FREE SPEECH

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 76, 31 March 1934, Page 12

FREE SPEECH

ACTION AT OXFORD

STUDENTS' DISCUSSIONS

DE. HAEPIOP'S.VIEWS

When asked to comment on the ban placed by the Victoria College Council on controversial topics connected with sex and religion, Dr. A. J. Harrop, representative of the University of Neiy Zealand in England, stated today that lie understood the ban was not absolute, but that the Professorial Board had been given power to prohibit defcate on any subject, which they considered definitely unsuitable.

This is a power which has been exercised very recently at Oxford," he said, "and the result was a somewhat1 acrimonious controversy. At Cambridge I should think that the proctors would take-action if a public or semi-public debate on a subject they disapproved of were proposed. Free discussion is one of the great privileges of university life, but there are certain limits which even the greatest advocate of freedom could seasonably set without doing violence to his principles." ' ' ' "In every university there is a proportion of students who incline to extreme views, and if they do nothing else/they at least make the rest'think ■ about current problems and define their own attitude towards them.'' Discussing the influence of pacifist undergraduates of Oxford ; and other universities in Great Britain, who had passed resolutions condemning war andrefusing to go to. the assistance of their country in* the event of hostilities, Dr. Harrop expressed the opinion that th^ views of students, although given wide publicity because they held something of novelty, were not taken seriously. Nevertheless,, the fact that large numbers of students had succeeded in getting such resolutions through their various debating societies indicated a change of thought in the universities since the war. "Whether this was a revolt against popular sentiment as they understood it, or was merely a phase ■which would pass, it was difficult to say at,this stage. ; IF THE TEST CAME.,!/ "I think, however, : that. although there :is a distinct feeling against war, these resolutions arise o.ut of the wisli being father to the thought that there should be no more war,'.'- said Dr. Hanop. "If the test came I think ths majority of young men would go." British Fascism was mentioned by Dr. Harrop, who said that the movement unquestionably was making some headway, and was.interesting theyouth of the nation.' It was ah outgrowth of the troublous post-war years when people were groping after any movement which promised sdme advance.towards a better world. Personally, be did not consider British Fascism would last, although some believed that.it would become . the future" system of Government. It contained few of the elements of permanency. • It was difficult to forecast European trends. England, however, would probably save Parliamentary government.