PROFESSOR VON ZEDLITZ

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2557, 3 September 1915, Page 4

PROFESSOR VON ZEDLITZ

The letter which Professor von Zedlitz has, sent to members of the Victoria College _ Council- does not succeed in invalidating, or in any way weakening, the argument against his. retention of his position on the teaching staff of the College. It rather strengthens the attitude,of those who contend that his engagement ought to be terminated. The greater part of his letter deals with irrelevant matters, and the relevant portions tend to undermine his own case. Like the majority 'of'those who have written or spoken ,iii support of the mistaken' course adopted by the College Council, Professor VON Zedlitz endeavours to place personal considerations 'in the .forefront. But it is not in reality a personal matter at allj .it is a clcar question of principle and public policy. The Prime Minister took, the proper point of view when lie stated in Parliament that tho Government "is of opinion that neither in University Colleges nor in public schools is it desirable that unnaturalised enemy subjects should continue to give instruction to the youth and children of the Dominion." Mr. Massey went-on to say that "if necessary legislation will be introduced before the end of the session to deal with the situation." ! In declaring that the present position ' cannot be allowed to continue we hare not the least doubt Mit. Massey gave expression to the views of tho overwhelming majority of the people of New Zealand. German professors in the English universities were suspended soon after the outbreak of the war, and Glasgow University has quite recently difpensed with the services of its German teachers. Why should an exception be made in the ease of Professor von Zedlitz'! A number'of Germans have been removed from their posts in various State Departments in New Zealand. It was obviously the proper thing to do. AVhy should not the Victoria College Council act on the same principle? It-is extremely imporUnt. tiki t!w Clsi'Mti fldflwiH -'aljeulci to aduoatigafll

institutions, as the relationship' of teacher and scholar is so intimate that a succcssful teacher cannot help imparting something of his own personality and some of his inherited or acquired ideas and ideals to his pupils. A teacher can no more separate his personality from his teaching than lie can run awa-y from his own shadow. It is well that this fact should be borne in mind when we read the Professor's frank avowal that "it. is true, and I would scorn to deny it, that, being of German descent, I have a- strong sentimental feeling for Germany." It is quite certain that the pcqple of New Zealand have an exceedingly ktrong feeling against Germany, and they arc most emphatically of opinion that professors and teachers who have strong sentimental feelings for the brutal Power whioh has sworn to overthrow the British Empire ougiht not to be allowed to "continue to give instruction to the youth and children of the Dominion." When the war commenced Professor von Zedutz evidently realised that the natural course for him to take was to sever his connection . with the public institution in which ho was employed. He tells us that he felt it incumbent upon him" to relieve the College Council, if they wanted to get rid of him. of bhe embarrassment of taking the first step, and he handed his resignation to M",i. Ostler, who was then chairman. He very naturally thought that his nationality would be generally regarded as a bar to. the retention of his university chair. It is to his credit that he took this step, and the College Council, not Professor von Zedutz, is to blanie for the position that has since arisen. -To-day there is greater reason than at the outbreak of the war for the step which Professor von Zedlitz then realised was the proper one for him to take. Not that there has been anything in his conduct to which exception could be taken ; not on personal grounds, a, plea which his friends drag in to obscure the real issue; but as a matter of principle' and public policy which in the light of the vile methods pursued by the German nation in waging the war makes action <>n tho paa - t of the authorities an imperative duty.