UNIVERSITY STAFFS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24896, 21 April 1942, Page 4

UNIVERSITY STAFFS

WAR SERVICE REGULATIONS VIEW OF AUCKLAND COUNCIL (P.A.) AUCKLAND, Apl. 20. Opposition was expressed to-day by the Auckland University College Council to a proposal by the Canterbury University College Council that the Teachers' " Conscientious Objectors and Defaulters" Regulations, 1941, should be amended so as to apply to the teaching staffs of the university colleges. Discussion on the proposal which was forwarded from Canterbury College was taken in committee. On resuming in open council, the president, Mr. W. H. Cocker, said the proposal, in effect, would mean that if any member, of a university staff appealed for exemption from military service on conscientious grounds, whether or not the appeal was successful, the College Council would be deprived of the right to decide what action should be taken. The member of the staff concerned would automatically cease to carry on his duties and would enter upon leave of absence from his post without pay for the duration of the war. "This matter does not arise out of any case in this college," continued Mr Cocker, "but solely out of the proposal of the Canterbury College Council as to the procedure for dealing with such cases. This council feels that the proper authority is the governing body of each college." After careful consideration, he added, the council had adopted unanimously the following resolution:— "That this council is opposed to the proposal of the Canterbury University College Council on the grounds that it would involve improper interference with the autonomy of the university colleges, and that matters of this kind should be dealt with if they arise by the governing authorities of the respective colleges under the powers already possessed by them." A copy of the resolution is to be forwarded to the Government, the council of Canterbury College, and the other college councils.