UNIVERSITY CHANCELLORSHIP.

Otago Witness, Issue 3594, 30 January 1923, Page 7

UNIVERSITY CHANCELLORSHIP.

SIR ROBERT STOUT’S RESIGNATION. PROFESSOR J. MACMILLAN BROWN ELECTED. One of the principal matters before the University Senate on Monday, 22nd inst., was the retirement of Sir Robert Stout from the position of Chancellor and the election of his successor. When this item on the order paper was reached Professor J. Macmillan Brown moved as follows: That the Senate desires to place on record its great regret that Sir Robert Stout has seen fit to resign the Chancellorship, and its sense of the deep obligation it is under to him for his conduct of the affairs of the University during the last 20 years. This University has been fortunate in the Chancellors it has had at the helm of its affairs. But the reconstituted Senate felt itself particularly fortunate in securing for its first Chancellor a man of such long and wide experience in the administration of public affairs and on the bench. More especially does it feel itself fortunate in having such an enthusiastic friend of education, and a man of such high ideals to shape its growth and development during its period of great expansion. And it congratulates itself that it is not bidding farewell to so fine a leader and guide, and that it is not to lose the benefit of his wise counsels, his vigorous personality, and his manly character. In speaking to his motion, Professor Macmillan Brown paid a very high tribute to the personal worth of the Chancellor and to the splendid services which he had rendered to the cause of education. For a number of years the speaker had tried to persuade the Chancellor to put off this act of resignation, for they all knew that he still had the fire of youth in his veins. He was a born fighter, but once engaged in a fight he fought fairly and was generous in victory. He was an exceptional man, a man of marvellous vigour and strength of character, who had always held his own in any struggle which he entered upon, and they had been exceedingly fortunate in having him at the head of affairs for the past 20 years. His judicial training and experience had assisted them in many of their debates and conclusions, and he thought they were very fortunate in that he was not leaving them. Sir Robert, he added, would be of great assistance in dealing with the crisis which the Board of Studies had indicated would shortly be before them, and his finely balanced judgment would be of much service to them in dealing with that matter.—(Applause.) Ihe Hon. Dr Collins (Wellington), in seconding the motion, expressed his regret at the resignation of Sir Robert Stout from a position which he had filled with a de gree of conspicuous ability, a charm of manner, and a gentleness of disposition which could only emanate from a man of the highest culture. He had -filled the position with the greatest dignity, and had instilled in the members of the Senate as well as in the minds of all those interested in education a respect and admiration which could not be surpassed. They all regretted his decision to retire, but they all knew him so well that once his considered dictum had gone forth nothing would alter it. That decision had caused a feeling of depression in the Senate. Sir Robert Stout’s sucoess in life had been due to hi 3 very fine qualities of mind and intellect and character, and they were all proud to think that the Chancellor of the University of New Zealand had attained to the highest positions in the country of his adoption. Educational matters had at all times occupied a foremost position in his mind, and his name would go down to posterity as a leader in the cause he had always had very closely at heart. It had been his ideal to bring education within reach of the people of this country and he had attained that ideal in a very high degree. If, during the later years of his life. Sir Robert Stout could draw up' some scheme whereby the boys and girls of this country could be educated in such a way as to enable them to follow out the natural bent of their desires and inclinations he would place the whole cause of education still further in his debt. A very large proportion of the failures in life were due to a wrong choice of profession or occupation. In conclusion, Dr Collins said he shared with the mover and the whole of the members of the Senate in a feeling of deep regret that Sir Robert Stout was resigning from the Chancellorship of the University.—(Applause.) Professor Scott (Canterbury College) said that as one of the oldest members of the Senate he desired to associate himself with the sentiments already expressed. The Hon. G. Fowlds (Auckland) said that as one of the younger members of the Senate he wished to endorse the remarks of the previous speakers.

Dr G. E. Thompson (Otago) said that on behalf of the Otago members of the Senate he would like to say that this province had a certain proprietary interest in the Chancellor, and he could not let the occasion go by without some expression of their appreciation. Professor Hight (Canterbury), in paying his tribute to the Chancellor, referred to his courtesy and kindness to young members, and his tolerance towards those whose opinions differed from the ones which he himself held. The Rev. Dr Cameron, speaking on behalf of the Otago University Council, said they all had very pleasant memories of their association v T ith Sir Robert, and hoped that he and Lady Stout would be long spared to enjoy the rest they so well deserved.—(Applause.) Professor J. Rankine Brown (Wellington) remarked that although the Chancellor had begun his career in Otago he had fortunately been transferred to Wellington, which had been the chief centre of most of his activities. Mr J. Oaughley (Director of Education) said that on behalf of the Education Department and the Government he wished to endorse very heartily what the other speakers had said with regard to the manner in which the Chancellor had fulfilled the duties of his high and responsible position. In respect to what the Chancellor had done in the cause of education generally, he would like to add this one point: That Sir Robert Stout’s lofty ideals and aspirations and his advocacy of them, as well as the wonderful manner in which he had occupied the position of Chief Justice, had given him a remarkable hold upon the affections of the people of this country, whose regard was made manifest in many unexpected quarters. His efforts had done a great deal towards directing attention to all grades of education and had given it a place in the minds of the people occupied by few other subjeots.—(Applause.l Mr de la Mare (Wellington) voiced the regret of the student body at the retirement of the Chancellor. The Hon. J. A. Harian said he desired to say a word on behalf of those who had passed through the public schools of this country. Our State system of education was an everlasting credit to the work of Sir Robert Stout in years gone by, and bis efforts in the democratisation of education had been marked by conspicuous success. The motion was carried by hearty acclamation. The Chancellor, in a brief reply, said': “I do not like this sort of thing. I prefer a fight.—(Laughter.) That trait in my character no doubt comes from my ancestry, which was for so long engaged in fighting upon sea and land. I thank you very much for the kindness which you hare bestowed upon me, but I honestly think that you have praised me too much. I have been interested in education all my life. At the age of IS I passed my school teacher’s examination, and since then I have been interested in the subject in some way or other all my life. I only hope that health will be given me to serve it still further in the future.” —(Loud applause.) PROFESSOR MACMILLAN BROWN ELECTED CHANCELLOR. Professor R. J. Scott then moved the following resolutions : —(1) That tire Senate proceed with the election of Chancellor. (2) That Professor J. Macmillan Brown be elected Chancellor. In bringing forward his proposal, Professor Scott said that Professor Macmillan Brown had been vice-chancellor for a number of years. He had been a member of the Senate since 1877 —in fact, the speaker believed that he was the oldest member of the Senate. He was a distinguished scholar, student, and author, and he was a traveller of woiid-wide reputation. In view of the forthcoming jubilee celebrations at Canterbury College it was peculiarly fitting that he should be elected Chancellor, more especially as he was at the same time one of the oldest members of the college staff.— (Applause.) The Rev. Dr Cameron seconded the motion, adding that Professor Macmillan Brown had shown, the same devotion to education as had been shown by the previous Chancellor. The Hon. Dr Collins and Professor Dettmann supported the resolution, which was carried unanimously. Professor Macmillas Brown, in replying, expressed thanks to the Senate for the honour which it conferred upon him. It was an honour to which he had looked forward for many years, and while he confessed that he had systematically shirked public duties he did not regard the office of Chancellor in that light. In fact, he felt that his 46 years as a member of the Senate had practically laid upon him the duty of acceptance. He hoped that he would be able to fulfil the duties of the office to their satisfaction, but be warned them not to expect so much as, perhaps, the careers of previous Chancellors Lad led them to expect. He hoped that some solution would be found for Mr de la

Mare’s motion in the direction of appointing a vice-chancellor or pro-vice-chancellor who would be able to keep his eye on the workings of the University as a whole, especially as some of the present indications pointed to more- or less critical times ahead. Sir Robert Stout then vacated the chair in favour of Professor Macmillan Brown. The question of appointing a vice-chan-cellor was held over pending a report from the committee which is considering Mr de la Mare’s motion.