DOMINION NEWS.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXIX, Issue LXIX, 17 June 1915, Page 8

DOMINION NEWS.

THE CASE OF PROFESSOR YON ZEDLITZ.

WELLINGTON, June 16. At to-night's meeting of the \ lctoria College Council, a report was received from the Finance and General Puiposes Committee with regard to the position Of the Professor of Modern Languages at the University. The committee has at three meetings considered the position of Professor yon Zedlite, and a sub-committee has interviewed the Minister for Internal Affairs on the position. In its report the committee stated inter alia: Professor yon Zedhtz is not a naturalised British subject, and cannot become one at the present time. On the other hand, it is not certain that he is a German subject His mother was an Englishwoman. George William yon Zedlitz was born in bericanv, and left that country when fourteen years old. He was at school for two veavs in Switzerland, and subsequently for three years at Wellington College, an English public school. He.was for four years at Trinity College, Oxford University, and subsed'Mjntly for seven years was a master nt Loretto, one of the foremost public schools in Scotland. The written parole of "Professor yon Zedlitz ■ has been accepted by the Government. He is bound by his parole to do nothing, .by word or'deed, detrimental to Britain; iii no way to assist the enemy; to hoid no communication with the enemy d-ectly or indirectly. The committee lias no evidence to show that the professor has not honorably observed m& parole and from his past conduct nas every reason to believe that he will continue rigidly to observe his obligations under that parole. . . The committee reports—(a) that a Royal Commission has been appointed to deal with the relation of aliens m respect to the public safety; (b) that in respect to the interests of Victoria University College, the committee is of opinion that "Professor yon _ Zedlitz should be retained in his position. A motion foi- adoption of the report, which was moved by the Hon. A. L. Herdman, was opposed by Messrs C. Wilson and C Watson, but after some discussion was carried.