COLLEGE CONTROL.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1780, 19 June 1913, Page 6

COLLEGE CONTROL.

PROFESSORS & THE COUNCIL. The Victoria College Council met last last evening, the Rev. W. E. Evans presiding. The Hon. A. L. Herdman, Sir. Robert Stout, Dr. Knight, and Messrs. C. M. Mofeon, A. T. Maginnity, W. Ferguson, T. R. Fleming, C. Watson, J G. W. Aitken, R M'Nab, and C, Wilson were also present. , . ' The' discussion took place, over a technical error which Mfc. C. Watson had inadvertently made in the following motion he moved: "That the council rescind the resolution passed in August last relating to direot representation of professors on the council. Sir Robert Stout objected to the motion, as no such resolution as mentioned in Mr. Watson's motion was passed in -August. He thought that they were making a great mistake in. allowing professors to sit oil the council, and he also considered it a mistake on the part of professors to allow themselves .to go on the council. The idea of allowing professors to sit on the council was, he thought, "another step by them to get the whole control of the council/' The Hon. A. L. Herdman said that he could not see what difference it would make if members of the Professorial Board were given seats on. the council, j They would be of great value to the council when it wag discussing matters of , importance to the professors. In the case of the Otago "University, professors had been on the council for some years past, and oven Auckland had had its rules amended so as to permit of professors sitting on the council. The motion was subsequently amended by striking out the words, "in August last," and was carried. Mr. Watson then moved tho second portion of his motion, which was: "That the council now agreo to the original proposal of the Professorial Board, namely, that professors may be represented by two of their number on the council. In moving the motion, Mr. Watson said that he was sorry to see such a good friend to education as Sir Robert Stout opposing the motion. The professors were able to give the council very valuable advice in matters which tho council was not well up in." There was no danger of two or three of the professors being able to sway the council. In making new appointments their advice would help very much. Tho introduction of professors was no new thing Every one of the new universities in Englnnd had professors on their councils. In Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Manchester, and Adelaide and Melbourne professors were on ■ the councils. . .. ' . Sir Roberj; Stout maintained his objecHon. A. L. Herdman said that if the council adopted tho resolution it was ■ only trying as far as. possible to bring the Victoria College into line with other colleges in the Dominion. • ' Mr. 'A. T. Maginnity could not see why members of the Professorial Board should ' be fallowed "to take part in the dehbera- ' tions of the: council. He considered that it would breed friction. Tho • relation- ■ ship of tho council as the employer, and the members of the Professorial Board as 1 tho employees should not bo allowed to ; could not see, as an old 1 -member of tho council, that there was ' tho slightest necessity, to make any alter- • ation in the present construction ot the The' motion was then put to the meet- ' ing, and carried.