
The Otago University Commerce Faculty Association in 1922. Image courtesy of the Hocken Collections, Paterson and Lang records, 83-070 Box 3, S16-571a.
The University of Otago has been teaching commerce subjects for over a century, but for the first 50 years it was a part-time enterprise. While lectures in economics date back to the 1870s, other commerce disciplines started in the 20th century. In 1904, in response to advocacy from business leaders who wanted ‘keener, better educated, more live young men’ in the business world, the University of New Zealand approved a new degree, the Bachelor of Commerce. It was closely modelled on similar degrees recently introduced in England’s northern universities. The degree included a mix of subjects, some not yet taught at Otago, so it had little impact to begin with, but a few years later further advocacy from the business sector helped get commerce classes going.
The New Zealand Society of Accountants, which controlled entry to the accountancy profession, in 1911 negotiated with the University of New Zealand to have its examinations run by the university; the university amended its BCom syllabus so that its papers and topics met the qualifying requirements of the NZSA. Funding from the NZSA helped smooth the path of the new system. It offered a five-year subsidy to each of the university colleges; when supplemented with a matching subsidy from the government plus student fees this enabled the cash-strapped University of Otago to take on the new venture of teaching specialist commerce subjects in addition to its existing economics programme. In 1912 young Dunedin accountant George Reid, who had completed a BCom with honours at Victoria University College in 1910, commenced as Otago’s first part-time accounting lecturer, and economics lecturer Harry Bedford added to his schedule the business law teaching required by commerce students (mercantile law, rights and duties of trustees, law of bankruptcy and law of joint stock companies). The new classes met ‘a felt want, a fact which is amply demonstrated by the large number of students who have availed themselves of the facilities offered’, noted the university’s annual report; 46 students enrolled in commerce subjects in that first year.
For the first five decades, almost all commerce students were part-timers working towards their professional accountancy exams; they already had full-time jobs. They could have studied at the technical school or by correspondence from one of the commercial colleges, but the University of Otago courses were an attractive option for southerners, for the commerce faculty soon developed a reputation for high quality teaching, with students typically scoring very well in external exams. Though the early teachers were lauded for their professional knowledge, dedication and teaching skills, they were not, of course, without flaws. One accounting lecturer resigned suddenly in the middle of 1947 after he was accused of embezzling bank funds, hardly the desired behaviour of a man educating the next generation of accountants.
Very few students went on to complete degrees in the early decades. By 1920 just five Otago students had graduated with a BCom; the first, in 1915, was Owen Wilkinson. Before he had even received his certificate, Wilkinson had signed on with the Field Artillery and headed to Gallipoli; he later became an accountant in Christchurch and presided over the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce. It was a very masculine world. The first woman enrolled in the commerce faculty in 1914 and by 1917 the female roll had reached 13. The dean, George Reid, reported that ‘during the latter part of the war period, exceptional opportunities opened up for women in the more advanced branches of commercial work’, with a ‘large number of women seeking to qualify themselves by attendance at the classes in commerce’. But in 1920 female enrolments fell, with just 6 women studying alongside 130 men: ‘evidently the reinstatement of returned soldiers in commercial occupations has made commercial training less attractive to women’, noted Reid. The faculty wanted to attract women, stating in bold print in the 1920 calendar that classes were ‘open to persons of both sexes, without restriction as to age or occupation’. But numbers remained low, and by the time the next world war broke out there were just 9 women studying alongside 118 men.
Classes were held outside business hours to suit both students and lecturers, who were practising accountants and lawyers. Tom Cowan, a student of the 1930s and part-time lecturer from the 1940s, noted they ‘shivered through law lectures in the early mornings and … at the end of the day returned to their desks in the Lower Oliver classroom to study accounting’. An anonymous commerce student noted the advantages and disadvantages of part-time study in a 1946 Review article. ‘Because he dissipates his energy for eight hours a day in an office, [the part-time student] invariably approaches his study with a weary mind, which is not conducive to the clearest thought and greatest absorption’. Part-timers had to develop an ‘orderly and efficient’ attitude, ‘qualities to be commended in all who seek advancement and success, at least in the commercial world’. They had ‘little time for the frivolities and interests so precious to the average student’. However, commerce students did support one another through their own students’ association. This organised various social events, including an annual dinner and ball and rugby matches against the law faculty; debating flourished in the 1920s and by the 1930s there was an annual fancy dress post-exam party at the Gardens tea kiosk.

It wasn’t all grim – the 1933 commerce faculty ball, held in the Dunedin Town Hall Concert Chamber. Image courtesy of the Hocken Collections, Box 237-005, S16-548c.
The 1960s were revolutionary for commerce education at Otago. In 1960 – 48 years after teaching had begun – Tom Cowan became the first ever full-time staff member and was promoted to a new chair of accountancy the following year. He set up in an office ‘right under the clock tower, then in a shaky condition. Perhaps there was some hope that an Act of God might crush the Commerce intruder and his fledgling Department, and, with him, the threatening aspirations of his Faculty’, recalled Cowan. From 1962, controversially, Otago’s commerce lectures shifted from the evening and early mornings to daytime, with the advanced accounting courses on Saturdays as part of a compromise with local employers. It was all part of a strategy to recruit more full-time and degree students; the 1960 Parry report on New Zealand universities was highly critical of part-time study, which was associated with high attrition rates, and commerce faculties were the worst offenders. The faculty was now able to introduce tutorials in the evenings, giving students more contact time with their teachers; course standards rose. Employers became more reluctant to employ part-time students, since they needed to be released during business hours for lectures, and full-time study became more attractive. By 1970, two-thirds of commerce students were full-time, a dramatic change from the 8% of 1960, and in the same period degree completions in commerce jumped from 8 to 76. The roll also grew dramatically, like that of the university as a whole; there were 238 commerce students in 1960, but 580 in 1970 (together with an additional 92 external students, mostly in Invercargill). Some of these new students were attracted to the greater diversity of subjects on offer. From the mid-1960s BCom students could choose between three majors: accounting, economics or management. Otago’s first management course was taught in 1962 and marketing courses commenced in 1966; both proved popular immediately and acquired their own professors the following decade … but that’s another story!
Do you have any memories to share of the accounting night school days? I’m keen to track down photographs relating to the commerce faculty (right through to the 1990s) – I’ve found plenty of formal portraits, but would love to see some more interesting images!
Hi
Thought you might be interested in this article about my Grandfather James Moir Paterson of Paterson and Lang Solicitors Dunedin. He is featured in your photo 12th from the left in the front row. He was Dean of the Faculty from 1932-51.
Lieutenant James Moir Paterson, Military Cross & Bar
Royal Field Artillery (Special Reserve)
British Army 1916-1920
Background
The following information regarding James Moir Paterson and his service in the British Army during World War 1 was obtained from his official Record of Service and entries from the London Gazette and other notes from a distinguished career in Law.
Personal Details
James Moir Paterson (JM) was born 29 October 1886 at Hillend in South Otago, New Zealand. He was a British subject by birth as his father Thomas Paterson (registered as his next of kin) was a Scotsman who immigrated to New Zealand at the age of 19 in 1862. Thomas married Mary Moir, (b. 2 .6.1854- d. 12 .12.1920 ), 13 August 1872. James had a younger brother Thomas William ( Bill ) ( b. 9 .8. 1891-d. 6.3.1966 ) and younger sister Mary Henrietta (May ) ( b.5 .12.1894 – d. 29 .1.1963 ).
James was educated at Waitaki Boys High in Oamaru (1900-04 ) where he held the unusual distinction of being dux of the school two years running, ( 03-04 ). He attended Otago University and obtained an MA in Mathematics and a LL.B in Law. His university career was a brilliant one marked by his English Honours paper which gained a marking of 98%, believed to still be a record today. He then went on to make a mark with a distinguished career in law, as a Barrister.
Military Service
In New Zealand prior to joining the army proper in England, James had been in the Waitaki Boys’ High School Cadets where he achieved the rank of Sergeant. Later, at the outbreak of WW1 in 1914, he joined the National Reserve (New Zealand Defence forces) for a year as Platoon Sergeant.
The indications are that he came to the UK specifically to join up as his address was given as C/O The Bank of New South Wales in Threadneedle Street in London. He enlisted into the Royal Regiment of Artillery (Regimental No 153543) in London on August 20 1916, (The Woolwich Artillery College).
After a training course with the “B” Reserve Brigade, Royal Horse Artillery, at St Johns’ Wood London, he was granted a commission in the Royal Field Artillery on January 2 1917 and was posted to France two months later on March 9. By June he had already been awarded the Military Cross for gallantry, ( see below). Although he had periods of leave he appeared to be close to the action much of the time as he won a bar to his MC on another occasion during March 1918, (also see below).
In appearance on enlistment in August 1916 at the age of 29 years James was a tall slender man at 6’-2’’ tall and weighing 144lbs.
After the end of the war he was demobilized on 18 March 1919 and finally relinquished his commission in the Special Reserves on 20 September 1920, returning to New Zealand.
Medals for Gallantry
Lieutenant James Moir Paterson was eventually decorated on 20 March 1919.
Award of Military Cross
The entry in the London Gazette of 16 August 1917 for the award states;
2nd Lieutenant James Moir Paterson, R.F.A., Spec.Res, attd. B/112th Bde.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. Accompanied by another officer, he showed great skill and rapidity in establishing and maintaining communication between units under trying and difficult conditions. Although exposed to shell fire all the time they did most useful work in pointing out the direction of the advance to our infantry which they had temporarily lost.
A mark-up on the record indicates that this action took place on the Messines Ridge in France on 7 June 1917.
Award of the Bar to the Military Cross
An entry in the London Gazette of 26 July 1918 for the award states;
2nd Lieutenant James Moir Paterson, MC., R.F.A., Spec.Res, Attd. B/112th Bde.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in establishing an observation post and maintaining it throughout the day under intense shell fire, when all the signallers were either killed or wounded. The information which he sent back to the brigade was of the utmost value.
A mark-up on the records indicates that this action took place on the Bapaume- Cambrai Road in France.
Working Career
Mr Paterson (JM) as he had become known started his working life joining the law firm of Hislop and Lang, Solicitor which was started by John Alexander Hislop in 1877 and on the 12th July 1913 joined the firm as a partner becoming Hislop Lang Paterson and Solicitors.
For many years after his return from war overseas JM was a lecturer of the company and mercantile law in the Commerce Faculty at the Otago University, and was later appointed Dean of the Faculty in 1932 and held this position until his retirement in 1951. In 1920 the firms name was changed to Lang and Paterson and then changed to Paterson and Lang in 1943. The firm changed its name to Paterson Lang in 1990 and finally merged with Downie Stewart in 1995. He was recognised as an authority on commercial affairs and his ability in this combined with his success as a solicitor resulted in his appointment to many organisations.
In 1923 he was engaged as solicitor for the New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition which was held in Dunedin in 1925-26. This was a tremendous task involving Mr Paterson in a great deal of specialised work.
His interest in the world of commerce was heightened when he became a director of the Westport Coal Company, later taken over by state control. A director of Kempthorne Prosser Ltd., he was also the chairman of directors of the D.I.C. Ltd. in Dunedin for many years. Mr Paterson was also associated with many group activities throughout the city including the committee of the Dunedin Athenaeum and Nurses Memorial fund.
He was also a past president of the Acclimatisation Society and the Otago District Law Society as well as being a former honorary solicitor to the Otago Branch of the Royal Society.
Family
Mr Paterson first married while on war duty in WW1 to a Miss Maude Ross Fraser ( Mournie) in 1917 but she died prior to the end of the war in 1918. His second wife was Miss Catherine Helen Mathewson (12.7.1900- 2.10.1936) daughter of a prominent farmer from the Kokonga area in Central Otago Mr John Andrew Mathewson and his wife Margery Thomas. They had three children, Barbara Ada Paterson ( 3.9.1926- 11.10.2000 ) a Physiotherapist who spent the last 35 years in London, James Andrew Paterson (Jim), ( 6.9.1929-26.10.2010) Farmer of Crookston, Tapanui and Kelso in West Otago and Elizabeth Ada Paterson 26 8.1936 Dental Nurse, married Ian Robert Duggan, Insurance Agent, Alexandra.
Mr Paterson’s last wife was Nancy Mary Ronaldson ( 3.2.1908-8.9.1996), they married in 1941 and had no children. Mr Paterson passed away on 14 May 1968 in Dunedin Hospital and has a war memorial grave at Andersons Bay Cemetery in Dunedin.
Thanks so much for that Mark – very interesting!
No worries Ali
Hi Ali, my father Hallam Smith studied commerce and law part time in the 1930s, but once he had his ARANZ (or whatever it was called then) he was still two papers short of his BCom. He didn’t regard that as essential to his law practise, but in retirement decided to complete. You might be interested, if you didn’t know, that one of those papers was commercial French. Was that a leftover from some ideal of the educated mind? a nod to the academy in order to get a mere business degree into the university — or was it actually useful in NZ? The other paper was also obsolete and Dad completed his BCom by doing a computer science paper. It was unusual then for someone of his age to do that and there was an ODT story that may have given more detail of his earlier study.
Thanks Rosemarie – an intriguing tale! Languages certainly had much more significance back in the day, with arts, science and commerce students all having language requirements. The concept of languages as part of the repertoire of any educated person was one element, but there were also practical considerations – for instance, many important science publications were in German or French or Russian. Once English became such a dominant language for publication, the compulsory language tests were dropped. There’s a bit about it in this earlier blog post – https://otago150years.wordpress.com/2014/02/03/compulsory-languages/ I must look into why languages remained compulsory for so long in commerce though! Intriguingly, in more recent times – starting in 2000 – BCom students have been able to major in international business, which includes language study.
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