ACADEMIC FREEDOM

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 77, Issue 207, 1 September 1934, Page 9

ACADEMIC FREEDOM

NO NEED FOR RESTRICTION POSITION IN NEW ZEALAND ( Per Preu Association ). AUCKLAND, Aug. 31. Since he had returned to New Zeaand he had read and heard a good deal ibout academic freedom, said Mr. Rondd Syme, Fellow of Trinity College, Ixford, who left to-day for England. He expressed the opinion that, in a sensible, sober democracy like New Zealand, there was no need for any regression of academic freedom. Personilly he thought that much of the poliic.al theory expounded under the right )f this privilege of freedom was either flatitudinous or fallacious, but people •hould be allowed so to talk if they ranted to. To forbid a thing was to nakc it attractive. For example there vas far too much fuss about Russia. I'he character of Russia and its prodems were so very different from those >f New Zealand that it was perhaps lot the most profitable object of study, ind those who discussed Russia under he privilege of freedom of speech vould find that that freedom was not iresent in Russia. Finally, he remarked that both Ox'ord and Cambridge received larg€ ■rovernment subsidies, but the Governnent had the wisdom to leave them unlampered. If at any time any Government wished to restrict liberty of bought and inquiry, the University, ’rom tho chancellor down, would be in irm and unanimous icsistance.