PROFESSOR PRINGLE AND OTAGO UNIVERSITY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18898, 26 June 1923, Page 8

PROFESSOR PRINGLE AND OTAGO UNIVERSITY.

TO THE EDITOR. *3ie, —From the tone of several letters I have lately received from Dunedin, it is evident that considerable misapprehension exists in certain quarters regarding tho severance of my connection with the university. May I, therefore, crave the indulgence of your columns for a brief explanation? I think it is due to tho public who were exceedingly kind to myself and my family that they should know the facts. Everyone is aware that 1 loft Dunedin on leave of absence last August owing to urgent messages received from my wife amt my boy’s guardian .-in this country. His state of health had been very critical since the beginiiing of the year, and it was mainly on account of rather disquieting letter that we had been receiving from January onwards that my wife had icturned to Eiigland in May. When I arrived in London at 1 the end of September his condition was a little, but only a little, improved, and at the beginning of December the Harley Street specialist in charge of his case advised me (in a letter whion I afterwards sent to the Otago University authorities) that it was highly desirable in view of the fact that in any event recovery would be a slow process, that I should remain in this country. In these circumstances, I had no option but to coble my resignation to the University Chancellor, which I did on December 9, writing in detail by the next out-going Suez mail.

Happily, soon after Christmas, a considerable improvement set in in my son's condition, and it became apparent that it would be possible for mo to return to New Zealand in another six or seven months. As my resignation had not been accepted by cable (nor, as it turned out, in writing) I cabled on January 26 to Otago University in these terms: “Son's health improving. Can return in August. No salary March to August.” Although no reply had been sent either by letter or by cable to my December message my second cable was- promptly answered by the bald announcement that my resignation had been accepted as from March 1. This cable did not correspond with the report of the council meeting held on December 18 published in your columns on the following day. But that is the only communication of any kind I have had from Otago University since December.

I have thought it right to state these facts to make it quite clear that I was fortunately able to withdraw my resignation before its acceptance had been notified to me by tho Otago University Council, and! that I was fully prepared to return to New Zealand and carry on the work of my chair. Financially we have sustained very serious losses. But no words of mine can express my gratitude to the people of Dunedin and to my students in the University, for their unvarying kindness to me and to my wife. Owing to coir many anxieties it has been quite impossible for us to writ© to all our friends, but w'e trust that they will realise how deeply w© appreciated their generous hospitality and goodwill during our stay in New Zealand. —I am, etc., W. Henderson Pringle. 43 St. Paul’s avenue, London, N.W., May 12.