UNIVERSITY RIGHTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21899, 7 September 1934, Page 12

UNIVERSITY RIGHTS

PROFESSOR CRITICISED - PRODUCTS OF COLLEGES "ATHEISM AND SOCIALISM" [BY TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON, Thursday Tho sentiments expressed by Professor W. A. Sewell, of Auckland University College, when addressing a meeting at Auckland last Sunday night oh the question of the right of free speech, were roundly condemned by Mr. S. G. Smith (Government —New Plymouth) when speaking in the Budget debate in the House of Representatives to-night. Mr. Smith said ho did not altogether agree that the right of free speech should be taken away, but he believed that there were some people who should be doprived of that right. He cited figures to show that in direct grants and endowments, the university colleges of New Zealand last year received £6-1,200, yet in the narrow confines of those colleges agnosticism, atheism and revolutionary socialism seemed to be the chief products. " Those of us who* have watched events in the past 30 years, who have seen the greatest war in history, who have soen empires dissolved and monarchs dethroned, and who have seen the British Empire stand foursquare to all the winds that blow and the system of government stand," said Mr. Smith, " surely we are not going to allow some professor to tell us he hopes to see the day when some form of Soviet system will be established in New Zealand." A Member: He did not say that. Mr. Smith: Has it been denied? Labour voices: Yes. Mr. Smith: Well he should not be in the company in which such sentiments are expressed. Mr. J. A. Lee (Labour —Grey Lynn): Why shouldn't he?* Mr. Smith: If he belongs to the British Empire he should bo above mixing with people with those ideas.