TUTOR IN ECONOMICS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19986, 29 June 1920, Page 4

TUTOR IN ECONOMICS.

OBJECTION TO REV J s k, ARCHER.

DISCUSSION BY THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS,

The wisdom of appointing a propagandist- as a tutor to a. class of economics was dir,cussed by the Board of Governors of Canterbury College yesterday, when the College Committee recommended that the, Bev J. K. Archer should 'be appointed to that position in the economics class at Sydenham conducted under the auspices of the Workers’ Educational Association. Several members objected to the appointment on the ground that, Mr Archer is a strong propagandist for one side of economics. Mr L. M. Isit-t, M.P., asked if. in case of Mr Archer being appointed, there was any chance of his political views,coming into his lectures. The Eev S. La wry objected to the appointment and asked for Mr Archer's qualifications. Mr H. P. Acland (chairman of the board) said that Mr Archer had had a. university training in Nottingham and had, been recognised by Otago University. His appointment to the tutorship had been approved by Dr C. Chilton (Professor of Pdology at Canterbury College) and Di; J. Right (Professor of Economics). Mr Isitt said that- before the appointment was ratified, it slmn'ld bo reconsidered. “J can’t see,” ho added. “ that it’s a. right thing, in the present critical condition of affairs, for a propagandist 'of that nature to be

placed in such a position. He undoubtedly is a strong propagandist on one side of the question. If we arc to have any virtue attached to these lectures on economic?, it seems to me that one desideratum is that, we should have as little, bins as possible, in them. In the present case, I think, the committee is unfortunate, in its selection.” Mr Atland: Will you move that the report, be referred back to the College Committee? "Mr Isitt; I will do so. Mr Adand; Hie selection was made by the College Committee on the recommendation of a joint committee, which consisted of three, members of the College Committee and three members ol the W.E.A. The College Committee, of course, took it simply as a recommendation. Mr Isitt: 11 I wanted to do propaganda work on the question of the economics of prohibition, would you appoint me as a lecturer? Air Aclaml: li e no doubt that you’d do very well. Mr Archer has had his training at Nottingham, and has been accepted by Otago University. That, of course, is no reason why we should accept him, but there it is. Mr G. T. Weston said that the College Committee had considered ythe appointment and apparently bail exercised its judgment, and he did not think that there was anything to ’bo gained by referring the report back' to tiie committee.

Mr Ada ml said that if the report was referred back, the committee might supply information that would support .Ur Archer’s appointment. air Weston said that the board should not toko a one-sided view of the position. It could not refuse to appoint a man simply because he was extreme in one direction. He did not know anything about Mr Archer, however. Mr Lawry : it's because I don’t, want a partisan view that I feel disposed to support tho proposal to refer the report back. M'o should have non-parti-san instruction in this matter, and I question Mr Archer’s ability to be nonpartisan. ‘ * Dr G, M. L. Lester; Everybody, I Unnk_ lias a strong status quo on any question he knows anything about and don’t think that the fact that a’man looks at economies from a particular angle should disqualify him from beiim a lecturer. ° Mi Laury ; It s uni always, however, a matter of knowledge, but of eoim moti sense. l>i Lester: .Mr Archer has had his ■raining at Nottingham, and he has been recognised by Otago Lniversitv. It seems to be a rather wide exercise ol onr duties, ui turn down an appointment recommended by a- joint commit•nc ;I,K ft' 1 , 1 ' Loiioge Committee, he rase is ditlercnt from the Labour laHys application in place Labour literature, at, its own expense, on the tables ot the Public Librarv. In ii 1€ pioscnt case Mr Archer has been satis, acton y turned. and his qualifications h.i,o been looked mio. We should tatify ho appoint incut tmles evidence js produced that he is totally unlit lor the duties.

Mr G. T. Bentj,; [ differ from Dr Lrstu as l-i l.he board's duties If p sppoiuu a tutor u. the Hass it wiP make ilscll responsible for the. doe-t)-ino he tcaenes. _ if ho j s ~ Socialist o: a disturber of the ponre, or a.n .\ n . andust, the hoard shot. ld i)( , ", party to 1 1 1 0 dissemination of f-dw-neufi on economics; and that.’ is what n moans m this. ease. ,\lr Archer’s r invs .may ns sound as I hey should he. but two gentlemen on the board il 1, nn [ l . t i lo . v llavr! Pointed out hj , *, 16 ls :l propagandist hi should not be appointed. The object of the class is edncatJou, and we should sec that no propagandist is an'pointed lecturer. * I»fr Lester: If Sydney Webb applied lor this position, Mould you turn‘him down because he happens to lie a Socialist-' Mr Isit-t: Dr Lester’s question is very unfortunate from his point of view. Sidney Vt ebb ir. the repre-en.. tatiTQ of Hie I'ahian Society-. and he hpldg a. middle place. ] don’t think 1m disposed to take a narrow view of the question, 1 recognise Mr Archer s right, to seize every opportunity to expound his views and to'mqTinc* working men that, he holds the mbt views; but we. want to place belorc people who are ignorant of economic principles a balanced statement, and to put into the position of,lecturer to them a man who, whether his views are right or wrong, holds extreme

view?—very extreme views—T maintain is not the province of this board. Dr Lester: "What do you call extreme views? Mr . Isitt; Surely yon don’t want a dissertation from mo a? to what are extreme views on economics. Mr Isitt s motion, that the recommendation should ho referred hack to the-College Committee for further consideration. was seconded and carried.