PROPOSAL OPPOSED

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 62, Issue 161, 21 April 1942, Page 5

PROPOSAL OPPOSED

OBJECTORS AND DEFAULTERS. EMPLOYMENT IN UNIVERSITIES. (P.A.) AUCKLAND, April 20. Opposition was expressed by the Auckland University College Council to a. proposal by Canterbury University College that the Teachers (Conscientious Objectors and Defaulters) regulations, 1941, should be amended so as to apply to the teaching staffs of university colleges. Discussion on the proposal, whic-h was forwarded from Canterbury College, was taken in committee. When the council resumed in open meeting, the president (Mr \l . H. Cocker) said that the proposal, in effect, .would mean that if any member of tiie university staff appealed for exemption from military service on conscientious grounds, whether or not the appeal was successful, the college council would ho deprived ot’ the right to decide what action should be taken. The member of the staff concerned would automatically cease to carry on his duties and would enter upon leave of absence from his post- without pay for the duration, of the war. This matter does not arise out of ahy case in this college,” continued Mr Cocker, “but solely out of a proposal of Canterbury College. As to the procedure for dealing with such cases, this council feels that the proper auauthority is the governing body of each council.”

After careful consideration, lie added, the council had adopted unanimously the following resolution : “That this council is opposed to the proposal of Canterbury University College on the grounds that it would involve ail improper interference with the autonomy of 1 a university college, and that matters of this kind should be dealt with if and when they arise, by the governing authorities of the respective colleges under the powers already possessed by them. “That a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the Government, the council; of Canterbury College, and other college councils." The president said that the council had also approved of the following letter to be sent with the resolution, to Canterbury College: “Ordinarily the college council would be reluctant to criticise or comment upon the action of the Governing body <o,f another university, but it presumes that as a copy of the resolution was forwarded to this council, its views upon the resolution are invited, and further, the action which the Government is advised by the resolution to take, will affect all university institutions in the Dominion. “The council regards it as most unwise that the Government should be invited to interfere in the-affairs of university colleges in the way suggested. The council feels strongly the importance of preserving the autonomy of the university colleges, particularly in all matters relating to appointments and dismissals of staff, and if the Government is invited to interfere as suggested a most unfortunate precedent may be established. For its own part this council would not be disposed to lay down a general rule, but would think it proper to deal with each case according to its circumstances.”