FREEDOM OF SPEECH

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21868, 2 August 1934, Page 13

FREEDOM OF SPEECH

Sir, —I am surprised that Mr. Cleghorn fails to appreciate my position about consistency. I thought I had made it clear to the point of pungency. If some professors after voting for the resolution referred to changed their minds, the proper place to reverse their decision was at the board where it was originally registered. Surely responsibility toward a corporate body, loyalty to colleagues and "college spirit"—of which we hear so much these days—should have inspired them to bring some further resolution before the board, stating that they could no longer support the original resolutions, and explaining to their colleagues why they had changed their minds. At present nobody knows, though the air is thick with rumour. Further to elucidate their position as a responsible corporate body, I should suggest that one of its members should bring before the Professorial Board the following resolution:— "That the board having passed unanimously a resolution on a matter of grave import, any member of the board who should hereinafter come to understand the real meaning of the aforesaid resolution should not keep his inspiration to himself, but make it known to his colleagues so that said resolution may be modified or rescinded." It seems in keeping with academic tradition that enlightenment should be disseminated —as Pope says, "The worst avarice is that of sense." Alternatively, I suggest the following resolution: —"That as any resolution passed unanimously by the Professorial Board. may represent (1) the opinion of all who'voted for it, (2) the opinion of soino who voted for it, (3) the opinion of none who voted for it, the public shall in future attach no importance whatever to any resolution passed by the aforesaid board, since 'leaders of thought' cannot shackled by the narrow limitation of consistency." In conclusion, I quito agree with Mr. Cleghorn about "true worth or excellence" and "proper stateliness." No, "stateliness" is not a term 1 should apply to the Professorial Board. B.A.