LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 736, 8 April 1910, Page 8

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

PROFESSOR KIRK AND SHOP GIRLS. Sir,—l do not as a rule take notice of anonymous attack, but I .feel that towards a certain section of the community I stand in so false a positionpartly through my own fault, more through "Kelburne's" misrepresentation —that I owe an explanation. "Kelburne" has, presumably, derived his ideas as to what was said from the newspaper report, which was gieatly condensed, and which may (I do not remember) have omitted to make clear my recognition of the fact that Victoria Collego draws its students from all classes, which fact I- recognised ciearly and with pleasure.. It was that fact that led me to say that a university student, as a university student, had a special ideal, which might be above the ideal of tie average members of any given class, that he should not only live a straight and pure life, but should, in all his bearing towards women,, show himself respectful and chivalrous, .that failure in such bearing might be tolerable in certain cases, but-not in his. I did. say that in this matter of bearing towards women we did on Wednesday afternoons and holidays see a freedom, among shop boys and shop girls that was not tolerable in the student. I much regretted this utterance as soon as I saw the condensed report/of my address, which - report certainly seemed to me to give an impression, which I.do .not think the fulf address gave to anyone, ■ that contemptuous reference had been, made to shop boys and shop girls. JUany of : my friends are shop boys and shop girls, and many more have been. These know, as well as I believe the students. themselves know, that 1 would not intentionally wound the members-of a social class or refer to'them contemptuously; and that because I do not think contemptuously of them. I much regret any carelessness of utterance that has led, directly or indirectly, to- an opposite impression. Now I refer to "Kelburne's" misrepresentation of my remarks. The ques-tion-was not one of morals, and your report, I believe, left no reason to suppose it was That "Kelburne" should head; his letter "Professor Kirk on the Morals the Shop GirV and should say _tbat_l disparaged the morals of one section of, the community, is a gross misrepresentation, in keeping, perhaps, with the fact that..he is a creature without a name. /That yon, sir, should permit so gross a thing to appear in your columns without, disclaimer is certainly surprising. 1 hope that- if there is anyone else that may wish to take'a hand against me he will show the common Dluck of the bnglishman and sign. his name.—l am, eto - .■ ' . ■:■ - , H. B. KIRK.

, Sir,—After reading "Kelburne's" letter m reference, to the-remarks of Professor Kirk,, one. is pleased to know that the shop girls.have at least one champion. I trust that ■ the professor will realise that others, besides university students have their ideals and live up to them. My ideal M.A. would be a man. who would defend, rather' than malign, the weaker sex.. Professor' Kirk ignores the fact that there are ladies and gentlemen in all walks of life who maintain their dignity; as such, though, all have not had the privilege of a university training. Higher, education should tend to develop that spirit of charity, which is conspicuous by its absence in the professor's remarks.—l .am, etc., •• ..'•:. WORKER.

Srr,—This morning my attention was called to "Kelburne's" letter in your esteemed paper, and being interested I procured a copy of Saturday's paper containing the report of i Professor Kirk's speech to the college students, I certainly endorse "Kelburnes" remarks, and'think that Professor Kirk should have acted as he advised others t'o do. . Casting slurs upon .a. class whose morals are as good as those..present, but who happen, to be absent, is . not commendable. I wonder what audience' the ; professor, would need to, address.'.tp fihd'roo'm/.f.or a sneer at the college''ana it's students'. Perhaps, like the minstrel in "Don Juan" he can tune hismusio to his listeners. The, injustice: of ■ such a -remark ■ is ' apparent in- its vagueness,', and is morally a libel,: but perhaps not legally so. The Rev. R. J. Campbell, of. the City Temple, London, thought fit to make a remark of such a. nature, or perhaps worse, about .12 months ago, in public, and eventually saw the wisdom of withdrawal and apology. Could Professor Kirk inform me how many codes of morals, or proper oonducfc,.there ar.e, as he evidently seems to think there are more than one, and the reasons that one code should do for. one class and another code for, another? Twenty years' experience amongst shop boys and shop girls finds me with the belief that Professor-Kirk's sneer is unjustifiable'from, any point of view, and my experience is fairly extensive.—l am, etc., ::• . ' A.J.T..