DURING DEBATE

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 99, 23 October 1913, Page 8

DURING DEBATE

" IN THE FIGHTING LINE " CHIEF JUSTICE AND PROFESSORS. An opportunity was afforded the Leader of tho Council yesterday to offer some amusingly frank comment on the subject of the wide divergence of opinion that has been demonstrated between the professorial boards and tho Chancellor (Sir Robert Stout) on matters touching University reform. The Minister, who was explaining tho substantial alteration to tho Victoria College Constitution, observed that "the fight between tho professors and his Honour was brought about more by the pugnacity of his Honour tho Chief Justice than by any other cauße." (Laughter.) Comment was made as to tho Chancellor's ability to convince the professors whon, Hon. Mr. Bell : He can convince himself of anything ■ When the resultant amusement which interrupted the observation had subsided, Tho Minister (in hurried explanation) ; I do not mean to cay that his Honour can convince liimself of anything improper. The point, to my ,mind, is that his Honour, since he has attained to tho Chief Justiceship has been prevented from carrying out contests of tho nature in which he used to delight, and has been denied the opportunity of having a real good go. Hon. Mr. Jones : He is always in tho fighting line. The Minister : It gave him an opportunity for a very charming contest in which the professors, I am bound to say, fought with their , hands tied behind 11 their backs. The commentator hinted that in this battle for principle, the professors received less respect than they paid. The Minister added that thero had been no reason given for the exclusion of professors from the College Council, with the following exceptions :— (1) That they could not expect to voto on euch a question as their own salaries, and (2) That the Chancellor objected. Reverting from the Chancellor to the general principle, the Minister said he knew of no reason why the professors should not choose their, own representatives for the council. He (Mr. Bell) had represented the Professorial Board for two years, and he had no more idea of what the professors wanted than lie had of what the schoolmasters wanted.