FREE SPEECH.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 186, 8 August 1935, Page 7

FREE SPEECH.

ENGLISH ACTION.

Auckland University College Congratulated.

"EEFUSAL TO CENSURE." (United I\A.-Electric Megrapto— Copyright) (Received 1 p.m.) LONDON, August 7. Over 600 University professors and lecturers in Britain have sent a letter to the council of the Auckland University College congratulating it on its stand in favour of free speech, following its refusal to comply with the Government's demand to censure Mr. 11. D. Dickinson, lecturer in economics on loan from Leeds University, whose remarks a year ago relating to his opinions on war and patriotism aroused much official comment.

A provisional Committee of Academic Freedom has been formed in England, and is to hold a conference at Oxford on August 13 V.o discuss the position of university and school teachers.

"There ha 6 been no demand from the Government to censure Mr. Dickinson," said Mr. W. H. Cocker, a member of the Auckland University College Council, to-tlay. Mr. Dickinson made a speech before the Auckland Anti-War Council on August 5, 1934, in which he declared that he would "rather be shot or hanged by his own Government than shot in the field of war." He laid the blame for international conflict on the system of capitalism and Imperialism, and also criticised Britain for not making greater efforte at disarmament. "The only good thing that come out of the Great War," he added, "was the Bolshevik Revolution." He went on to say that the people ehould fight war if it should come, and should "fight their own Government, which supports war, by every means in their power." He stated that he was ashamed to have been one of those who served in the Great War.

Questions were asked in Parliament by Mr. Endean as to what the Government proposed to C*. about "Mr. Dickinson's dieloy.il speech," but the Prime Minieter had replied that it was a matter for the Auckland University College Council. The council had eventually approved a schedule of free speech principles, drawn up by the staff, and approved by the Professorial Board (prior to Mr. Dickinson's speech), and had adopted the Professorial Board's subsequent suggestion to point out that Mr. Dickinson was only temporarily attached to the college, and did not speak, in his capacity of lecturer.