AUCKLAND UNIVERSITY COLLEGE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIV, Issue 247, 18 October 1893, Page 2

AUCKLAND UNIVERSITY COLLEGE.

THE CASE OF PROFESSOR ALDIS.

DEPUTATION TO THE COUNCIL,

SIR GEORGE GREY'S OPINION

SOME "SPECIAL PLEADING."

A special meeting of the Auckland Univeraity Colleg9 Council was hold yesterday afternoon, for the purpose of receiving a deputation of citizens desirous of urging the Council to roconsider the decision already arrived at, to terminate the 6ngagemenb of Mr W. S. Aldis, Professor of Mathematics at thd Auckland College. The following members were presenb at bhe Council meeting :—Sir G. M. O'Rorko (Chairman), the Rev. W. J. Williamß, Messrs W. Crowther, R. Udy, E. Hosketb, j. Dilworbb and Dr. Mackellar. The deputation consisted of Sir Goo. Grey* Dr. J. L. Campbell, Messrs S. Luke, C. C. McMillan, B. Withy, J. Adams, W. Berry, E. Cox, C. Kelsey, P. R. Dix, Rev. A. H. Collins, add the Rev. G. D. Cox. Tho deputation appeared in support of ths petitio:. presented td tho Council on the previous day. Sir George Grey, who acted as spokesman of tho deputation, said that ho took a very great intoresb in this matter bocause he had sot his hearb upon Auckland becoming theseab oE a very learned community in every respect. He thought ib had a position peculiarly suited fcr this purpose, and they were acquiring all tho matorial that would enable them almost ab once to take a foremosb position in tuition. He had formed a very high opinion of Professor Aldis, from his own personal knowlodgo and from whab ho had heard from his friends in England. To him (Sir George Grey) ib had boon for a number of years pasb a matter for congratulation that they possessed in the colony one of tho most learnod mathomaticians in Europe. This placed the people in a position to acquire knowledge of the highesb possible kind in mathematics, Ib was of very great advantage to a country to possess tho most learned men in each gubjoct of human interest) ob tho time. In some quarters tho opinion seemed to be that ib was quite sufficient to havo any ordinary mathematical professor here, but bhe truth was thab thoy ought to possoss one who could load them to tho highest pitch of mathomabical knowledge. It was something to be ablfl to aay that thay could touch everything that could be taught with regard to mathematical scionce. He had been distressedgroatly ab tho difficulties which had arisen in roference bo Profossor Aldis. He (Sir George) had tried to establish in Auckland libraries for the education of scholars in different branches of knowletlgo, and ho had beon assisted in that plan by Professor Aldis, who had nidod him in forming ono of the moab perfect libraries for mathematical teaching thab could exi3b. They had obtained almost everything necessary for the education of men in that branch of knowlodge. He had had groat pleasure in talking bhe matter over with Professor Aldis. Ho had contracted a great regard for him personally, and if he saw Mr Aldis passing from them ib would be with great sorrow. Ho hoped that ib would nob como to that, Ho did nob think that anything suflicienb had taken placo to roquiro so great a punishmonb as to separate Professor Aldis from tho homo which he had formed hero, and to drive him oub of tho country in which he took (and would continuo to tuko) so groab an interest. He (Sir Georgo Grey) bhoughb that perhaps tho Council would reconsider their steps, and try to deviso means by which the aoparation of Professor Aldis from tho Auckland College could be avoided, and he appealed to thorn to consider tho magnibudo of tho stop thoy wore baking. He knew tho impression in tho Professor's mind was trmb lie had not had a lair hoarIng. Not thab he had receivod an unfair hearing, but he had never been allowed to explain bofore any Committee or Commission those matters regarding whioh differences might havo existed between him and the Council, Ho (Sir George) would not have taken tho stop he had taken had he not been convinced that Professor Aldis had from bhe first been anxious to promoto tho viewß of tho Council. He believed that if tho Council had interfered and raised an objection whon the Professor (irsb adopted his position with regard to tuition, the misunderstanding would never havo baken placo. Profossor Aldis pursued the best course in tho education of mathomntical pupils. Ho (Sir George) had from his early youth learnt from some of tho greatest mathematicians of the age, and was ono of their favourite scholars. Ho waß, therefore, qualified to express nn opinion of whab mathematical education should bo. Some of those greab men wore frionds of his, and he had pushed bis knowledge to the furthest limit thab could be imparted [ ab tho time, and he hnd a peculiar interest in this branch of education. In other; places a man liko Professor Aldis might havo his work mado moro interesting and pleasant/ by doaling with tho more experimental developments of mathematics, but here bia duty was with the hard and dry doctrinos alone. He (Sir Georgo) would bo very grateful to the Council for any offorts they might make to grant justice to Professor Aldis, either by allowing him to explain the points where accusations had been mado against him, or by taking some other course likely to produce Eomo reasons of real forco to justify the punishment inflicted upon him. Ho and his frionds would feel gratoful for anything done in the direction be bad spoken of.

Sir George said bhab bhe gentlomon who accompanied him supported him, and that he acted as their mouthpiece The Chairman pointed oub thab bho Council had appointod a Committee to investigate tbe difficulty with Mr Aldis, and that gentleman was given overy opportunity of explaining, bub ho did nob do so. There wero two occasions on which Profesßor Aldis had been given an opportunity of explaining the matters to which tho Council took objection. The Professor was in error in Btabing chab he had had no opportunity of vindicating himself. Mr Aldis took no notice of tho opportunities afforded him to explain to tho Council. Sir George Grey asked for the minutes of the meetings of tho special Committee appointed to inquire into tho Aldia difficulty. Tho Chairman replied that there wero no minutes kepb of the meeting of tho Committee. Sir George Grey said that this was a case on which a man's honour and future lifo depended, and ib should nob be lightly dealb with. He appealed to bhe Council to act justly and mercifully, and he asked the members to allow a full inquiry into the matter. The deputation desired a special conference with Mr Aldis, or such othor measures as would bring about an amicuble settlement. Mr Crowther asked Sir George if he thought thab any documents or papers which had been applied for by Mr Aldis in tins case had beon withheld from him. Sir George replied, " No." The Chairman said that nothing had been withheld from Mr Aldis, the latest papor given him being a copy of the abatement drawn up by the Committee. Sir George Grey said that Professor Aldia was quite unaware that any inquiry was being hold until the verdict by bho Council waa mado public. He went on to refer to bhe complainb made by the Hoadmastor of the Thames High School, and said bbab Profeaaor Aldie wan nob to blame, for tho

Council allowed things bo go on as they wore in bhe College withoub having warned Mr Aldis at all. The Chairman : Oh, they did warn him, Sir George submitted thab the Couacil had nob done what they migbb have done in warning Mr Aldis bofore they took such sudden steps. The Chairman said that after having boon warned tho Professor repeatedly dropped lectures oub of bbc time-table. He bad done so with his eyes open. Ho had never apologised in any way, nor bad ho shown any disposition to oboy tho Council in connection with the work of the College.

Sir George Grey again urged thab bhere should be some record of such oonducb and of the warnings sbated to nave beon given to the Professor, and thab a conference should be arranged between tho Council and.Professor Aldis. The case was full of misunderstandings, and he was confident bhat if a conference took place all these misunderstandings would bo cleared away. He did nob think tho Council would hesitate to re-enter into cordial rotations with tho Professor if the difficulty wero cloarod up. Profesßor Aldis was not only under bhe Council's authority, bub he had a riglib of appeal to a higher power than the Council, the Official Visitor. In a case liko this, when Biich high interests were ab sbake, the Council should neglect nothing thab would bolp to clear up the misundersbanding with Mr Aldis. If they sent the Professor away before Parliament mot thore would bo no moans of getting a full inquiry into the matter. He again pressed for a full inquiry iuto the circumstances of the trouble. Mr Heskobh asked bho deputabion whab should be dono with reference to Profoßsor Aldis's Statements against the Council, even assuming thab the Council were wrong in dismissing him. Profoseor Aldis's action was a point which would inevitably cause embarrassment. Sir George Grey tboughb that if Mr Aldis Were found to bo in tho wrong in what ho said against the Council a full and ample apology would be forthcoming. In any case ho considered ib absolutely necessary that a conference should bo hold, no matter what the errors might bo. Ho folt Bfttisfiod that Mr Aldis would do what was rip;lib. Ho waa a man of vory high chain'.'!it and an honourable gentleman. Tho study iif highor mathematics had a poculiar ollcct in ennobline the character of its earnest students. As for himaolf, he would do all he could to prevent such a misfortune as Profossor Aldiß' departure from the colony.

Dr. Mockollar said thab no man had suffored more than lie had in this matter, seeing thab Profosßor Aldis was a cloao friend of his. In the month of May last ho opposed tho resolution to diamiaa Mr Aklis, bub ho ab the same time considered bhab a salary of £700 to £800 a yoar for, ab tho most, from 10 to 12 hours work per week, which was Mr Aldis' salary, was an extravagant salary for a placo like Auckland. Ho proceeded to say that tho disploaaure of tho Council regarding the dropping of loctures on tho timotablo of the Colloge by Profsssor Aldis had besti fully oxpressod in lettors to tho Professorial Board. To thid intimation co tho Professorial Board tho Council received a vory tart answor. Mr Aldis had charged tho Council with a " broach of fuith." Ho was not so learned and apart from tho world as to bo a child, for ho (tho Profossor) had lived a good doal in bho world and in active life, and whon ho onterod into his engagement with tho Council he perfectly know whab he was doing. Ho (Dr. Mackollar) did nob think there was any breach of faith with Mr Aldis. As they well knew tho Collega regulations gavo thorn power to dismiss professors or servants without giving any roasofi why. The Professor accusod Sir Dillon 8011, tho ox-Agent-General, of partiality to tho viows of the Chairman of the Board whon asked as to whether tho agreement with Mr Aldis was for lifo or not. This was a poor way of gotting oub of a difficulty. Thon Professor Aldis had mado no effort, liko his follow-professors, to popularise his work and to make mathematics a moro attractive subjecb to tbo young people of Auckland. Profopsor Aldis ha.! shown no sign of withdrawing his statomonts, and he did not think thab ho had any intention of doing bo. Ho had hnd five months in which to retract hi 3 statomonts, and ho liad nob done so. Mr Heskoth again pointed to the doputabion that their mission could not bo productivo of any good result unle3& they were prepared to auggosb somo mannor in which bho statomonts made in tho press by Mr Aldiß againsb tho Council could be gob over. No ono with any self-respecb at all could pass ovor such statements as those which had beon made by Mr Aldiß against tho Council. Mr Aldis has made a vory stiff' stand against the Council, and had mado no indication of an ovorturo on his parb. Sir Georgo Baid ho was cerbain that Mr Aldis would do everything that was right if an opening were given to him. Tho Professor had been condemned without being heard, and he would romind tho Council of the text "Judgo nob thab yo bo not judged." Mr E. Cox, another member of tho doputabion, urged the Council to repeal tho resolution diamissing Professor Aldi3, who was a gentleman of a keen sonßO of honour, and one for whom ho folb high respocb. Ho considered bhab bho churgo aeainsb Mr Aldis was untenable. Mr Aldis' lifo had beon a struggle for justice, and in tho caußO of his non-conformiab brathron in England ho had fough'j conscientiously and fearlessly. Ho considered thab tho character of the College and the colony would suffer greatly if tho Council still decided to dismiss Mr Aldis, Sir George Grey said thab even supposing Mr Aldis wero wrong i;i the statements ho had mado against bho Council, still if thoy had decided to roscind tho resolution dismissing him, they ahould certainly not inflisb on him tho full punishment for the original offonce of which he waa alleged to bo guilty. Mr Crowther asked who was to initiate tho proposed reconciliation botweon tho Council and Profossor Aldis. Tho Rev. Mr Collins suggested thab the Council should accepb tho proforred services of Sir Georgo Groy as an intermediary botwoon the two parties. Tho deputation then withdrew. Tho Chairman (Sir G. M. O'Rorke) said that so far Mr Aldis had shown no wish to bo reconciled to the Council. He again referred to the attacks mado by Mr Aldis in the English and Now Zealand pross. Mr Hoßketh suggested an adjournment for a few days. Mr Crowther bhoughb an adjournmenb until they hoard from Profossor Aldis through Sir George Groy was highly advisable. Mr Udy asked how they Btand with reference to tho application for a successor to Mr Aldis which had already been mailod to England. Mr Crowther said thab a cable to England would stop bhab ab any bime. Eventually, ib was decided to adjourn until Monday next, in order to await any communication which ruitrht be sent to tho Council through Sir George Groy in furtherance of tho desires of the deputation.