PROFESSOR ALDIS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIV, Issue 222, 19 September 1893, Page 2

PROFESSOR ALDIS.

THE QUESTION RE-OPENED.

THE OFFICIAL VISITOR INTERFERES.

The Professorship of Mathematics appears to be quite an interminable subject for debate with tho Auckland University College Council. At the meeting yesterday, the chairman, Sir G. M. O'Rorke, said he had written to the Government asking that, o^ usual, the services of the Agent-General should be available for tho purpose of obtaining a successor to Professor Aldis. He had received a reply from the Government in which the services were declined. He believed that was the first time any institution had been refused the services of the Agent-General in selecting the head master for a school or a professor for a college. Some other means must now bo devised. Ha thought he would nob be going too far in asking the Council to express regret ab the refusal ot the Minister of Education, and also to appoint a Committoo to make such arrangements as would be required to secure the services of a Professor of Mathematics.

Bishop Cowie suggested that the motion should be deferred aa ib appeared to him that the Minister of Education had written under some wrong impression. Mr G. Peacocke moved, " That it is desirable to place upon record a statement of tho circumstances connected with the termination of Professor Aldis's engagement as Professor of Mathematics, and thab tho following be appointed a Committee to draw up the same:—Sir G. M. O'Rorke, Bishop Cowie, Rev. Mr Williams, Mr Udy and tho mover." Mr Peacock explained that his object was to pub on record a shorb categorical statoment of the facts of the case, so as to prevent misapprehension as to the real reasons for terminating the engagement of Professor Aldis. The Council would be prejudiced in England by the letter published by Dr. Abbott. However tho members of tho Council might differ in opinion regarding Professor Aldis, all must agree that such a lettor as tho ono referred to must prejudice Dhom at Homo. It was in order to controverb those statements that he suggested the appointmenb of this Committee Such a statement might gob before the Minister of Education. Ho felt with His Lordship that Mr Reoves must Lave been under a misapprehension when that lettor was written.

The Chairman said perhaps ib would be as woll to road the lotter. Ib was aa follows: " I have the honour, by direction of the Minister of Education, to inform you that he finds that bho Council in dismissing Professor Aldis relies upon a statement which tho Professor doee uob acknowledge as true. The reason of dismissal is the Btatemont thab ' hia teaching is limited to 8 or 10 hours per week.... to 10 hours a week ab mo3t.' Tho Professor submits it time-table, and Bays thab his hours of lecture wero never less thnu 11 or 12 hours a week, and ofton considerably more, and he adda that as a substitute for an oxercise class, which he found that his studonfcg could nob afcbond, he has seb up and constantly followed tho practice of receiving their written oxercises and correcting them ab homo, oxpending in this work, which is nob charged for by any foe,, from eighb to! bwoWo hours a week. Ib appoars, then, that there is a misunderstanding with regard to & question of fact, the fact in question being thab on which the argument tor dismissal i* made to reab. This being bhocaee thb Minister would be glad to know what is, in tho judgment of your Council, bhe true explauation of the serious discrepancy batweeu the conflicting statements <ts to tiie atnounb of work performed by the Profosßor. Tho Minister of course desireo to avoid any departure from the very strict lines of precedent that limit the actions of a visitor, and it is not likely that he will seehip way to take any further action after receiving from you a satisfactory explanation of bhe discrepancy to which this letter invites yonr attention.—(Signed) W. Jas. Habeas."

Bishop Cowio considorod Mr Poacocke's suggestion a very importanb one. For their own protection it was neceesary to havo an authoritative record of the whole proceedings upon their books. Ho could nob doubt that when Mr Reeves know the whole facts of the cnao ho would give the services of the Agonti-Goneral as before. Mr Crov.'ther asked whether ifc was the proper position for the Visitor to take into consideration work douo by the Profeesor. ab home, work over which the Council had no control, and of which they had no knowledgo.

The Chairman eaid ib took him by surprise. He quite agreed that it was necessary to havo an authoritative statement of the tacts. Ho found in au important paper at Home these words by Dr. Abbott: " Meantime I would appeal to all University men to defer applying for the professorship ;" also "no one can take the post without) come forfeiture of Belf respect."

Bishop Cotvio : Nor retain it,

The Chairman considered that was very Btrong language to use to prevent young men taking the position. That letter was written ab the suggestion of a gentleman who had been in their eorvico for the last 10 years, a gentleman with whom they had no desire to fall out if ho would give reasonable tuition, and observe the time-table he had himself drawn out.

Tbe motion put by Mr Peacocks was then agreed to, the name of Dr. Mackellar being substituted for that of Bishop Cowie, as the latner boggod to bo excused owing to the Hoesion of the Synod being near at hand.

The Chairman proposed that the Council should also send an answer to Mr lloovo*.

The Rev. Mr Williams considered they should take action at once to obtain a successor to Professor Aldis.

Mr Peacocko said he did nob wish to doluy thab, as he looked upon the dismissal of Professor Aldis as final.

Dr, Mackellar said he felt thab their Official Visitor had treated them with scant courtesy. Ho had refused to aid tho Council with the services or an oflicial of the colony. They should lob him be and help themselves.

Mr Dilworth considered it was absolutely necessary to controvert the statements of Professor Aldis, as made in England by Dr. Abbott.

Mr Williams questioned whether tho Council could agree to any statement. Dr. Mackellar said it would simply be a aeries of statements, but not any argument either justifying the Council or blaming the Professor. They could all agree to such a statement.

Mr Dilworfch suggested a special mooting of the Council should be held to consider the statement when drawn up. On the motion of tho Chairman, tho following was added to the motion :—" That tho Committee recommend whab steps should bo taken for the appointment of o Professor of Mathematics, and the salary to be given."

The Chairman next submitted the following draft letter, which he proposed should be forwarded to the Hon. Mr Reeves :— " The Council is unablo to reconcile with known facts the statement notified to havo been made to the Minister of Education by Professor Aldis, ' that Ihb hours of lecbure wore never less than 11 or 12 hours a woek, and ofcon considerably more.' In every year sinco the commencement of the Collcyo'ti work, i\ ciine - table of lectures and other instruction has been framed by the Professorial Board, and when approved by the Council, has been published in tho College calendnr. Thoee time-tables show thab up to the year 1890, inclusive, in which year the Connoil

began to take action respecting this matter in consequence of complaint made by the headmaster of the Thames High School, tho number of hours per week in which the Professor of Mathematics meb his classes waa in each1 year severally as follows :—5, 5, 6, 10, 8, 5, 8. In 1891 the number indicated in tho time-table 13, in 1892 the number in the time-table waa again 13, but the Council learned thab throughout tho whole or the greater parb of the session the Professor had nob attended on oithor of the two days in each week for which days mathematical lecbures were announced, and that some of tho lectures of those days had been transferred bo othor days. The published timetable of the present year, 1893, indicates the dalivery of mathematical lectures on sir days of. each week during twelve hours, but aB in the previous year, attendance on two days per week was omitted in the firsb term (without the approval of the Council). Before the end of 1892, a regulation had been adopted (as in tho University of Sydney) that) lecture rolls Bhould bo kept by each professor, showing the names of the students and their times of attendance ; that those rolls should be laid on the table of the Council at each monthly meeting, and thab on the completion of tho term they should remain in the possession of the Council. The lecture rolls in the mathematical dopartment show, that in the first term of 1893, tho hours of lectures per week wore eighb, and thab also two hours por week were set apart for tutorial work, as to which there ib no entry of the names of or tho attendance of students. In the socond term of 1893, the mathematical locture rolls enow eight hours per week for lecbures and two for tutorial work."

The Chairman said ib was quite unaccountable thab Professor Aldia should make the sfcatomonb that he never gavo les3 than eight or twelve hours per week. The letter was a simple etatemonb of facts taken from the records. ■Bishop Covvie. said he saw reason why thab answer should be forwarded at once. It would be a very, dangerous doparturo from their custom to let all their actions be submitted to tho Minister of Education. The Chairman said it was really trenchins «Pon tho P°wer G*ven .tll ° Council by the Parliament, if tho Minister of Education was going to question their authority. Bishop Cowie considered they should give the Official Visitor the information in thab letter at once.

Dr. Mackellar : And no raoro. It was then agreed that tho lebtor should bo forwarded ab once,

MISS EDGER SURPRISES THE

CHAIRMAN.

Miss Edger said while they were on this subject she wished to bring forward a motion which ehe considered would bo a graceful act on tho put of the Council, although it was not called for in any way by justice. The question of the termination of Professor Aldia's engagement had, of course, been a long while in the balance, and it was kuown thab there was an amount of uncertainty in it. That might have caused Professor Alois some difficulty and perhaps trouble. She wished, therefore, to move, that Professor Aldis bo informed that his engagement w ith the Auckland University College Council ceasos, either six months after he reeeivod official intimation of the resolution concerning the termination of hie engagement, or six months alter the first oi October 1893, as may bo acceptable to himsGlt.

Bishop Cowie said he quite agreed with Miss Edger's proposal. The Chairman questioned whether the mocion would not require notice under their standing orders. If Professor Aldis had dona anything to merit reward he could understand tho proposal. Bub in tho face ot his action i!) would be extraordinary to give him four or five months' salary after these stops had been taken. Mr Dilworth said he agreed with the proposal. After Professor Aidia had struck one cheek they might) turn the other to him. Tho Council would act wisely and discreetly in adopting Misa Edger's proposal. It would bo an act of courtesy aud should bo carried oufc in a Christian spirit. The Chairman said that really meant a ro-enga^ement of Professor Aldis, as duties would be reaumed on fchu firsb of March. He was surprised that after Professor Aldis' endeavour to prejudice peoplo at Home against them such a motion should bo ruado. Besides, ho was nob sure that it might not involve them in further trouble, by setting aside the notice already given. He proposed that the debate be adjourned uutil tho uext meeting, with a view to obtaining legal advice. He was surprised that, after Professor Aldis had written againsb the Council in an important paper in London, any person should say, "You ahall have another £300." In "Nature," a scientific journal, thofollowingoxtracts from a letter by Professor Aldis were quoted :— "Last Monday succeeded in getting a majority of the Council to give mo six months' notice of the termination of my engagement on the ground that the amount of work I did could bo perfectly well performed by plenty of mon who could be got for a very much lower salary. . .

No charge of incompetence, or neglecb of duty has been made against me, unless by slander behind my back. I have never been asked to meet the Council ; the debates were held with closed doors, and before I ever knew what was being proposed, I was allowed to read the result of their discussion in the ' Mew Zealand Herald.' " Dr. Abbott then adds—"l would appeal to all University men to defer applying for the professorship. For the present to succeed a professor thus arbitrarily dismissed by tho Council involves not only the possibility of being Bimilarly treated, bub also the certainty of contributing to what Sir Robort Stout has justly described as * a grievous injury to higher education.1 Many teacherß, and many University men who are not teachers, will perhaps go with me still further and agree that, if Professor Aldis' statements cannot be denied, no one can cake the post without some forfeiture of solf-respoct." The facts were that Professor Aldis would not adhere to the time-table published, and yob ho stutes that the reason for dispansing with his services was that tho work could bo done cheaper. That fitatomeat was incorrect. No one doubtod tho competency of Professor Aldis, but they could not get him to do one half of the work done by his brother Profe«Bora of Mathematics in the South. Professor Aldis also stated that he never appeared before the Council, but did not say that ho did appear before a Committee of the Council appointed for that purpose. He also states that tho mooting was held with closed doors, but that was only done out of consideration for the feoliuga of that gentleman. For all this it was proposed to reward him with £300. He bslievod thab public opinion would be very much shocked, as it would beasimple waste of public money. He, for one, would nob bo a party to ib. Ie was a very extraordinary, if not extravagant demand upon the limited means of the College. He hoped the Council would pause before doing such an action.

Dr. Mackellar said that Professor Aldia had entirely misrepresented the caso between himself and the Council both hero and in the Old Country. He had also mudo uncalled for and unbecoming peraonal l-Gmarke, bub that was no roason why the Council should deecond to pay him back in his own coin.

Tho Rev. Williams said ho thoroughly sympathised with ths motion to adjourn as two members wore absent.

Mr Dilworfch objected to further delay. Ho thoughb tho matter Bhould be deeidod at once.

Tho Chairman claimod a division, when Miss Edger, Dr. Mackellar, and Messrs Dilworth and Peacocko voted agajiaisli the

adjournment, and the Chairman, Mr Cro», ther, and the Rev. Williams for it. The Chairman then asked whether Pro« fessor Aldis was to resume his duties onrfit lsb of March.

Dr. Mackellar : No doubt Professor Aldi( will acb with his usual good taste.

Mr Crowther (laughing): That may mean anything. Dr. Mackellar : That is what I meanb.

Miss Edger said she had not considered tho question as to whether Professor Aldii should resume his duties in March.

Mr Peacocko auggested that they migh| add to the motion, " without the necessity of taking up collego duty for the last month covered by the notice." Thia wa« agreed to. Tho motion was than put and adopted, Miss Edger, llav. Williams, Messrs Pea. cocke and Dilworth voting against it. Dr. Mackellar declined to vote, wheroupon Mr Crowther, who had voted for the motion, asked to have his name erased. The Chair; man voted againsb the motion, and id dodaring ib carried, congratulated Miji Edger upon her succosb in having converted so many to her eido.