PROFESSOR YON ZEDLITZ

Evening Post, Volume XC, Issue 87, 11 October 1915, Page 2

PROFESSOR YON ZEDLITZ

VICTORIA COLLEGE COUNCIL ACTION. Matters relating to Professor G. W. yon Zedlitz were the chief business that came before a meeting of the Victoria College Council on Saturday night. In a letter read to the council the professor begged that body to accept his resignation, lest the teachers in the Dominion should be penalised by the passing of the Alien Enemy Teachers' Bill, which was apparently being introduced to meet his case. At the same meeting of the council -the Hon. A. L. Herdman, writing under date 16th September, informed the council that he had resigned his seat. In the course of his letter he said : "On considering the report in' this morning's paper of the proceedings of last night's meeting of the-College Council ... it sems to me to be clear that I cannot, as a member of the National Government^ continue to act 'as a member of the^ College Council. It appears to me obvious that the course of action determined upon by the council at its meeting last night means that a collision between the council and the Government is imminent, and perhaps unavoidable. I have the honour, therefore, to tender my resignation of the office I hold on the College Council, ■ and I beg that you will take the necessary steps to see that it is accepted." The council decided to deal with the letter after it had considered the resignation of Professor yon Zedlitz. In this connection the Finance Committee reported that' its petition against the introduction of legislation had been heard by the M to Z Petitions Committee of the House, and recommended that the sum of £350 be paid to Professor yon Zedlitz by way of compensation. The council went into committee to discuss the Alien Enemy Teachers Bill (which, it was remarked, is now practically on the Statute Book). Eventually, it was decided to adjourn decision on the subject of the professor's letter until the next meeting, so that the council, in granting compensation to the professor, might have the authority of the Alien Enemy Teachers Act. It was also decided to draw up a report of the council's attitude "on the question and to forward it to the newspapers, Mr._ M'Callum stated that the professor" had sworn allegiance to three British sovereigns and that he intended to go to England and there take out naturalisation papers or to offer his services to the Empire. The council then accepted! with regret the Hon. A. L. Herdman's resignation, and decided to send him a letter expressing appreciation of hie services.