Professor Danks Bidden Farewell By University

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31097, 28 June 1966, Page 18

Professor Danks Bidden Farewell By University

Professor A. J. Danks, Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the University of Canterbury and former head of the economics department, who will leave Christchurch this week to become chairman of the University Grants Committee in Wellington, was given an official farewell by the Canterbury University Council yesterday. The Chancellor (the Rt. Rev. A. K. Warren) said that as a member of the Grant Committee since its inception Professor Danks knew the task ahead and he also knew universities. Spending almost the whole of his career in Christchurch, he had become well known and well regarded as an educationist, speaker, writer, and broadcaster. He had occupied the new Canterbury post of pro-vice-chancellor with distinction. The Vice-Chancellor (Professor N. C. Phillips) expressed the admiration of the academic staff. “Professor Danks has been the oracle of the senior common room, tossing out witticisms and wise remarks like

Dr. Johnson. Perhaps a Boswell has recorded some of them,” he said. Mr G. Manning, as Mayor, expressed the appreciation of “our whole society.” Other speakers were:— Mr C. H. Perkins: “The chairman of the University Grants Committee must have the confidence of academics, all the vice-chancellors, the Minister of Education, Cabinet, and Government—and by his appointment Professor Danks has this.” Mr D. W. Bain: “As a young man he masqueraded in clerical collar into Rolleston House and preached to students on the standards expected by a university. But he has matured since then.” Professor G. Jobbems: “From limited opportunities this man has pulled himself up by his own bootstraps.” Mr T. D. J. Holderness, chairman of the Lincoln College Council: “Lincoln valued his warmth of personality and help in many ways.” Mr W. G. Quirk: “As a former student of his, I pay my tribute.” Professor Danks said he was so indigenous to Christchurch and Canterbury that this translation broke the whole fabric of his life. Since joining the staff in 1943 he thought the most satisfying period was the university’s renaissance through the extraordinary success of rehabilitation bursaries after the war. Since then the former college had become unrecognisable through the expansion of accommodation, staff, and facilities but, just the same, he would greatly miss the university of which he was a part.