DR JOSEPH MELLOR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23515, 1 June 1938, Page 12

DR JOSEPH MELLOR

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Sir, —The death of Dr Mellor has revived in my mind his early and determined struggle to get the education necessary for the line of life he wished to pursue. There are men still about our town who were classmates with Dr Mellor at Otago University. I think of three —the Rev. J. Cairney, of Ravensbourne, Mr Parker McKinlay, M.A., of Benhar, and Councillor M. C. Henderson, 8.A., of our own town. I recall his (and our) struggle with Latin in Professor Sale’s class. Dr Sale won our respect and admiration, but we also feared and trembled as our prose compositions were returned corrected end generally with some remark on them that made us quickly fold them up and get them out of sight, but not out of mind. Dr Mellor found Latin very hard, as his preliminary preparation had been meagre. Many a time I tried out of my own scant knowledge to help him. He came from work at Sargood’s with many a mark of toil on him; but we were all levellers in those days, and knew nothing of snobbishness. Dr Mellor’s life is a demonstration of what can be done by sheer hard work and with that courage of which Dr J. M. Barrie spoke in his rectorial address. Mr Parker McKinlay visited Dr Mellor in England, and I am sure he could give us an insight into the kind of work on which our late townsman was engaged. I can see him yet, unassuming, determined, and plodding. Dunedin may well be proud of such men. I have often thought of Dr Mellor and his struggle with Latin, and have wondered if, by making certain subjects compulsory, we may not be thwarting some in their desire to find the avenue in life for which they are adapted. To-day, our students have a very easy time compared to the task Dr Mellor faced and conquered, and yet Dr Mellor would be the last to wish to make the path harder for any student.—am. etc., J. R.