STRICTLY "IN COMMITTEE."

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1573, 17 October 1912, Page 4

STRICTLY "IN COMMITTEE."

COLLEGE COUNCILLORS AND PEO. i FKSSOB PICKEN. It was expected that when tho following notice of motion by Sir Robert Stout came up for discussion at the next meeting of tho Victoria College Council there would be 6omo interesting speeches. The motion read:—

"That considering the grave reflections oast on tho professors and students of Victoria' College An the following statements recently made by Professor Picken, viz.—(n) "Die University professor is a man whose value to tho community should consist in his personality, his individuality of outlook, and his originality of thought, but such qualities would chiefly serve to make-life a burden to the men whom we call "professors" in Now Zealand so that there is consolation for someone in the thought that tho conditions have minimised tho danger of men with those qualities being imported,' (b) 'So far from the work being done for which tho University existed, a great majority of the students left tho colleges loss sound in body find mind and boul than on the daV they entered, , except for the salutary influence of their personal contact with one another , —this council appoints a oonimit'tee to investigate such charges and to report to the council thereon. Tho chairman, the Hon. Mr. Bell, and Messrs. Ferguson, Meek, M'Callum, and Ostler, and tho mover are hereby appointed tho members of such committee."

As events turned out, nothing caino of tho matter, so far, at least, as the general public is concerned. On tho motion being called on, Mr. H. H. Ostler said that it should bo considered in committee, but the chairman (Mr. Chas. Wilson) dissented from this view, and said that since one side of the question had been placed l>efora tho public, it was only fair that tho other side should also receive publicity. He had prepared a type-written statement of his own view of the question, copies of which he proposed to hand to tho press representatives at tho mooting. Mr. A. E. Meek agreed, and remarked that ho also had something to say concerning tho matter. It was, however, decided to go into committee, Mr. Ostler insisting upon the press representatives withdrawing. After a sitting in committee of about half an hour's duration, the Registrar (Mr. C. T. l'owles) summoned the waiting pressmen, who arrived nt the door just as members were filing out. ' The chairman then intimated to tho reporters that there was nothing for publication. That motion was not carried, ho said. Subsequent inquiry disclosed the fact that tho board, after .1 general discussion, decided, in the interests of tho college, to drop the matter altogether, and Sir Robert Stout's motion was not put to the meeting. .