PROFESSORIAL APPOINTMENTS.

Evening Star, Issue 18717, 20 August 1924, Page 9

PROFESSORIAL APPOINTMENTS.

XO THE EDITOR. Sir,—As the article which appeared ia the ‘New Zealand Medical Journal’ about a fortnight ago was obviously not intended to blush there unseen, it is to be regretted that the attention of the editors of the local Press was not directed to it before yesterday’s meeting of the. University Council, as this forces me to reply in the public Press, which I am loth to do. This article deplores the fact that the major part of the appointment of a professor of surgery will lie in the hands of Drs Fitzgerald 'and Macdonald, advocates an expert committee, goes on to threaten that otherwise friction, narrow provincialism, and bickering will arise, and ends with the threat that the control of the Medical School will be taken out of the hands ol the council if an unsuitable appointment is made. Now, if this means anything, it moans that the editor of the ‘ Journal,’acting on the advice of the professors, is determined to counteract the evil influence of Dr.s Fitzgerald and Macdonald on tho University Council. But as the presumption' of any sane person would be that these doctors would support the most suitable candidate, it follows that the professors either think that we have already selected an unsuitable candidate, or they fear that we will not support one they have already chosen. I have not decided to support any candidate, and I will welcome the entry of a suitable man from outside Dunedin. So far from approaching the matter in a narrow, provincial spirit, when I was in Auckland I urged Mr Garrick Robertson, whom many regard as the most skilful surgeon in New Zealand, to apply, and in order to widen the field of applicants I discussed with prominent members of tho profession the possible candidature of Sir Donald M'Gavin, Mr Wylie (of Palmerston North), Dr Acland (of Christchurch), Mr Duncan Stout (of Wellington), and Mr Kenneth Mackenzie (of Auckland). Moreover. during my term on the council I have never voted for a local candidate for a professorship, but always for the man who was in my opinion the best man for tho post. In two cases where local men were strongly supported for personal reasons, I strenuously opposed {hem, because other candidates had higher academic qualifications. With regard to the second possible explanation of the activity of the professors in this matter, it might seem incredible that the professors should select a colleague locally for a national institution like the Otago Medical School before, the appointment was thowu open; but unfortunately there is a precedent for this. When the last vacancy occurred two professors waited on the University Council and urged that this appointment, which carried a salary of £I,OOO a year, should be offered to a colleague. The falsification of their chief argument—viz., that no other candidates would be available—was furnished by the application of three other candidates of very high academic standing, although the position was not advertised in Britain. One of these was probably only deprived of the position by tho fact that his application arrived a day too late. There is an old maxim in law: Show me the. man and I will show you tho law. What is happening here almost makes one feel that the motto of our Medical School is: Show mo the man and I will show you the professor. _ Dr Fitzgerald and I do not desire to take' any preponderating part in this appointment, but wo do claim that we are as well qualified to pronounce on the academic attainments of the candidates as any committee. The ultimate appointment must ho in the hands of the council, and they are not men likely to be unduly swayed by their medical colleagues. If an outside committee was in doubt about the suitability of a local candidate, it would undoubtedly apply to the professors for a recommendation. If it is desired to hand over tho control of these appointments to the professors, let that be done. Personally, I am strongly of opinion that the professors should not be granted any more power in the affairs of the University outside the teaching. There is one serious objection to a committe which you, sir, have overlooked, and it is this; If such a committee made a unanimous recommendation, the council would fed bound t» adopt it, or it would be accused of flout* ing the profession throughout New Zea* land. Dr Fitzgerald and myself can bo relief on to do our duty without fear or favor, and I can assure you of one thing—that we will play with our cards above tho table, and we will not be found doing one tiling and then asserting to tho Medical Association that we have done another.—l am, etc., W. M. Macdonald. August 20.