AN UN NATURALISED GERMAN

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2466, 20 May 1915, Page 7

AN UN NATURALISED GERMAN

AS COLLEGE PROBLEM

PROTEST AT UNIVERSITY COUNCIL . MEETING On the teaching staff of Victoria College is au unnaturalised German, Professor von Zedlitz, in the Chair ol' Modern Languages. At the meeting of the College Council last night the question of whether he ought to be allowed t) remain a member of the staff was raised by Mr. C. Wilson. A motion was before the Council to erect a lioll of Honour Board, to bear the names of those students of the college who have gone with the forces to the front. Mr. Wilson said that & motion having been submitted which, if carried, would identify the college in a. measure with the activities of the New Zealand Army in lighting the German 1 enemy, he thought it a proper opportunity to mention the fact tfaat there was an unnaturalised German on the teaching staff of the college. The chairman (Mr. Clement Watson), however, ruled thai Mr. Wilson could not discuss that question on that motion, but informed him that he might raise it later when the votes for salaries were before the meeting, Mr. "Wilson had his opportunity later and he moved that the item of £58 6s. Sd., the salary of tie Professor of Modern Languages be deleted. "There is a very great deal of very widespread public dissatisfaction," he said, "with the fact that we h&ve teaching our young 'men a gentleman who is an actual alien. He is not a naturalised British subject. And when we find Germans who are _ third and fourth engineers on ships, or who are engaged in ot'her 'humble occupations being interned, I think this Council should set an example. We should iiot make fish of one and flesh of another. Of Mr. Von Zedlitz as a man I wish to say nothing personal. No doubt he is an amiable gentleman and a brilliant scholar. But anyone who has anything to do with the teaching of languages knows that you can't tpach English or French or German, i an^r ra^ e tho higher branches, without going into history, and without introducing opinions which, however veiled or wrapped up, may m this present ease have a most deleterious effect on our students. ... It is a disgrace to the council. The public outside are talking about.it all over the place. . . . We are actually accused of keeping this gentleman in his position because he lias relatives here who are highly placed in society. That suggestion, whenever I have heard it, I have dismissed as absurd. But the position will have to bo faced sooner or later, and it is no good to wait until wo are forced by public opinion to face it." Sir Robert Stout said he had considerable sympathy with Mr. Wilson in his protest, bbcause we could not blind our eyes to the fact that our Empire was in gieat trouble in her struggle with Germany. But he thought the 'Proper thing jx> do was to ask the Finance Committee to sea the professor and suggest to him that if he wants ta be on our side he should get naturalised at once. He moved that the committee confer with Professor Von Zedtits: and report to next meeting. (Hear, hear, and murmurs of assent.) The chairman said that to bim personally the matter was a very painful one, but for some time he had felt that the council should do something in the matter. _ He would have taken some action' himself but for the attitude of the previous chairman, Mr. Ostler, who had relied absolutely on the Government proclamation that law-abiding Germans would not.be interfered with.

Mr. Wilson said that • Mr. Herdman had made a statement which was reported in the' newspapers that no Government officer who was not naturalised could hold his position. He (Mr. Wilson) mentioned that Victoria College a-Government institution, supported as it was by Government funds. He did not wish to blame the Government, however, in the matter.

Mr. C. B. Morison said that he knew, as other members of the council knew, that immediately on the outbreak of war Professor Von Zedlitz came at once to the chairman and oifered to resign. Those who knew the professor personally knew that ho was a man actuated by high-minded motives. He had placed his fate in the hands- of the chairman. The chairman had consulted him (Mr. Morison), and knowing Professor Von Zedlitz as he did, and also knowing the circumstances, he had said that it seemed to him that it would not be necessary for him to resign. In fairness to Professor Von Zedlitb it should be stated that he had been so long away from Germany that he would probably be considered to have lost his German citizenship. It might even be tliat if he returned to Germany ho would be at once interned. "I do think," ho concluded, "that in dealing with a gentleman who has been such n loyal officer of the college, if anything is to lie done we shall do it with decency."

Mr. Wilson: Does Mr. Morison suggest that anything I have said is indecent ?

Mr, Morison; There are ways of doing these things.

Mr. Wilson protested that some membnrs of the council were taking up an impossiblo and improper stand towards the matter. Ho withdrew his motion.

Mr. Ferguson suggested that the re. port of the committee be made to the council in oomniitteo. Against this Mr. Wilson protested strongly, and he carried iiis point. The motion, as proponed by Sir Robert Stout, was carried, without opposition.