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New Zealand Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 9230, 19 June 1893, Page 4

■■ ■ — • ■ 1 < ["he Council of the Auckland Univer- J ity College is to meet to-day. We pi e- 1 umo that the first business will be to . escind the resolution passed at the ' ast meeting, to give six months' notice 1 .0 Professor Aldis. It is no doubt some- ! vhat humiliating for a body consisting ; »f learned gentlemen, who ought never i o act except after due reflection and J vith full deliberation, to eat the leek, | >ut in the circumstances we do not see < hat thoy can avoid the disagreeable 1 )rocess. The resolution was passed by • he casting vote of the chairman ;it was \ >assed in the dark, with no public dis- < :ussion; the reasons assigned were J [uito inadequate, and were, indeed, , lot borne out by facts. Quite at c ibsurd was the action of the Coun:il afterwards. , Instead of the resolu- J ion being transmitted at once to j s rofessor Aldis as an official resolution, [ , request was sent to him asking him a o come in and have an interview with ' lie Chairman of the Council, an ' tempt being made in the meantime c o keep secret the fact that such a 1 esolution had been passed at all. jj Cliese things were all absurdities, and t he best way out of the difficulty is o cancel the whole transaction as far I ,s possible, whatever may be the 1 acrifico of dignity to the Council. It will probably be found expedient j n view of the issues which have been e

raised, to review the whole subject of thi tenure of office of Professors. Professoi Aldis claims, oh account of some under standing arrived at with the Agent General, that he holds his office for life unless in the event of some glaring; oftence, or his becoming unable to dis charge the duty. This is absurd. Th< appointments were, made, in the firsi instance for five years. Professors Brown and Thomas, when their five years had expired, applied for a re newal for a similar term, and this wat granted. This shows their understanding of the compact. In England appointments to professorships are made for life—as it is expressed, aut vitam, aut culpam. But the circumstances here are different. At home, when a Professorship in one of the great Universities is vacant, the applicants are men of acknowledged standing, for their knowledge and their ability to teach. Those who have the appointment may not appoint the best man, but they can scarcely make an absolute mistake. The candidates have all made their mark in one of the many subordinate positions as teachers which Great Britain occupies. With us the case is different. The AgentGeneral asks some two gentlemen to make a selection. We cannot expect to get to come out to New Zealand, a man who is in the front rank, who has made his position, and who can hope for one of the high places, so valuable on account, not merely of the salary attached, but of the high social position which they infer. We can only hope to get a successful student, who may or may nob turn out a good professor. In these circumstances, it is perfectly fair that the engagement should be only for a term of years. The only question is, what should be done when the period of five years expires? Professor Aldis assumes that then it becomes an appointment for life. Let the Council make that law if it chooses, and let it be understood, but certainly it is not so at present. There has been some friction as to the terms and working arrangements between the College Council and the Professorial Board. What the public understanding of the matter is that the Uouncil and the Professorial Board should co-operate as two bodies of gentlemen anxious for the prosperity af the University. The Council ought to listen attentively to any considerations urged by the Professors as to what will best promote the interests of the students and of the community (for the whole community has an interest In the University College). The Professorial Board may, indeed, have a certain sphere within which they may )e allowed to act as they think best. But the public will look to the Council ;o rule the University. If a Professor tvill not obey the Council, but will persist in consulting his own convenience ind not the interests of the College, ;hen the Council are bound to get rid >f him, and we are quite sure that public opinion will bear them out in loing so.