“Rebuttal Matter For Senate”

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31087, 16 June 1966, Page 3

“Rebuttal Matter For Senate”

(N.Z. Press Association) AUCKLAND, June 15. Government mem* bers had made direct attacks on the Auckland University and any action or rebuttal rested on the should ders of the Senate, the head of the university’s Political Studies Department, Professor R. M. Chapman, said today. Dr. Ruth Butterworth, a member of his department, also expressed concern that the education of students might suffer because of the dispute and comments made in it. Parents might accept the comments on their face value

and consider the university an unworthy institution for their children. Professor Chapman said the research programme of his department would undoubtedly be affected. A book on the 1966 election, on the lines of the 1960 study, planned by himself, Dr. Austin Mitchell and Dr. Butterworth, could not be undertaken in the present atmosphere. He gave an assurance that his department would continue its normal educational activities “even under these difficulties.” Professor Chapman said the quote in the “Bulletin,” Sydney, was brought to his notice by Mr Godfrey in the lecture room on May 31, after the students’ protest. “Mr Godfrey asked about one sentence in the ‘Bulletin,’ quoting it roughly,” he said. “I told him I did not say that. Mr Godfrey said his superiors

were very worried about it.” Professor Chapman said the “Bulletin” quoted him as saying: “It is an impossible situation with an active spy in the classroom.” “I told him that if he would supply me with a copy of the ‘Bulletin’ I would officially and formally deny I said it. He never did. “I scoured the town and eventually found a copy.” Professor Chapman then disclosed the contents of the letter he wrote to the editor of the “Bulletin.” in which he stated that he did not say the words quoted in it.

The second paragraph of the letter read: “I do have strong feelings on the subject you raise, but the only interview I gave on the subject was fully and fairly printed by the ‘Auckland Star’ on May 4, 1966.” Professor Chapman asked for a correction to be printed

in the next issue of the “Bulletin.” “But I did issue a denial in front of Mr Godfrey on that evening, and he must have passed this on to his superiors, who, in turn, must have informed the Cabinet.” he said. ,Mr Godfrey had said the sentence had also appeared in the “Sydney Morning Herald.” “I have searched the university files of the ‘Sydney Morning Herald’ and cannot find a trace of it” On the subject of the book nlanned on the 1966 election, Professor Chapman “We nlanned to write a book on the election on the lines of our 1960 study, which was very well received by all three parties, and published by the Oxford University Press in Britain.

“In the present atmosphere it will be extremely difficult

to proceed with the work, as originally planned,” he added. Dr. Butterworth said that after hearing the broadcast last night she wondered whether she was expected to have “physically restrained” the students who entered the political studies building on the night of the protest. “As there was a senior lecturer in the building, I knew there was someone to look after them.

“I could hardly be expected to physically restrain them myself, could I?” she asked. The Vice-Chancellor of Auckland University, Mr K. J. Maidment, said today that he would go to Wellington on Friday morning to lay the complete facts of the case befor the Minister of Labour (Mr Shaqd). He would be representing the Senate. “I have no personal comment myself at the moment,” he said.