UNIVERSITY CHAIRS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25799, 21 March 1945, Page 4

UNIVERSITY CHAIRS

MAINTENANCE BY CHURCH RESOLUTION OF APPRECIATION Appreciation of the assistance given to the University of Otago by the Presbyterian Church of Otago and Southland in the maintenance of chairs at the University was expressed in a motion which was carried at the monthly meeting of the Otago University Council yesterday. The resolution, which was moved by Mr W. Downie Stewart, was as follows: — That the council desires to place on record its deep appreciation of the generous help the Otago University has received during many years troro the Synod of Otago and southland of the Presbyterian Church through the Otago Presbyterian Church Board of Properly in helping to establish and maintain chairs in the University. The council also desires to point out that, although the various powers conferred on the University, the synod and the Church Board might have easily given rise to difficulties, this has not occurred over a long period of years, owing to the wise and magnanimous attitude of the synod and the Church Board, whereby the three bodies concur in calling tor applications to fill vacancies, and the advice of the council is taken in considering the qualifications of candidates. The practical result of this co-operation has been that professors have been appointed of outstanding eminence and abilitv and they have helped to establish tor this University a high reputation for scholarship and sound learning.

Prompted by Controversy

“My object in asking the council to pass this resolution is because of a public controversy, which seems to show that some critics misunderstand the relations that exist between the council, the Church Board, and the synod,” Mr Stewart said. “In early days, it is true, differences of opinion arose as to the statutory powers of these bodies, and as to the method of selection and appointment, but for half a century or more the various authorities have co-operated in harmony and goodwill, to the great benefit of the University. Had it not been for the generous voluntary benefactions of the church, this University could never have made the splendid progress it has made. It therefore seems to me ungracious and impolitic at this stage to suggest that in some way the University has suffered or beer, handicapped by the help it has received. “ I regret that the action of the senate has, unintentionally perhaps, raised doubts and difficulties where none existed before. There has been no interference in any way with our academic freedom or the liberty of the professors. In effect the Church Board, which consists of public-spirited businessmen who manage the. trust with great care and skill, have practically delegated their powers of appointment and dismissal to this councii. They have never exercised arbitrary power to the detriment of the University. If critics say that difficulties could arise, my answer is: “Tis time enough to bid the devil good morning when you meet him.’ ” If any change now became necessary, Mr Stewart said, he regretted it, for the more the community and the University were linked together the better for both. He would gladly allow every denominational church in Otago to endow chairs in the University provided they recognised its academic freedom with the same liberality and generosity as the Presbyterian Church had done. That church had done its best to realise the noble dreams and aspirations of the early pioneers to promote sound learning, and it should be encouraged and not discouraged. There was far more to be feared from growing centralisation than from local benefactors seeking to control the University. The more powerful the State became, the more danger was there that some day it would demand that only its political philosophy was to be taught, as they saw in Europe and elsewhere at the present time. Political Control Feared

“In distant days to come, I fear political control of thought more than religious intolerance,” Mr Stewart saia. “My immediate purpose, however, is that we should pay a tribute to the benefactors who have so generously helped us for so many years, and to express the hope that if in the future they are relieved of the cost of contributing to these chairs, it does not indicate any lack of appreciation on our part.” Mr Stewart’s motion was seconded by Mr W. R. Brugh, who said that over the years the Presbyterian Church had subscribed over £130,000 towards the salaries of professors of the University. Theoretically it was questionable whether the appointment of professors should not be in the hands of the council, but practically the system in operation had led to no difficulties in the past, and would not do so in the future, provided the Church continued to be as liberal-minded as it had been in the past. . Miss May asked if the religious beliefs of any professors had affected their appointment. The chancellor (the Very Rev. D. C. Herron) replied that further discussion of the position as a whole would be possible when a special report was considered by the council in committee. The resolution was carried unanimously. ■