FREEDOM OF SPEECH

UNIVERSITY AND ITS STAFF

"PROPER SENSE OF RE-

SPONSIBILITY"

(By Telegraph) (Special to the "Evening Post.")

AUCKLAND, October 15,

Academic freedom of speech and the public utterances of Mr. 11. IJ. Dickinson, exchange lecturer in economics from tlio University of Leeds, were again discussed by the Auckland University Collego Council, upon a cablegram from the Vicc-Chancollor at Leeds to the New Zealand University deploring an anti-war speech by Mr. Dickinson, and also upon a letter from Mr. Dickinson explaining that ho had made every endeavour to dissociate his university affiliations from his public utterances.

A letter was received from the Registrar of the University of New Zealand dated September 22, stating that the following cablegram had been received from the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Leeds (Sir James Baillie): "Greatly deplore irresponsible statement, by Dickinson reported today. Please convey to your council."

The following motion was carried: — "That the letter from Mr. H. D. Dickinson be received, and that it be pointed out to the writer (1) that the recent declaration of this council upon freedom of speech has not the effect oi dissociating the college from public utterances by members of its staff; (2) that this declaration arose from the view of the council, as is now demonstrated by the letter under reply, that it is not possible to dissociate the college from public utterances of the members of its staff; and (3) that it is this impossibility of dissociating the college from such statements which calls for the exercise of a proper sense of responsibility such as is referred to in tho declaration of the council."