ANNIVERSARY DAY

Evening Star, Issue 19637, 17 August 1927, Page 11

ANNIVERSARY DAY

EARLY SETTLERS & UNIVERSITY ‘At tho July meeting of tho Otago University Council tho attitude of the Professorial Board in refusing to recommend that the University should be dosed on Anniversary Day was strongly criticised by Mr J. Wallace and others, and the matter was again referred to at yesterday’s meeting of the council, when the following resolution, passed by tho Professorial Board, was considered;— “That this hoard once more assures tho council and tho Early Settlers' Association that it is wholly in sympathy with the desire to honor worthily the memory of the pioneers; that, although it considers the method adopted by tho University in the present year to be more in accord with the spirit of the; founders of the province and of the University than the suspension of lectures- would be, it would, nevertheless, bo prepared to yield on a mere matter of opinion to the reasoned wishes of the association; but that, in view of the special timetable difficulties by reason of which (as already explained to the council and tho association) tho declaration of a holiday would cause Joss of efficiency, tho board is not justified in taking tho responsibility of closing the University on the 23rd of March.” Mr L. Deans Ritchie moved that a copy of the resolution be forwarded to the Early Settlers’ Association for the purpose of obtaining its “ reasoned views ” on the matter.

The Vice-Chancellor (Mr Morrell) said that since the last meeting lie had made some inquiries regarding the Professorial Board’s powers in closing the University. Ho had consulted the minutes for 1875, and lound that although' there was not a quorum present at the meeting ou February 2, when the regulations were first dealt with, the council at its meeting on April 13 adopted them, and they were therefore binding. In reading the regulations, he surd, it had struck him that the powers given the Professorial Board did not involve anything more than the fixing of hours for the timetable lectures. Ho had obtained the opinion of the council’s solicitors, who in formed him Unit the council could close the University when it thought fit. Mr Stephens seconded Mr Ritchie's resolution.

Mr Gilray said he did not think it would bo advisable to carry tho matter any further. Dr Marshall Macdonald; We have received tho reasoned wishes of the Early Settlers’ Association.

Mr Ritchie said he did not wish to force a vole that day. Ho believed if,the matter was discussed with the association a satisfactory settlement might ho arrived at. The Vice-Chancellor said some of those who had spoken at the previous discussion seemed to imagine that the University was on the same looting as the ordinary schools. Mr Wallace: 1 rise to a point of order. H is not wise to discus that matter now.

Mr Ritchie: I am unaware that the views of the Early_ Settlers’ Association have been considered. The motion was carried.