatersrand, but might be extended to
any other part of the Republic by resolution of the Council. The deed'
was registered in Pretoria in March of 1896. As several of the signa-
tories were associated with the Reform Movement, the document had,
in these cases, to be taken to the prison in Pretoria for signature.

With a view to expediting its work, the Council, under the pro-
visions of its constitution, appointed an Executive Committee, called
the Syndic. Very full administrative powrers were delegated to this
body. A finance committee was also appointed at this time.

THE COUNCIJ, AND PRIMARY EDUCATION.

The unrest of the first months of 1896 was followed, towards the
end of the year, by a sense of impending reforms, which rendered
impossible the prosecution of the Council's scliemes, as laid before the
Chamber of Mines. Rumours regarding the appointment of an indus-
trial commission suggested the possibility of general emendatory
measures, and it was thought by many that heroic voluntary effort in
the cause of education would be equally impolitic and unnecessary.
Furthermore, stimulated thereto by the activity of the Council, an
amendment to the Education Law, in the interests of non-Dutch
speaking children, was promised, and private donors became reluctant
to furnish funds to meet needs for which the new Law was expected
to provide.

The educational conditions, as revealed by Mr. Robinson's investi-
gations, were, however, too serious to allow the Council to be greatly
influenced either by the unrest or by the ensuing optimism, and it was
resolved to get to work and make the most of the available funds.
About £7,000 had been raised by private subscription, w-hilst a judicious-
purchase and sale of land added some £3,000 to this amount. Regula-
tions were drafted, subject to which assistance might be dispensed to-
deserving schools, and a code of instruction for use in schools was
drawn up. Before the end of 1896 the Council had three school proper-
ties of its own, and had assumed control of and financial responsibility
for three other schools. Every effort was made to make the schools;
efficient ; only trained and experienced teachers were employed. Build-
ings were improved and extended and equipped with approved furniture-

Good schools, not under the Council's control, were helped by .grants
varying in amount from £25 to £100. In this way it was hoped to
get the maximum of result from a minimum of expenditure.

SCIENCE CLASSES.

Whilst this work was going on strong representations were made
to the Council as to the need for instruction in Chemistry and Assaying
for the benefit of young men engaged in the Cyanide works and Assay
offices on the Mines. After consideration the Council resolved to
establish a 'series of science classes, and the services of Mr. John
Daniell, who was recommended to the Council as peculiarly fitted for
the work, were obtained from England to inaugurate the experiment.
A laboratory and class-room, in Harrison Street, were hired and
thoroughly equipped, and in January of 1897 classes in Physics,
Chemistry and Assaying were opened. The work was fairly successful,
but the difficulty of timing the classes to meet the case of students
working in various shifts, and coming from the mines at considerable
distances, with little in1 the way of transport facilities, brought about
irregularity of attendance and a consequent reduction in fees. The
strain of devoting considerable subsidies to these classes, in view of
the paramount importance of other educational work, was more than
the Council could bear, and the classes were closed after running for a
year and a half. The Council, however, had the satisfaction of seeing
several of its students obtain good positions on the Mines.

A SECONDAKY SCHOOL.

Towards the end of 1896 the opportunity of acquiring suitable
premises, at a reasonable cost, enabled the Council to carry out its desire
to establish a High School for boys. Certain existing school premises
at Fawcustown, in the Jeppestown area, were purchased and enlarged.
The building was completely furnished with the most modern furniture
and apparatus, and highly-qualified teachers were appointed. The
school was opened at the beginning of 1897 with 30 boys, and within
a year it was self-supporting, with an attendance of over 100. At a
later date -the control of this school passed to the parents of the Jeppes-
town district, and the school ultimately became the Jeppe High School.
At the beginning of 1898 the Council controlled educational work at
the following centres : —

Science Classes (Harrison Street). Jeppestown.
J)0oysens. Braamfontein.

Brickfields (S. Cyprians). Boksburg.

City and Suburban. Springs.

The attendance at this period was just under 1,000.

£100,000 FOE EDUCATION ON THE BAND.

Towards the end of 1898 the Council saw itself coming to the end
of its funds, and the question as to whether ii> should carry on its
work or wind up had to be seriously considered. The promised
amendment to the Government Education Law had been published in
August of 1890. This had done little to bring amelioration of the
educational conditions. In connection with the new law a ^presenta-
tive committee had been appointed for the Witwatersrand. consisting
of South African Dutch, Hollanders, Germans, Americans and English.

Tli is Board soon realised that it could do little or no good, and after
existing for six months, it resigned in a body. In March, 1898, the
Council addressed a letter to the Government, through the Burgomaster
:ind Mining Commissioner, suggesting a way in which it could be of
service to the Government. No reply was vouchsafed to this letter.

After careful consideration the Council resolved to carry on, and
not cxn.lv. to carry on, but, it' possible, to widen the scope of its work.
The ; Secretary Was directed to revise his statistics in view of the
increase of population and developments on the Mines, and the results
of his fresh investigations were embodied in a letter addressed to Mi1,
(now Sir Percy) Fitzpatrick. Sir Percy made this letter the basis of
,,an appeal to Messrs. Wernher, Beit and Co., and other financial houses
in London, interested in the Witwatersrand. The facts revealed by
the letter evoked considerable attention in London, and the appeal
resulted in subscriptions, amounting to nearly £100.000, being paid
into the Council's funds before April of 1899. The Council resolved,
if possible, to reserve the whole of this fund for capital expenditure,
and the mines were asked for a guarantee of £17,000 annually towards
the upkeep of schools. Guarantees amounting to nearly £13,000
annually for a period of three years had been received when war
broke out and temporarily put a stop to the Council's activities.

THE WAR PERIOD.

During the war period several meetings of the Syndic were held
at Capetown. The business at these meetings was, for the most part,
concerned with the care of the Council's funds. Towards the end of
1900 the Secretary was seconded, in order that he might assist the
Director of Education of the Transvaal (Mr. E. B. Sargant), to
establish schools in Johannesburg.

GOVERNMENT ASSUMES KESPONSIBILITY FOR PRIMARY

EDUCATION.

The end of the Boer War marked the beginning of a new era in the
work of the Council. The first annual meeting of the Council, held in
Johannesburg after the outbreak of the war, took place on the 19th of
March, 1902. At this meeting a report was submitted, in which the
following passage occurs : — ' Primary education has already been taken
vigorously in hand and it may be taken for granted that the State will
discharge to the full its duties in respect of Primary Education."

The report further pointed out that the Council would find ample
scope for its activities in connection with the establishing or aiding art
and technical schools and promoting the interests of Secondary and
Higher Education. The report w^as adopted and the Council was thus
embarked on a new sphere of usefulness.

TECHNICAL EDUCATION.

Immediately after the war the Council found itself called upon to
take an active part in connection with investigations regarding Technical
Education in South Africa. The Council's activities .in -this direction
have been clearly traced in a memorandum on Higher Education, sub-
mitted in November, 1907, by Mr. Theodore Reunert, the then Chair-

9

man of Council. The following is an extract from this memorandum :—

July 15th, 1902.—

On the 15th July, 1902, a letter from the Education Department
was read at this Council, requesting its co-operation in the prepara-
tion of a scheme for Technical Education. At the same meeting
22 gentlemen were nominated by this Council to form a Com-
mittee as representing the following branches of science : Engin-
eering, Mining,- Chemistry, Metallurgy, Surveying, Technology,
Geology, Architecture, Agriculture and Medicine.

October 10th, 1902.—

In the month of October following, the aforementioned Committee,
consisting of the nominees of this Council, and of two representa-
tives of the Education Department, presented its report, in which
it recommended : (1) " Bringing into existence an institution pro-
viding the highest kind of training in the arts and sciences con-
nected with mining, agriculture and other industries. (2) That
the said institution should be within easy reach of Johannesburg,
and (3) that this Technical Institute should form an integral part
of a Teaching University."

This Committee further recommended : —

(a) The appointment of a Special Commission to consider the
question in connection with the wider one of a South African
University; and

(b) That steps should forthwith be taken to meet the needs of
this district in respect to technical education.

December, 1902. —

In the first days of December following, a conference was held in
Johannesburg, between the above Committee and representatives
of the South African College and the Kimberley School of Mines,
at which it was decided to transfer the work of that school to
Johannesburg.

January 2nd, 1903.—

Early in January, 1903, a Commission was appointed " to inquire
into the steps to be taken to bring into existence an institution
which should form part of a Teaching University and which should
provide the highest training in the arts and sciences connected with
mining and other industries."

This Commission, comprising nearly all the members of the
previous Committee, with representatives of the Chamber of
Alines, the Town Council and the Chamber of Commerce, consisted
of 33 members, and was presided over by the Director of Education.

July, 1903.—

In July, 1903, the Report of the Commission recommended,
inter alia : —

(1) " The immediate provision in temporary premises of
facilities for technical and scientific, as well as literary education,
of so high a standard as may be found practicable under the control
of a committee which shall ultimately develop into the governing
body of the Teaching University in this Colony."

(2) " The immediate provision, in Johannesburg, of a permanent
institution in the nature of a Polytechnic, to be situated on Plein
Square "; and

10

(3) " The immediate acquisition of a site for a Teaching Uni-
versity for the Colony, within a convenient distance of Johannes-
burg and Pretoria."

Under this third heading the Commission further reported as
follows : —

(a) " The most important branch of the University, at any rate
at the outset, will be the School of Mines, and it is therefore
evident that the University must be so situated that the students
may be within easy reach of the Mines."

(b) " For the same reason this site should be connected with
Johannesburg with a good railway or tram service."

(c) " It would be necessary for this site to be a large one, and
we believe it would be a wise provision to secure, at once, a whole
farm of several thousand acres."

A further reason for securing so large a site is to enable all
the different teaching and scientific departments of the Colony
tf K«^ congregated at one centre, so that the Teaching Staff of the
University, and the laboratories and apparatus of these various
institutions should serve for as large and varied a class of students
as possible."

(d) " In addition to the Teaching University, the following
institutions should be located on this site : —

1. The Agricultural School.

2. The State Laboratories for Chemistry and Pathology.

3. The Normal School for Teachers."

August, 1903. —

In the month following the presentation of the Commission's
Report, H.E. the Lieut. -Governor, appointed a body, under the
corporate title of the*" Transvaal Technical Institute," the powers
and functions of which were laid down as follows :—

1. "To give effect, as far as the funds placed at its disposal
will allow, to the recommendations of the Technical Education
Commission, detailed in the report under sub-title ' Preliminary
Arrangements," and

1. "To give effect, as far as the funds placed at its disposal
will be available for the carrying out of the Technical Education
Commission's recommendations, detailed under sub-titles ' Per-
manent Institution in Johannesburg ' and ' Permanent Colonial
Institute,' and to submit practical recommendations to the Lieut. -
Governor regarding the same."

The first Council of the Transvaal Technical Institute consisted
of 10 members, three of whom were nominated by the Education
Commission, three by the Witwatersrand Council of Education.
and three by the Government, with the addition of the Director
of Education as Chairman.
June, 1904.—

Early in 1904 the Council of the Institute was increased to 25
members, of whom seven were nominated by the Witwatersrand
Council of Education, which still (1907) has this number of repre-
sentatives on the College Council.

SECONDARY EDUCATION.

Towards the end of 1904 the need for better and increased housing
accommodation for Secondarv Schools in Johannesburg: became

11

insistent. The Council received a letter from the Director of Education
asking for a grant to Jeppestown. High School and Johannesburg
College. The Jeppestown High School was the lineal descendant of the
Eawcustown. School, established by the Council before the war, and
the Johannesburg College had a temporary home at Barnato Park.
New premises were required for both Schools. A contribution of
£10,000 to each school was asked for. About this time a Government
Commission had been appointed to go into the question of the require-
ments of Johannesburg in respect of Secondary Education. The Coun-
cil took the view that it ought to assist in the matter of Secondary
Education, provided that its contributions were expended in such a
way as to promote the best interests of the community. Accordingly,
after carefully considering the possible claims on its resources from
other directions, it was resolved to allocate the sum of £25.000 to
Secondary Education in Johannesburg, subject to conditions to be
decided upon after the publication of the Secondary Education Com-
mission's report. A further sum of £27,500 was set aside towards the
erection of a Public Boarding School at Frankenwald. Meanwhile the
Syndic was instructed to find out whether the Government would give
£2,500 more to each school if the Council did the same, whether suit-
able sites could be obtained without payment, and, finally, what steps
were being taken to provide a Secondary School for girls.

On receipt of the report of the Secondary Education Commission,
which recommended that . three new schools be erected, viz., one
for boys and girls at Jeppestowrn, one for boys on a site in Smit Street,
and one for girls in the neighbourhood of the Cleveland High School,
the Council at once definitely voted £12,500 to the Jeppestown School,
to be erected on a site of seven acres, to be given by the Witwatersrand
Township Company. A proposal to give £12,500 towards the erection
of a Secondary School in Smit Street was rejected, as the Council con-
sidered the site to be altogether unsuitable. Subsequently the proposal
to give £25,000 to Secondary Schools in. Johannesburg was modified
to read £7,500 each to Jeppe High School, Johannesburg College, and
a High School for Girls. In the case of the two latter the sites were
to be approved by the Council. A series of protracted discussions ensued
over the site question. The merits of the Smit Street site were urged
by the Government, but the Council refused to have anything to do
with it. Then three alternative sites were offered by the Braamfon-
tein Estate Company, in West Cliff, and in the vicinity of the Zoo.
One or other of these sites at first appeared to have attractions, but
they were ultimately rejected as being remote from the homes of the
greater number of boys who would require secondary education.
After considering the arguments for and against the various sites sug-
gested, the governing body of the Johannesburg College came to give
its exclusive adherence to a site on the Houghton Estate. The only
objection to this site appeared to be that it would be likely to inter-
fere with St. John's College, which was already established. It was
urged, however, that there was room for both schools, especially as
the type of boy for which each catered was not identical, and the
Houghton Estate site was, in the end, agreed upon. The question of
a site for the Girls' School was finally settled by Mr. Joel giving
Barnato Park for the purpose.

Throughout the controversy on the sites question the Council
resolutely adhered to the principle that sites should be obtained free.
It was finally found necessary to depart, in some measure, from this

12

principle, but the attitude of the Council was instrumental in effecting
a considerable reduction in the purchase prices originally proposed

THE SCHOOL OF MINES.

It has already been shown, under " Technical Education," page
8, how the Transvaal Technical Institute came into existence as the
result of the efforts of a committee on technical education, nominated
by the Council and a Technical Education Commission, on which
the Council was largely represented. The Technical Institute estab-
lished classes, making full provision for the work hitherto done by the
Kimberley School of Mines. Classes in various other branches of
engineering were added, and provision was made for the first two
years' course of scientific training, which the Kimberley students had
received at the South African College. Technical classes were also
arranged for at various centres on the Eeef .

The Technical Institute opened its doors in the premises of an
old tobacco factory in Kerk Street in the beginning of 1904. Mean-
while steps were taken to erect temporary buildings for the use of the
Institute in Plein Square. The Technical Education Commission had
recommended that Plein Square should be set aside to provide space
for a teaching institution and to house the public library and the
Scientific Societies of Johannesburg.

Owing to its intimate association with the various commissions
whose labours resulted in the founding of the Technical Institute — winch
Institution was everywhere approved as meeting an urgent need in
connection with the staple industry of the Band — the Council felt
itself bound in close ties of sympathy, with the Institute. This feeling
the Council gave expression to, in the first instance, by contributing
£4,500 annually for the first three years, towards carrying on the
Institute's work. In 1905, when the question of permanent buildings
in Plein Square came to be discussed, the Council expressed its
readin'ess to contribute £60,000, in addition to the £30,000 to be given
by Government, for the purpose of building. In 1906 the Technical
Institute added to its Mining and Engineering courses classes in Arts,
Literature and Law, and the Institute came to be known as the
' Transvaal University College." Later, after the removal of the Arts
and Literature courses to Pretoria, the title " South African School of
Mines and Technology " was adopted. The Council has the right to
nominate three members of the Council of the School of Mines, and
has continued to maintain a warm interest in the Institution to the
foundation of which it contributed so largely. This interest has found
practical expression in substantial contributions towards -equipment
and other needs, when occasion has arisen.

THE BEIT BEQUEST.

Mr. Alfred Beit died in July, 1906, and he left a legacy of
£200,000 to the Transvaal Government towards the founding of a
University on the Frankenwald Estate. Mr. Beit's will provided that
t-he legacy was to be used for the purposes mentioned within a period
of ten years, dating from his death. Meanwhile, interest on the
amount was to be paid to the " Board of Education, Johannesburg."
Later, by arrangement with the Beit Trustees, a friendly action was
brought in the High Court, and in terms of the award, the " Board
of Education, Johannesburg," was declared to mean " Council of
Education, Witwatersrand."

13

HIGHEK EDUCATION.

The history of the Council's relations with the Technical side of
Higher Education has already been dealt with under " Technical
Education," page 8. Its active intervention in connection with the
question, regarded in the broader sense, may be said to date from the
beginning of 1906, when the Technical Institute, with the Council's
approval, established classes in Arts, Literature and Law. It was
believed that these classes would meet a felt want. Unfortunately
the Government did not approve of the action of the Technical
Institute in establishing these classes, and whilst, during 1906 and
1907, it continued to contribute funds for the maintenance of the
Institute's work, it also, during those years, contributed to the main-
tenance of teachers, both at Johannesburg College and the Jeppestowii
High School, for the purpose of preparing students for the Inter-
mediate examination of the Cape University. As a result of this action
on the part of the Government, the number of Arts students was kept
down, and when, in 1907, a committee was appointed to consider the
question of Higher Education in the Transvaal, it was found difficult to
establish a case for the retention of the Arts students at the University
College.

The Higher Education Committee referred to above recommended,
inter alia : —

1. That the higher education of the Colony be organised under
three branches, divisions or departments of a single institution called
the Transvaal University College.

2. That the location of these three departments and the general
character of the work done be as follows : —

(a) Agricultural Courses at Frankenwald.

(b) Literary and Science Courses at Pretoria.

(c) Technical Courses at Johannesburg.

The report of the Committee was submitted to the Council of
the University College, who in turn sent it to the Council of
Education for its opinion.

Three special meetings were held to consider the question. The
Council cherished the view, also held by the Council of the University
College, that in the Technical and Arts Courses of the College they had
the beginnings of a complete teaching University, as recommended by
the Technical Education Commission, which would find its home at
Frankenwald. Moreover, it was felt that, both on the grounds of
efficiency and political expediency, one teaching institution for the
Transvaal had far more to recommend it than the tripartite scheme
proposed.

On November 26th, 1907, the Colonial Secretary, General Smuts,
came to Johannesburg to discuss the matter with the Council of the
University College and the Council of Education, Witwatersrand. In
support of the tripartite scheme the Colonial Secretary urged, inter alia :

1. That Johannesburg was already erecting expensive college

buildings where the technical work of a university character
would be carried on.

2. Pretoria had been given a grant of land on which to erect

University College buildings.

3. Agriculture, being a subject of a very technical character, the

school, in this branch, must first be controlled by the Govern-
ment, and when launched, could be handed over to the
Universitv

14

In reply it was pointed out : — -

1. That the building in Plein Square was only regarded as the

temporary home of the full mining school.

2. That when it became possible to remove the classes

of the preliminary mining course to some centre between
Johannesburg and Pretoria, the Plein Square building would
become the home of day and evening classes, technical and
other, of a less advanced character.

3. That the opportunity for social intercourse afforded by a great

teaching University, which was of such moment to the Trans-
.vaal as a cure for social ills, would be entirely lost if the
tripartite scheme were adopted.

Meanwhile it had been elicited, at a meeting of Council, held on
November llth, at which the Director of Education was present, that
provision had been made for carrying on the work at Pretoria, in terms
of the tripartite scheme, and the decision having in effect been taken,
despite the Council's objections, there only remained to be decided the
question as to whether there was to be one controlling body for the
Johannesburg and Pretoria institutions, or whether each was to have
separate governing bodies. At its meeting, held on the 31st January,
1908, to consider a further communication from the Colonial Secretary
on the question, the Council gave its reluctant consent to the tripartite
scheme.

With regard to the Colonial Secretary's final letter, it is worthy of
note : —

1. Whilst the Coloiiial Secretary regarded the Agricultural College

as of paramount importance and was of opinion that an institu-
tion of that kind was the most suitable beginning that could be
made w7ith the Beit Donation, and whilst there was a common
understanding that this portion of the scheme wras less pressing
and could, therefore, remain in abeyance, it was not agreed
that it should be abandoned.

2. It was clearly understood that the larger question of a University

for the Transvaal should not be disposed of by the proposed
re-organisation, but should only remain in abeyance.

At the meeting on January 31st, 1908, Messrs. W. F. Lance, J.
Gau, W. T. H. Frost and Dr. Hamilton were nominated to the four
seats retained by the Council on the joint governing body of the two
institutions. The two institutions separated in 1909, and the Council
retains the right to nominate three members on the governing body of
the local institution.

As a result of the removal of the Arts and Literature Courses
to Pretoria, the Council was approached, in 1909, by a number of
students, desirous of preparing for the Intermediate Examination of
the Cape of Good Hope University, with a request to have classes
established for them. The Council consented, and, in addition to the
Intermediate classes, B.A. classes were opened during the follow7in<j
year. Both series of classes were discontinued in 1913, although 15
students presented themselves, as it was felt that considerable expense
was being incurred in doing work that properly pertained to the Govern-
ment.

15

In 1911 a Commission on Higher Education came to Johannes-
burg and a representative of the Council gave evidence. The questions
addressed to the Council's representative appeared to be framed mainly
with a view to ascertain the extent of the Council's resources and how
access to them could be obtained.

In 1914 the University Commission sat at Johannesburg, under the
presidency of Sir Percival Laurence, K.C.M.G.

The following precis of a memorandum laid before the Com-
mission, sums up the Council's attitude regarding the University
question at that time : —

1. A University in or near Johannesburg has always been an ideal of

the Council, and the appreciation by Mr. Beit of the Council's
views on this point influenced him in bequeathing the sum of
£200,000 to establish a University at Frankenwald.

2. The recognition by the Beit Trustees that the title " Board of

Education," appearing in Mr. Beit's will, meant " Council of
Education," must be regarded as a recognition of the claim of
the Witwatersrand to benefit by Mr. Beit's generosity.

3. The Council, attracted by the idea of one National University

at Groote Schuur, agreed to support the proposal of Mr. Otto
Beit to add the £200,000 left for a Johannesburg University,
to the Wernher bequest of £300,000, in order to found a
National Institution.

4. The Council protests emphatically against the diversion of a

bequest primarily intended for Johannesburg, in the event of
the scheme for one National University being abandoned.

5. The Council further records its opposition to any Federal

University scheme, and declares that in case of the one
National University scheme being abandoned, it will return to
its original scheme of a Johannesburg University.

The Commission recommended that two Universities should be
constituted, one with the South African College, Capetown, and the
Victoria College, Stellenbosch, as its constituent colleges, and the
second at Pretoria. The Johannesburg School of Mines and Technology
was to be recognised as a faculty of both Universities.

The Government did not adopt the recommendations of the
University Commission. It should be noted that a Bill, providing for
one National University at Groote Schuur had been prepared some
years previously, and laid before the Union Parliament, but was
referred to a Select Committee after passing the second reading, and
finally withdrawn.

^The next development was the announcement, towards the end of
1915, of the Government's intention to bring in three Bills providing
for three separate Universities; one at Groote Schuur, a second at
Stellenbosch, and a third, with the colleges of the Union other than
the South African College and Stellenbosch, as constituent colleges,
without any defined home. The Council's opposition to this legislation
developed into a movement, embracing the whole of the Witwatersrand.
The clergy, doctors, teachers, school boards and municipalities united
in their denunciation of a policy that would deprive the most densely
populated district of the Union of facilities for University education.
The history of this agitation makes a story of itself, and is told
in an appendix hereto.

10

UNIVERSITY EXTENSION LECTURES.

In 1903 the Council resolved to set aside the sum of £500
for that year as a fund to provide lectures of a University
Extension ' character. It was proposed to arrange courses of
lectures by college professors and local men of scientific or
literary standing, and, if possible, in addition, arrange for lecturers
from overseas. The Council continued to give financial support
to this work, and the movement developed rapidly in the course of time.
In connection with the movement, lectures by overseas lecturers were
arranged, not only in Johannesburg, but also in the principal South
African towns. The public of South Africa were thus afforded an
opportunity of listening to men of world-wide repute, such as : Sir
Henry Miers, now Vice-Chancellor of Manchester University; Sir
Walter Raleigh, Professor of English Literature, Oxford; Mr. H. A. L.
Fisher, Vice-Chancellor of Sheffield University; Mr. Henry Balfour,
Director, Pitt-Rivers (Anthropological) Museum, Oxford and Mr. J. A.
Thomson, Regius Professor of Natural History, Aberdeen University.
It is of interest to note that Professor Thomson's South African
lectures formed the basis of his book on " Darwinism and Human
Life."

Various courses of lectures by local men were also arranged.

OVERSEAS SCHOLARSHIPS.

In view of repeated applications from young men and young women
for assistance to enable them to carry on their studies, the Council, in
1913, appointed a committee to work out the details of a scholarship
scheme. The Committee found that there was already considerable
provision made for scholarships by the Transvaal Government, while
certain of the Cape of Good Hope University scholarships were available
for Transvaal students, but that there appeared to be a great many
promising students,, who were out of the ordinary avenues leading to
scholarships, whom it would be desirable to assist. The subjects in
connection with which applications for scholarships might be made,
which included literature, science, education, economics, art and
music, were indicated. Mining and law were excluded on the ground
that there was already some provision made for scholarships in these
subjects in South Africa. The Committee recommended that no award
be made unless the student gave evidence of real promise in his or her
subject. The successful students were to carry on their studies in
Europe and were expected to return and teach or practice in South
Africa. Scholarships were to vary in amount from £150 per annum
to £250. The Council adopted the report of the Committee, and
resolved to devote £750 annually to overseas scholarships. The first
batch of students proceeded to Europe in October, 1913. The out-
break of the war in the autumn of 1914 has made it impossible for the
Council to see the full fruition of its first efforts, but excellent reports
of its students have been received. Meanwhile the Council has pub-
lished a report by Miss Wynsouw, who obtained a scholarship, tenable
for one year, which enabled her to go to Europe and study the
Montessori system of infant education.

THE PUBLIC LIBRARY.

During 1903, on the motion of Mr. Theo. Reunert. the then Chair-
man of the Public Library, the Council resolved to lend the sum of
£25,000 to the Public Library at a low rate of interest, provided that

17

at least £10,000 should be spent in buildings. By means of this loan
the Library Committee was enabled to cancel a bond whicii was bearing
a high rate of interest, and to complete the fine existing block of build-
ings in Kerk Street. The loan was subsequently increased to £27,000.
Later, in 1910, the Council contributed, jointly with the Transvaal
Government, in relieving the Library of its liabilities, and the bond for
£27,000 was cancelled. Thus, as a result of the support accorded by
the Council, during several years, the public utility of the Library was
materially enhanced, and, as the outcome of its action in 1910, it had
the satisfaction of seeing the Institution practically free of debt. At a
later date £500 was contributed from 'the Council's funds to enable the
Library to acquire the Harold Strange collection of South African
Books.

FUETHEE EDUCATION OF BOYS AND GIBLS.

At the annual meeting of the Council, held in December, 1912,
Mr. W. Cullen called attention to the need for vocational education -for
apprentices and youths at work, and, generally, to the whole question of
the further education of boys and girls who have had to leave school
prematurely in order to go to work. A committee was appointed to go
into the matter. This committee instituted elaborate inquiries among
the schools, the mines and other employers of youthful labour, and
the results of these inquiries were published in a report which was issued
in the beginning of 1914, From this report it appeared that out of
about 1,000 boys leaving school annually on the Witwatersrand, nearly
one-half embarked in occupations that held out no hope for the future.
The Committee recommended that practical subjects should be intro-
duced into the school code, with a -view to rendering school work more
attractive to the boys and girls of varying capacities -and temperament.
It also urged that inasmuch as a boy cannot be said to have attained
a responsible age till he is 18, a complete system of continuation
classes should be established which boys should be compelled to attend
till they have reached that age. Owing to the outbreak of the war
action in connection with the furtlieri education of boys and girls has
remained in suspense, but the question is very urgent and should be
dealt with without unnecessary delay.

Meanwhile; it is interesting to note that at the, same time that the
Council's Committee was carrying on its inquiries, the Government
Council of Education was considering the same matter. The Govern-
ment Council drafted recommendations, much on the lines laid down
in this Council's report, which were submitted to the Provincial Council.
It seems not improbable. that, but for the war, legislative action would
been taken ere this.

DONATIONS TO STUDENTS.

Apart from its efforts in connection with the Overseas Scholarship
scheme, the Council has frequently had occasion to give financial aid to
students at South African educational institutions. All such cases
were investigated and assistance was only rendered when it could be
shown that the student showed special promise, and that his relatives
were unable to afford the means of keeping him at school.

In connection with the South African Schqpl of Mines and
Technology, a scheme has been developed by means' -of which students,
who, on approaching the end of their course, experience financial diffi-
culties, are given a loan to the amount of their fees, they undertaking.
personally, to refund the, sum advanced them when thev come to be

18

SCHOOL LOANS.

During the period from 1902 onwards the Council has been abJr to
materially forward the interests of education in the district by giving
loans, at a low rate of interest, to approved schools, in connection with
the erection of new buildings, or for the purpose of extension. Seven* 1
schools that have been helped in this way have shown remarkable
development,, not only with regard to numbers, but also in respect of
efficiency in working. The case of the Convent School, Parktown, max
be cited. This school was enabled, by a loan of £15,000, to complete
its fine block of buildings. The school is now full to overflowing, and has
an excellent record. Meanwhile the Sisters have reduced the original
loan to £2,500.

£3,500 was advanced to enable Mr. Shrive to complete a building
scheme in connection with the Parktown Preparatory School for Boys.
Mr. Shrive 's school is now full, and the loan, which is a recent one,
is being reduced. St. John's College is paying off a loan of £4,800 at
the rate of £400 annually. Several other schools have been assisted in
a similar manner, and although t'he resulting benefit has not always
been so marked as in the cases quoted, in no single instance has failure
to be recorded.

GIFTS TO SCHOOLS.

The Council has, from time to time, given substantial sums to
schools to aid in acquiring land, buildings or equipment. Needless
to say awards of this nature were only made after inquiry, and in all
cases the Council satisfied itself that the gift would result in increased
educational activity and efficiency, which would react in the public-
interest. St. John's College received donations amounting to £5,700.
A portion of this amount was used for the purchase of land on whic'h
the Council imposed a servitude, requiring that it can only be used
for bona fide educational purposes in connection with the College.
£2,000 was given to the Marist Brothers to enable them to complete
buildings for a boarding establishment. £1,000 was given to the
Eoedean School, to enable it to add some new buildings. Grants,
amounting to nearly £2,000, have from time to time been given to
sc'hools for the purposes of furniture and equipment.

MINOE ACTIVITIES.

Under this head are tabulated a few of the more important trans-
actions of a lesser nature, that have occupied the attention of the
Council from time to time. These though, perhaps, of no great
moment wrhen regarded separately, have undoubtedly done much to
stimulate educational activity in the wider sense. Thus, grants
made to the Seymour Memorial Library, the Johannesburg
School of Art, and the Government Observatory, have materi-
ally assisted these institutions at critical periods. For several
years a sum of £80 has been distributed annually among
several approved schools which have no Government support,
as a contribution to their prize fund. Various grants have
been made to schools and boys' clubs to enable them to obtain certain
specified equipment. With a view to promote a taste for English

19

literature, prizes have been given, for several years, in connection with
Shakespeare Eecitation competitions. Grants 'have been made in aid
of scientific research. Patriotic bodies, such as the Victoria League
and the League of Empire, have been assisted, and the Council has
contributed to or defrayed the cost of the publication of books or publi-
cations which have been regarded as of educational value locally.

PEKSONNEL OF COUNCIL.

A list of names of past and present members of Council is sub
joined.

Ch. denotes Chairman.

D. Ch. Deputy Chairman.

S. Member of Syndic.

F. Member of Finance Committee.

T. Trustee.

Gr. Member of Governing Body of outside Institutions
Names of present Members of Council are in heavy type.

Name of Count illor.

Year
of Position held on
Elec- Council. j Left,
tion.

Remarks.

U.S. Caldecott

1895

Ch. S. T. F. Gr. 1C07

Died, 1907.

Theodore Reunert

Ch. S. T. F. Gr.

Sir Lionel Phillips
Hon. John Tudhope ..

O

1895

Retired, 1896.
Re-elected, 1909.
Retired (since dead).

Charles Leonard

1895

Retired (since dead).

Kchvard Hancock

1896

Retired (since dead).

Carl Jeppe
Sir Abe Bailey

1896
1895

Retired.
Retired.

H. B. Marshall

1895

Retired.

H. J. Hofmeyr . . ,,

S. H. Farrar . .

1895

Retired, 1898.
Re-elected. 1911
Retired.

Ben Bertram . . . . , ,

1897

Retired.

W. H. Rogers..

,,

1899

Retired (since doad).

J. G. Auret

,, •

1895

Retired (since dead).

W. P. Fraser
A. R. Goldring
J. L. van der Merwe

"

S. F. Gr.
S. F. (Ch.)

1909
1895

First, Joint Hon. Sec.
Resigned.
First Joint Hon. Sec.
Now in London.
Retired.

Dr. A. P. Hillicr

1895

Retired.

20

Year
of
Name of Councillor. Elec-
tion.

Positions held on
Council. Left.

Remarks.

W. T. H. Frost
(Senator) W. F. Lance . .

1896

D. Ch. S. F. T.
Gr.
D. Ch. S. F. Gr.

1914

Resigned.

Julius Gau
H. C. Perkins

»>

S. T. F. (D. Ch.)
Gr.

1896

Now in London.
Retired.

Harold F. Strange ..

,,

D. Ch. S. Gr.

1911

Died, 1911.

D. Strachan

»

1897

Retired.

Sir J. Percy Fitzpatrick

1897

Ch. S.

Edgar Waugh

,,

S. F. Gr.

J. Dale Lace
B. Kitzinger ..

1899

>»

S.
S.

1903

Retired, 1899.
Re-elected, 1909.
Resigned.

Col. W. Dalrymple . .
K. F. Wolff ..

D. Ch. S. F. Gr.
S. 1903

Retired.

A. Brakhan ..

,,

S. 1906

Resigned.

J. G. Hamilton

,,

S. 1912

Died, 1912.

F. D. P. Chaplin

1902

D. Ch. S. F. (Ch.) 1914

Resigned.

Samuel Evans
J. Emrys Evans
C. F. Tainton

1903

S. T. F. Gr.

D. Ch. S. F. (Ch.)
T. Gr.

L. Sutro

,,

1905

Resigned.

W. H. Dawe

,,

S. F. Gr.

John Robinson
Fabian Ware

"

S.Gr

1904

First Secretary of Coun-
cil.
Retired.

W. Smale Adams

»>

Gr.

H. C. Behr ..

,,

1912

Retired.

W. St. John Carr . . ! ,,

1908

Resigned.

Dr. W. A. Caldecott ..

S. Gr.

Dr. G. S. Corstorphine . .

,,

S. F. Gr.

F. Drake

,,

1906

Resigned.

Max Francke

M

S.

1910

Resigned.

Dr. F. H. Hatch

"

1908

Retired.

21

Name of Councillor.

Year
of
; Elec-
' sion.

Positions held on
Council.

Left,

Remarks.

Sidney Jennings

,,

1907

! Resigned.

E. B. J. Knox

1904

1 Retired.

E. J. Laschinger

,,

: Gr.

W. E. Park ..

,,

'

1J10

Retired.

Dr. Charles Porter

,,

Gr.

Dr. W. C. C. Pakes

,,

Gr.

1910

Retired .

A. N. Robeson

,,

1911

; Resigned.

Senator W. K. Tucker

,,

S.

Dr. G. Turner

,,

1904

Retired.

J. R. Williams

,,

Gr.

1909

Retired.

E, H. V. Melvill

,,

1906

Resigned.

R. W. Schumacher . .

1904

S. F. Gr.

Now in London.

G. H. Goch ..

,,

1909

Resigned.

Sir George Farrar

1905

T»

1915

Killed in G.S.W.A.

Dr. E. T. E. Hamilton
W. Cullen

1906
1908

Gr.
S. Gr.

1914

Retired.
Now in London.

L. Reyersbach

1909

Now in London.

P. C. Baerveldt

,,

Patrick Duncan

,,

•G. W. Higgins
\V. L. Honnold

"

> »

1913
1915

Resigned.
Resigned.

H. C. Boyd

,,

Sir Thomas Price

1910

Gr.

1913

Resigned.

Prof. J. G. Lawn

1911

Now in London.

Gustav Imroth

1912

S.

Dr. J. McCrae

,,

Mrs. Phyllis Lys

,,

Gr.

J. R. Cowell ..

99

Gr.

•C. E. G. Farquharson

It

Gr.

1913

Resigned.

Dr. P. C. Anders

1913

Gr.

Name of Councillor.

22

Year I

of Position held on
Elec- Council,

tion.

Left.

Remarks.

Dr. R. A. Lehfeldt ..

»»

H. Eckstein ..

M

S. F.

D. Christ opherson

1915

S.

Alex. Aiken

M

S.

The Mayor of Johannes-
burg

I ex officio.

APPENDIX.

THE GOVERNMENT'S UNIVERSITY POLICY AND ITS
RELATION TO THE WITWATERSRAND.

Early in November, 1915, Members of the Council of Education
learned that the Government proposed introducing a Bill into Parlia-
ment to provide for the incorporation of the South African College a&
the University of Capetown, transferring it to a site at Groot Schuur,
and giving it the sum bequeathed by Sir Julius Wernher, as well as
that given by Mr. Otto Beit for a National University of South Africa.

Later on the Government announced its intention of introducing
a Bill for the establishment of a University at Stellenbosch, and ,-t
third Bill for the formation of a Federal University, the com
ponents of which would be the remaining Colleges at Wellington,
Grahamstown, Bloemfontein, Pretoria and Maritzburg, and, it the
authorities agreed, the South African School of Mines and Technology.
A conference of representatives of these colleges was held in Capetown
in December. The Council of the School of Mines was represented
by Mr. H. J. Hofmeyr and the Senate by Dr. G. S. Corstorphine (both
of whom are members of the Council of Education). At the Conference
the Minister of Education explained that the representatives were not
to deal with questions of policy. The Government had decided on the
foundation of three universities, and the conference must accept that
decision as final : its province was simply to discuss the best means of
making the proposed Federal University an efficient institution. One
day of the conference was given to a discussion of questions, such .MS
the Matriculation examination and the award of Scholarships, of
common interest to the three proposed Universities.

To Members of the Council of Education these proposals came as
a proverbial " bolt from the blue." The last public step in connection
with the University problem in South Africa, had been the issue of the
report by the Laurence Commission early in August, just after the
outbreak of war. No announcement had been made by the Govern-
ment as to its intention regarding the recommendations of that
Commission. During the general election in October, 1915, no member
of the Government had made any statement that University Legislation
would be considered when Parliament had assembled. Moreover, it
was the general opinion of those in Johannesburg directly interested in

23

University development, that the condition of the country due to the
war made it unlikely that the University problem would be brought
up for consideration till peace was secured. The same view was also-
held by Mr. William Cullen, now in London, who has always taken a
very keen interest in the promotion of higher education in the
Transvaal.

During their visit to Capetown, the representatives of the School
of Mines learned with intense surprise that negotiations had been
carried on between members of the South African College, the Minister
of Education, and the trustees of the Wernher-Beit funds, as far back
as June and August, 1915.

The draft Bills were issued in February. As soon as they became
public the members of the Council of Education realised that their
becoming law meant the abstraction of the whole of Mr. Alfred Beit's-
bequest of £200,000 from the inhabitants of the Witwatersrand, without
any advantage to this community or compensation whatsoever. The
foundation of three universities would be an entire reversal, of the
policy that had in the past commended itself to the Council, and it
seemed impossible that, in view of the Council's announcement in May,
1914, of its views regarding University education for 'Johannesburg,
the Wernher-Beit trustees, if they had given their consent, could have
known what the South African College proposals implied as far as-
Johannesburg was concerned. The matter could not be allowed to go
by default. The Council therefore published a pamphlet entitled " The
Witwatersrand and the University Problem," in which it gave a brief
summary of its past activities in regard to University Education and
the bearing the Government's proposed legislation would have on the
prospects and development of such education on the Witwatersrand.

Members of the Council also placed the position before the Mayor
of Johannesburg (Mr. Councillor O'Hara) as representing the citizens
of Johannesburg, and he realised that a grievous wrong was being done
to the community. He cabled to Sir Lionel Phillips, then about to sail
for South Africa from London, who replied that when he arrived in
Capetown he would be glad to co-operate to further the interests of
the Band. He also sent a cable to Mr. Otto Beit in London, who
replied saying they would be guided by Sir Lionel Phillips' advice.

In addition, the Mayor summoned a meeting of the Mayors of the
other Municipalities on the Witwatersrand, and with the aid of a
Committee, these gentlemen drew up and issued a Minute protesting
against the injustice that was being done to the Witwatersrand, and
the unfairness of giving to a local institution in Capetown, money
which had been specifically left for the '•' University of Johannesburg. '%
As the Council of Education had pointed out in a memorandum sent
to the Laurence Commission in May, 1914, giving Johannesburg's
money to a local institution was totally different from taking it for the
purpose of founding one National University in which Johannesburg
would have as much interest as any other town in the Union. The
Mayors also felt strongly that the moment chosen by the Government
to bring forward such contentious measures was singularly ill-timed,
seeing that all the country's energies should be devoted to the successful
prosecution of the War.

The matter was discussed at a special meeting of the Johannesburg
Town Council, which, by the courtesy of its members, was addressed
by Messrs. Eeunert and Hofmeyr, as representing the Council of
Education, Witwatersrand, and the South African School of Mines and

24

Technology, respectively, and the following Resolutions were
unanimously adopted, namely: —

" This Council begs respectfully but urgently to represent to the
•Government : —

" (1) That this Council is strongly of opinion that measures of such
a contentious character as the three University Bills
published in a Government Gazeite Extraordinary on
February 2 should not be submitted to Parliament at a
time when all the attention and energies of the country
should be devoted to the successful prosecution of the
War.

" (2) That this Council deeply regrets the abandonment of the
principle of one National University for the Union of
South Africa.

" (3) That the provisions of the said Bills involve a grave injustice
to the rising generation on the Witwatersrand because :

(a) they will inevitably tend to cause the indefinite

restriction to technology of the higher education
facilities in this area with a European population of
a quarter of a million; and

(b) they divert to a local institution in the Cape Peninsula

munificent donations to which the Witwatersrand has
the first claim.

" (4) That this Council desires emphatically to protest against the
inclusion of the Witwatersrand in any Federal University
scheme, the glaring defects of which were so clearly-
demonstrated by the Minister of Education in the House
of Assembly on April 7th, 1913.

" (5) That, failing* the establishment of one National University, no
solution of this problem will be satisfactory which does
not provide a university for the Witwatersrand, from
which the Government derives 60 per cent, of its revenue.

" (6) That copies of the foregoing Resolutions be transmitted to
the Right Hon. the Prime Minister and to the Hon. the
Minister of Education."

Messrs. Reunert and Hofmeyr were also invited to address a
Special Meeting of the Germiston To\vn Council, where the same
Resolutions were unanimously adopted. All the other Municipalities
of the Witwatersrand expressed their strong feeling that the proposed
legislation should be deferred, most of them passing resolutions in
identical terms to those set out above. The action of the Municipalities
was supported by a large number of separate meetings of educational,
scientific and other institutions in Johannesburg. These smaller
meetings of representative bodies culminated in a Public Meeting of
Citizens, summoned by the Mayor in the Town Hall, Johannesburg,
which was attended by nearly 2,500 people. At this meeting the
following Resolutions were unanimously passed, namely: —

No. 1.

This meeting, representing a population of 135,000 white citizens
of Johannesburg, strongly protests against the action of the
Government as embodied in the University Bills now before
Parliament, because

(1) This community was not consulted on a matter of such
supreme and far-reaching importance.

25

(2) No adequate provision is made for the higher education of
the rising generation on the Witwatersrand."
Moved by Mr. T. Eeunert.
Seconded by Mr. H. J. Hofmeyr.

RESOLUTION No. 2.

This meeting demands : —

(1) "A fully-equipped University College financed by the State.

(2) The distinct assurance of the right to establish at Johan-

nesburg a State-supported Teaching University as soon as
the University College shall have attained the same
status as that of either of the two Colleges for which it is-
now proposed to obtain Charters."

Moved by Mr. Howard Pirn.

Seconded by Councillor J. W. Treu, J.P.

RESOLUTION No. 3.

" This meeting appoints a Committee, consisting of the speakers at
the meeting, with power to add to their number, who shall be
charged with the duty of securing the demand contained in
Resolution 2 and such endowment and guarantees as may be
referred to."

Moved by Rev. J. G. Aldridge.
Seconded by Councillor J. J. Mulvey..
RESOLUTION No. 4.

" This meeting resolves that copies of the foregoing Resolutions be
forwarded to the Right Honourable the Prime Minister, the
Honourable the Minister of Education, and the Parliamentary
representatives of the Witwatersrand."

Moved by Rev. S. Featherstone Hawkes.
Seconded by Dr. Manfred Nathan.

Prior to the Citizens' Meeting Sir Lionel Phillips arrived in
Johannesburg. The Mayor invited the Mayors of the Witwatersrand
Municipalities, and a number of representative men to meet Sir Lionel.
The meeting was held in the Mayor's Parlour on March 9th, and various
speakers laid the case for Johannesburg before Sir Lionel, who
expressed his sympathy, but feared that nothing could be done as far
as the Beit bequest was concerned, in view of the action that had
already been agreed upon in London. He recommended that Johannes-
burg should, with the aid of local financial support, commence Univer-
sity work in a modest way, and in course of time prove to South Africa
that it was entitled to a share of (fovernment support. He promised
to render every possible assistance.

Whilst the earlier part of this campaign was being carried on, and
when the Bills were about to be placed before Parliament, the Mayor
and other members of the Johannesburg Town Council along with
members of the Council of Education, met the Parliamentary repre-
sentatives of the Witwatersrand — Unionist, South African Party and
Labour Party — and urged them to take steps to secure justice for
Johannesburg. The Witwatersrand Members of Parliament agreed that
under the proposed new legislation the Government must admit Johan-
nesburg's right to develop a University of its own, and that consequently
the limitations of the work of the School of Mines must be removed".
There Was, however, among the members a difference of opinion as
regards the bequests, a number holding that to give the whole of the

20

money to the South African College was perhaps the best course t<>
adopt under the circumstances, and that, in any case, the disposal of
the funds was a question entirely for the Trustees.

The Minister was interviewed by the representatives of the two
Councils, and by the Parliamentary representatives, and asked if he
would agree to the removal of the limitation of Johannesburg's higher
education to Technology. The question of the diversion of the Beit
bequest was also placed before him. His reply to the first was that
the arrangement had been made by the old Transvaal Government and
he must therefore consult the Cabinet before he could give any reply.
In regard to the Beit bequest he stated that its diversion had been
agreed to also by the Transvaal Government before Union, and that its
disposal had been arranged for before he became Minister of
Education.

Later on the Minister announced in Parliament that Johannesburg
would have the right to broaden its University work provided the
necessary money was obtained from non-Government sources.

The Witwatersrand University Committee formed in accordance
with the Resolutions passed at the Citizens' Meeting, consisted of the
following, namely: —

His Worship the Mayor.

Mr. T. Reunert.

Mr. H. J. Hofmeyr.

Mr. Howard Pirn.

Councillor J. W. Treu, JJ».

Rev. J. G. Aldridge.

Councillor J. J. Mulvey.

Rev. S. Fgatherstone Hawkes.

Dr. Manfred Nathan.

Councillor H. Wallace Soutter.

These members met on March 20th, and added to their number : —

The Mayor of Krugersdorp.

The Mayor of Roodepoort-Maraisburg.

The Mayor of Germiston,

The Mayor of Boksburg.

The Mayor of Benoni.

The Mayor of Springs.

The Mayor of Vereeniging.

Senator J. J. Ware.

Col. W. Dalrymple.

Dr. Geo. S. Corstorphine.

Several meetings of this Committee have now been held; and it
has been arranged to appoint a Sub-Committee, composed of represen-
tatives of educational and scientific bodies, to prepare a plan for the
establishment of Arts Courses and a School of Medicine on the Wit-
watersrand, and to draw up an estimate as to the accommodation
required, and the amount of the annual grant whish would be necessary,
in order to make recommendations to this Committee. This Sub-
Committee is now being formed, and will commence its investigations
very shortly.

At a meeting, representative of the Medical Profession of the
Transvaal, held on April 7th, at the South African Institute for Medical
Research, the following Resolution was unanimously adopted: —

27

" That in the opinion of this Meeting of the Medical Profession of
this Province, the time has now arrived when, in the interests
of the community, a School of Medicine should be established
in the Transvaal with facilities for the granting of diplomas."

On May 1st, the Prime Minister announced in Parliament that
the Koyal Assent had been given to the three University Acts. It is a
matter of deep regret to us that under these Acts the inhabitants of the
Witwatersrand are not to benefit in any way from the munificent
bequests of the late Mr. Alfred Beit and the late Sir Julius Wernher.
We hope, however, that the recent agitation has brought home to the
citizens of the Witwatersrand the deplorable fact that ours is the only
European community of its size in the British Overseas Dominions that
is without the means of giving University education to the younger
generation.

v— .-'

Witwatersp

Council

History
1095-1916*

O \J O U "T *±

3,nd ? Transvaall

ed-ucation.

council

T<r4A4

368644

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