PAMPHLET ON RUSSIA.

Wairarapa Age, 18 May 1932, Page 5

PAMPHLET ON RUSSIA.

UNIVERSITY LECTURER’S FOREWORD. OBSERVATIONS BY SIR GEORGE FOWLDS. AUCKLAND, May 17. The Auckland University College Council, in committee, discussed the matter of a foreworC contributed by a lecturer on its staff to a political pamphlet relating to Russia, published recently in Auckland. The discussion arose as the result of a letter received from the Minister of Education (the Hon. R. Masters). The president of the council (Sir George Fowlds) reported that he had replied to the Minister and had also sent a memorandum to all members of the staff. The memorandum, in part, is as follows:—“It is my personal opinion that any public statement by a member of the college staff, either under the address of the college or in his capacity as a private citizen, should be made only after a full thorough examination of all the known information. It should be a reasoned statement, giving both sides of the question. The University attitude should be detached and impersonal. I regard the recognition by the staff of the responsibilities referred to in the memorandum as a matter of vital importance, and as being intimately related to the question of fitness for the tenure of a University post. Finally, my fixed purpose is to maintain and uphold our old established University right of academic freedom. '' A resolution of the Professorial Board expressing sympathy with the principles of the memorandum and loyal co-operation with the President was received.—(P.A.)