UNIVERSITY CHANCELLOR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21985, 21 June 1933, Page 8

UNIVERSITY CHANCELLOR

MR W. J. MORRELL ELECTED

MR L. DEANS RITCHIE VICE CHANCELLOR

. At the monthly meeting yesterday of the Council of the University of Otago, Mr W. J. Morrell, M.A. (Oxon.), who for almost exactly eight years had held the vice-chancellorship of the University, was unanimously elected to the office of chancellor in succession to the late Sir Thomas Sidey. Mr L. Deans Ritchie said that eight years ago he had moved the electipjn of Mr Morrell as vice-chancellor, and now, owing to a recent occurrence, which they all, as well as hundreds of other citizens, deeply deplored, the chancellorship had become vacant. For this office was required a man who had the hall-mark of the university, and who was keeping himself, in thought and

action, abreast of University activities not only in New Zealand but overseas. Because the vice-chancellor was such a man, because of the service he had given to their University and the dignity with which he had‘filled the office of vicechancellor, and because of his general fitness for the position, he had pleasure in nominating Mr Morrell for the office of chancellor. The Rev. D. C. Herron seconded the motion.

No further nominations were forthcoming, and Mr Morrell was declared elected.

Mr Morrell said that he felt a very real diffidence in taking over the office of chancellor, which he thought, in the interests of the University, should be held by someone more prominent in the community, but he nevertheless felt that this person should have had university

experience. He took great interest and pride in an institution that was a source of pride to every citizen, and he could at least claim that university work had in the past occupied a large portion of his time. As every member of the council knew, the council’s preoccupation for some time past had been how to make both ends meet, and he wished to do everything in his power to assist in bringing this about. They must hope, like the rest of the community, for better times, and in the meantime all they could do was to work together for the good of the institution, to which it would be his most earnest endeavour during his term of office to give his utmost service. Sir James Allen, nominating Mr C. M. Gilray as vice-chancellor, said that the name of Gilray was honoured in the history of the University, and Mr Gilray . himself had brought credit on the institution wherever he had gone. He had, moreover, done, and was doing, splendid educational work in Dunedin. Mr Gilray expressed regret that he was unable to accept nomination, whereupon Dr Inglis submitted the name of Mr Deans Ritchie. No one, said Dr Inglis, had a better knowledge of the workings of the University than the very able chairman of its Finance Committee, am? bis election would be a graceful recognition of his services. Mr J. Wallace seconded Mr Ritchie’s nomination, and expressed the opinion that no one who was not closely connected with the nominee could have any conception of the intimate knowledge of University matters that was his. Mr J. C. Stephens supported Mr Wallace’s remarks and said that Mr Ritchie’s election would be an honour not only to Mr Ritchie himself but to the council. Mr Ritchie said he found difficulty in adequately thanking the members for the honour they had conferred on him. Their University, coming as it did from the acts and prayers of the founders of the province, was, in its traditions and work, a great thing. He appreciated very much the fact that his nomination had come from one of the Professorial Board. He cherished deeply the friendships he had formed among past and present members of the council, and he trusted that in the future they would be enabled to work together for the good of the University they all loved so well. The chancellor added his personal congratulations to Mr Ritchie. NOTABLE SCHOLASTIC CAREER. Mr Morrell was elected to the council in 1912 by the teachers in secondary schools, and since June 16, 1925, he had been vice-chancellor of the University. He was born at Twerton, Devon, in 1868, and was educated first at Blundell’s School, Tiverton, where he was captain of the school. He was fourth in the All-England Oxford senior local examinations in 1885, being first in Greek and second in Latin. He was a classical scholar of Balliol College, Oxford, under Professor Jowett’s mastership. He has been teaching since 1891, coming from sixth form master at Trent College, Derbyshire, to New Zealand in 1897 to be chief master of classics and English at the Auckland Grammar School. In 1907 he was appointed rector of the Otago Boys’ High School, and still holds that position. He has been a member of the University Senate for the past 12

years, and is an ex-president of the New Zealand Secondary Schools’ Conference and the Otago W.E.A. PREVIOUS CHANCELLORS. . Following is a list of the previous chancellors: —The Rev. Thomas Burns, D.D., Major Richardson, Mr Justice H. S. Chapman, the Rev. Donald M'Naughton Stuart, Sir Joshua Williams, M.A., LL.B. (Cantab.), Sir James Allen, M.A. (Cantab.), Dr Andrew Cameron, 8.A., H<m. LL.D. (Edin,), and Sir Thomas Sidey, 8.A., LL.B. Of the past chancellors only Sir James Allen survives, and he is still a member of the conncil.