A CASUS BELLI, AND THE ARENA.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 898, 18 August 1910, Page 6

A CASUS BELLI, AND THE ARENA.

■ POINT OF ORDER. ■■ ' The little difference between the Professorial' Board of Victoria College and Jlr. Charles Wilson, chairman of the Library Committee of the college, over the ■matter, of lists of books. recommended by the professors-for purchase'by the committee, -was- responsible for an, unusual incident at the College Council meeting last evening, 'when, the chairman (Mr. H. i'. von Haast), referring, to the matter, mentioned that he had received from Professor Kirk a. long letter, replying, in categorical terms, to the strictures which had been passed upon the professoriate by, Mr. AVilson at. the previous, meeting of the council. ';'".' ' ,

Mr. Von Haast was about to read/the letter when Sir Eobert Stout interposed. He did not think, that the letter should be read. It was a reply to certain statements by an' individual, member of the council, and they would create'a dangerous, precedent, if they allowed themselves to be drawn into -the ■' controversy. Ho ;moved that the letter Im,not read.- : ; The ;motion was seconded. .. .• ' 'Mr. Hogg clamoured for publicity. A matter of. this kind should not be burked. It was' pointed but by various speakers that the; principals had already had a bout .in the. public press. There might be a casus belli; but.the council chamber was not. the arena-for the.conflict.

. Mr.- 'Wilson; said that he was going to stand by, his/previous utterances, though he'.was prepared- to ; admit. that his reference to "carelessness or malice,'-or.both" was hardly justified. He'' withdrew the suggestion of malice." . '''.'■' ~

The. Chairman remarked that members were. on. occasion apt lo.be a little hasty in their remarks at the council meetings, as the, present" occasion would no doubt demonstrate. .-• /, Then an amendraent'was' moved by Mr. Quick; that, -the letter be referred to. the Library' Committee- : for a: report on the whole question..., ! ■'.-■,"■■. ■',!,.' At this stage, the debate was interrupted -by, the late arrival of two'or,, three members, and the chairman briefly reviewed fhe.position. Mr. .'Quick then rose to add a word, or two by way of amplification, wheii Sir Robert Stout. rose tea point of order..'.' He had barely commenced when' Mr, Quick ■ interrupted with a request for. a ruling from the chair. .;. "Will you kindly' resume your, seat'while I state my point," said Sir Robert. Mr! iQuick remained- on his feet. "I ask for.your ruling,Vsir;" he.reiterated."_',

"I ask you to sit-down," insisted.Sir Robert,.with some-acerbity. :

■The chairman riiade eloquent gesticulations in. Mr. Quick's direction, and that igen'tl-enlan'-'sat dofrh\." ' Sir Robert Stout then said thnt Mr. Quick was out of order in*' speaking to' an amendment to which he had previously spoken, - but the',- chairman ;decided that he should'be,allowed to .continue, his'explanation,'which- he. did, and members breathed more freely.' •"'"■ : '' r '" .--;

; Nobody seconded,-. Mr. Quick's amendment, which lapsedj -and ' the"' original proposition", .was carried by six. votes,to five,:and the pross reporters were given, to-understand - that, the' letter was not available, for .publication. '"■,- ,