Professor Rhodes to retire

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32474, 8 December 1970, Page 18

Professor Rhodes to retire

Professor H. W. Rhodes who will retire from the position as a professor of English at the University of Canterbury this year has served the university for almost 38 years.

His retirement was announced yesterday by the Vice-Chancellor (Professor N. C. Phillips) at a meeting of the University of Canterbury Council.

In paying tribute to the work of Professor Rhodes, the Vice-Chancellor said that in an age when the balance

of studies had tended to swing towards the sciences Professor Rhodes had never ceased to champion the cause of the humanities.

He had coupled this with a devoted interest in the welfare of his students and had gained the ultimate satisfaction in seeing many of them later become his colleagues in the English department, said Professor Phillips. Professor Rhodes joined the staff of the Canterbury University College in 1933 and for many years was well ■ known as a writer, speaker critic and broadcaster on literary topics. Born in Melbourne in 1905 Professor Rhodes entered Melbourne Boys’ High Scfiool on a junior scholarship and was subsequently awarded senior scholarships in both English and mathematics.

As an undergraduate he entered the Medical School of Melbourne University and passed all examinations for

two years; but then decided that his interest lay more in arts.

He then took a master of arts degree with honours in English literature and language and did post-graduate work on the Australian novel.

From 1930 he y/as lecturer in English at Ormond College and then Newman College in the University of Melbourne. Appointed to Canterbury University College in 1933 as a lecturer in English, Professor Rhodes was promoted to senior lecturer five years later and to associate professor in 1949. In 1964 he was appointed to the second chair in English.

For many years Professor Rhodes has served on the library committee of the Professorial Board and bn the tutorial class committee of the Workers’ Educational Association, of which he was president for some years. Professor Rhodes has also held the post of chairman of the Canterbury branch of the New Zealand-U.S.S.R. Society; he visited Russia in 1950 and in 1965.