AUCKLAND UNIVERSITY COLLEGE COUNCIL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIV, Issue 252, 24 October 1893, Page 2

AUCKLAND UNIVERSITY COLLEGE COUNCIL.

THE CASE OF PROFESSOR ALDIS.

SIR GEORGE GREY MEETS THE COUNCIL-

A FURTHER ADJOURNMENT.

In connection with the caseof Professor Aldis a further special meeting of the Auckland University College Council was held yesterday afternoon ab the Council offices, Eden-street. There were present:—Sir G. M. O'Rorke (Chairman), Miss Edger, Rev. Mr Williams, Messrs W. Crowther, J. Dilworth, E. Hesketh, R. Udy. Gerald Peacock c, and Dr. Mackellar. The deputation which waited on the Council ab the previous meeting with reference to Professor Aldis's case were again presenb, being headed by Sir George Grey. The other members of the deputation were : Dr. J. L. Campbell, the Revs. J. Blaikie, C. H. Laws, A. Hr Collins, G. D. Cox, and Prior, Dr. Bakewell, Messrs C. C. McMillan, E. Withy, C. Kelsey, W. Berry, E. Cox, J. M. Shera, M.H.R., R. B. Shalders, A. Sanford, James Adams, W. Kerr, H. Newton, John Scott, C. F. Baxter, G. W. Owen, Dr. M. A. Kinder, Mrs Clarke, Mise Archibald Mrs Adams, Mrs Owen and D. Beale.

The Chairman (Sir G. M. O'Rorke), addressing Sir George Grey and the other members of the deputation, said that the Couucil were again present in response to the wishes of the gentlemen composing the deputation, the Council having last week decided to adjourn until that day in order to allow time for communication between Sir George Grey, as intermediary, and Professo Aldis with reference to the matter under dispute. Sir George Grey, addressing the Council, said that he had found the task of intermediary between the Council and Professor Aldis one of very great difficulty. He had been at considerable pains to get at the exact circumstances which had led up to Prof. Aldis's dismissal. He found that one member of the Council had given as bis chief, or his only, reason for desiring to get rid of Professor Aldis the question of economy, and the fact that a man to do the work could be got for less money. He had not thought such a disgraceful thing possible until he had ascertained thab this was so—that a member had given his vote to ignominiously dismiss a professor simply because they could perhaps get ib done for less money. Professor Alois, he went on to say, had a greab difficulty in coming to a decision on the questions at issue between himself and the Council. He did not wish to show that he was willing to sacrifice everything to keep his office. He asked the Council if they could not suggesb some means whereby a settlement might be arrived ao, or failing that th<>t an adjournment for a few days should be made so thab he mighb be able to satisfactorily conclude bhe negotiations pending with Professor Aldis. He had received some letters from Professor Aldis which he would like to consider.

Mr Crowthor asked Sir George Grey if he had ascertained that one member of the Council had advocated Mr Aldis's dismissal simply on grounds ot economy, and cf a consequent lessening of expenditure. Sir George Grey : Yes ; 1 have his letter, published in the press. Mr Crowther suggested that an adjournment be made and that the deputation be allowed to Buggest a day for the next meeting with the Council so as to enable the deputation to make further progress with the negotiations in Professor Aldis's case.

Sir George Grey thanked the Mayor for his suggestion, and promised that there would be no unnecessary delay whatever. He again asked the Council if they could make no suggestion to help him. The Chairman uaid that the Council was not prepared to suggest anything. Sir George Grey could geb a few days furbher, and when ho was prepared ho could communicate wibh the Registrar and a meebing of the Council would be called to again receive the deputation. Sir George Grey again asked the Council if they could not make any suggestion to him in the meantime which could aid him in settling the difficulty. Justice, and ho mighb almost say righteousness, demanded thab bhe Council should do all they could to aid an amicable settlement of the matter. He thought thab the Council should carefully consider what would be the besb lesson to sob forth for all time in bhis matter, and act accordingly. It was the first time he had known of a professor of a college being dismissed in such a manner, throwing bis family into distress, and sending a respected and esteemed scholar back into the world again to begin life. This dismissal had come about on such uncertain lines, thab the important action taken thereon by the Council was, he thought, almosb incredible. Sir George Grey ac this stage handed into the Chairman an Auckland newspaper, containing a copy of a letber eenb to bhe Council some months ago by Mr Jackson Palmer, M.H.R., in which bhab gentleman referred to the line which he had taken up with regard to Mr Aldis, and stating that in his vote for the dismissal of the professor he had been actuated solely by the question of economy in expendibure. Mr Gerald Peacocke explained that he had nob been presenb ab the recent meetings of the Council, and said thab bhe chief difficulty was that the Council had already decided three times not to retain Professor Aldis's services and they did nob know on whab ground bhey would have to meeb the question again. The deputation had nob come wibh any authority or power to act from Professor Aldis, and the Professor could, if he chose, repudiate any action that the deputation might take in the matter in conference with the Council. If the Council took any further stepe in bhe matter the Professor wbb open to cay thab he had authorised no one to act for him. Mr Peacocke furbher said bhab ho had been in favour of the rescinding of the original resolution .dismissing Professor Aldis. *

Sir George Grey said bhab if the Council took further action now and re-opened the matter, such action instead of placing the Council in a false position, would really place them in a true position. Ib would be creditable to bhe Council if bhey did such a thing, and if they acted justly and rightly there could be no possible sound objection taken to their action. He felt certain that what had been done bybhe Council up bo the time he was speaking, would go down to posterity as a wrong thing, and as a bad example. It would have been the right thing to have allowed a full inquiry bo have been made into the questions in issue between the Council and Professor Aldis, whereas none bad been made.

Dr. Mackellar eaid ib had been understood that Sir George Grey had undertaken to act as intermediary in the matter, and the delay in this matter could not bo laid on him (Sir George). The only person, therefore, ab whose door could be laid the blame for delay was thab of Professor Aldis. They musb have something to go on, or there would be no finality about these proceedings. They ought to know when they were going to get some definite ground to go on, and he requested the deputation to promise that something definite should be brought forward at next meeting. Mr E. Heskebh considered that bhe cause of Professor Aldis was suffering through nothing definite being brought before the meeting. Mr Sanford, a member of the deputation, suggested, In a spirit of conciliation, thab the Council tbonW give a promise to hold a full and pnblto inquiry into the oauea of the trouble. He beiwved both aides were bo blame, and that everything that was done

in the case ehould be done in the cause of the public. He considered that the colony s educational institutions should not be allowed to suifer through any action of Professor Aldis or ot the Council, the members ,of which he looked upon as public servants. Mr Crovrthereaid he was sure that the Council would take no steps in the direction asked for by Mr Sanford until the Council fireb heard from Professor Aldis through Sir George Grey. Mr Edwin Cox said that he understood that Professor Aldis had expressed to Sir George Grey his regret that the Council should have taken his action as a personal affront, and that be was willing to do biß utmost to heal the difficulty in a becoming spirit, and to make every amends that an honourable man could. 16 was very undesirable that the news should go to England that the Council still held to their original resolution.

The Chairman said there was nothing before the Council from Professor Aldis through Sir George Grey, and accordingly the only coarse to pursue would be to adjourn, as asked by Sir George Grey. Sir George Grey said he was not authorised by Professor Aldis to make any such statement to the Council as that made by Mr Cox. He was not prepared to do so. He went on to again urge the Council to sum up the charges againsb Mr Aldis, and to investigate them thoroughly. If this were done he was Bure that Professor Aldia would come out thoroughly cleared from the charges made against him in connection with the work of the College. He had heard the whole of the facts from Professor Aldis, and he had made himself thoroughly acquainted with the subject. After a little further discussion, the deputation retired. Mr Gerald Peacocke said that be did nob see how the Council could be expected to reopen the matter without communication from Professor Aldis, seeing that the matter had already been fully dealt with. He had always been in favour of an inquiry, but he now considered the matter finished in the absence of anything from Professor Aldis through Sir George Grey. Mr E. Hesketh expressed his surprise at the course which had been taken that afternoon by the deputation which bad waited upon them.

Mr J. Dilworth also expressed in strong terms surprise at the action of the deputation in this case. He wan astonished to find such a body of representative citizens coming forward in support of a man who had acted so contumaciously towards the Council. He had not expected to find such an aggregation of respectable, intelligent men there to try and coerce the Council into condoning the offence of which Professor Aldis had been guilty. He went on to say that Mr Aldis had undertaken a duty which he had performed for which he had drawn full salary without a word to the Council of his omissions. He had been called- to account for his fault, but had not given any adequate explanation. Then that deputation was there to try to coerce the Council, and he was astonished. He had seen many a "dark day "in Auckland, but he had seen no day darker than that which he feared in this matter, if they allowed themselves to be swayed from the right course. He was astonished to find people, there to try and keep in office a man who had acted, and continued to act, so contumaciously towards the Council.

Dr. Mackellar *aid that Professor Aldia had tried to boycott the colony, and he had written to England implying that similar " ebamelui tbinga " to thaC which had befallen him had been done in the colony. Professor Aldis had repaid the chivalry and tho support of bis Auckland students by trying to stop other competent professors from coming out to the college. This was hardly heaping " coals of fire " on their heads.

Mr Peaeocke said that he still thought that; the original resolution dismissing Professor Aldis should be rescinded, seeing that it had been passed on totally inadequate grounds. He did not wish ib to be supposed that he was one co tamely sib under euch charges' as those made by Professor Aldis in his letters to England, but he hold that these ietters' of the Professor's had nothing whatever to do with tho original charge on which ho had been dismissed ; they should be considered quite apart from the original ground of dismissal. The two things should be entirely dissociated.

The Rev. Mr Williams dissented from the remarks of Mr Dilworth and Dr. Mackellar. He considered that the original sentence on Profesßor Aldi* was unparalled in its severity considering the nature of the fault alleged against him. The Chairman combatted this statement, and reviewed the conducb of the Professor, which had led up to iiis dismissal. Mr Aldis should have done his duty as a Profoasor, and also have and met him (Sir G. M. O'Rorke) when he was asked to do so before the notice terminating his engagement was served upon him, but he, from first to last, held aloof. He could not overlook the communications made by Prof. Aldis to the presa, and he doubted if any governing body would re-engage a gentleman who could write about them as Mr Aldis had done.

Mr Udy considered that the firsb conciliatory steps should be taken by Mr Aldis.

After some further desultory discussion, it was decided to adjourn sine die, and to meet again when Sir George Grey was in a position to meet the Council, with the other members of the deputation, in connection with the Aldis cueo.