THE WEITZEL CASE

Otago Witness, Issue 3522, 13 September 1921, Page 45

THE WEITZEL CASE

THE STUDENTS’ ATTITUDE. WELLINGTON September 8. Tho inquiry lias opened at the Wellington T eachers’ Training College into the allegations m-de concerning the action of a number ot stude-iis in connection with the case of Miss Weitzel, who was convicted °n a charge of selling sedition.- lit ratine. Alter consultation with the students, it was decided not to open the inquiry to t„e press. Air i. Forsyth, chairman of ike Wellington Education Board, who. with Mr J. Laughley, Director of Education, conducted tho inquiry, in a statement to a reporter, said _ that with a view to setting the mind of the public at rest in regard to the matter it is worthy of note that there is no more loyal institution, in the dominion than the Wellington 1 raining College. This is borne out by the fact, that in the Great War every eligtole student and ex-student volunteered for the service of his King and country, and as tho honours board records some 24 students were either killed in action, or died from wounds. STUDENTS' ALLEGED SYMPATHY. Vi ELLINGTON, September 9. Air T. Forsyth, chairman of the Wellington Education Board, ha,s forwarded to tho Minister cf Education (the Hon. C. J. Parr) a report of lho_ inquiry held at the Training College against, certain students, arising out of their attendance at the Magistrate’s Court when Miss Weitzel was convicted on a charge of circulating literature encouraging violence and lawlessness. Those present at the inquiry were: The Director of Education (Mr j. Caughley), Mr T. Forsyth (chairman of the hoard), Mr White (a member of the hoard), Mr Stewart (secretary), Mr Goulet (vice-principal of the Training College), Miss Hetheriligton (assistant lecturer), and Mr Kennedy (president of ihe Students’ A s soc iat i o n). The report states: “The president and officers of the Students’ Association and the 17 women students who attended the court when Miss Weitzel was convicted were examined and cross-questioned oil these points, and, after a full inquiry, I have to report my finding of the whole charges as follows: ‘T. A statement from the girl students referred to indicating whether their attendance at court and the fact that they contributed towards the payment of the fine w&ra evidence of their approval and support of Miss Weitzel iti the offence with which she was charged. "2. Whether students in general were aware of the circulation of any of the literature referred to among the students of tho college. "3. Whether there -is reason to believe that either at the Training College or dor. mg" _ attendance at Victoria. College the Training College students’ influences of the type exerted by Miss Weitzel are operating in relation to students.” “The president, and officers of the Students’ Association and the 17 women students who attended the court when Miss Weitzel was convicted were examined and cross-questioned on these points, and after a full inquiry I have to report my finding of the whole charges as follows: (1) The students attended the court merely out cf curiosity or personal sympathy with the individual charged, but specifically and individually deny approval or support of Miss Weitzel in the offence of which she was convicted. (2) None of the students were aware of tho circulation of any unlawful literature at the Training College or at Victoria College. (3) All of the 17 students concerned, who are also students of Victoria College, stated that, so far as they knew, Miss Weitzel never tried to influence any student at either college to accept the political and social principles she adopted. Further, absolutely no reference was ever mudo to them in the manner suggested. Some of the students had never spoken to Miss Wietzel, and until the recent proceedings a number of them were unaware of the views she holds. (4) None of the students had ever been asked, and certainly none had contributed, anything towards the payment of the fine. I desire to add the following statement, that, in my opinion, far too much prominence has been given to the charges made against the students, which, after all, are based solely on an ex parto statement by the police officers, in which fact and illicit inference are strangely mingled, and from evidence which was put forward freely and frankly by the students, and subsequently confirmed by officers cf the Training College, who were also present during the court proceedings, it is clearly established that the charges arc absolutely baseless and devoid of truth. The unnecessary circulation through the press of such mischievous rumours before the slightest investigation had boon made is to be regretted, as irreparable injury has thus been clone to the Training College. The high moral tone and undoubted loyalty of students of the Training College have always been evident to those who visited the college, and its war record is second to none in the dominion.