ALIENS AS TEACHERS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2523, 31 July 1915, Page 3

ALIENS AS TEACHERS

MELBOURNE UNIVERSITY DECISION ' PROFESSOR'S PLEA FOR GERMANS ' The employment of enemy/aliens oh • tho staff ot the University of Melbourno gave rise to a long discussion at a moet T ' ing of the University Council on July 5. Dr.' Leeper moved —"That' the servicos ■..'of. unnaturalised citizens.of.any enemy • country who may bo in the employment- . . of . the University bo dispensed with as . soon as possible, provision being made ... ' ior equitable compensation." -Ho.'said that it was a most distasteful duty to move this resolution. It was not direct- , ed against any particular . person. It. Lw~ ,vol dd be a -.mark of: loyalty- and a, syin- - bol of the unity'of? the Empire to fol.:;low the example, of .-Great Britain: in, p;"?. dealing with enemyvaliens. It was a; : ;~ e measure .of safety, as a wise precaution., The. opinion of the ■ University ought count for a good deal. One of those concerned said that lie ,was willing to - declare his allegiance to.-Georgo V, but those who had studied the now German law -of nationality knew how much attention could be attached to such de-' olara-tions. People , ■who could, entertain . the idea of a double allegiance. wore . not those that we wanted to have anything to do with. ' . Professor Masson said : that the oir- , . cumsta'nces in Australia Vere different - from in England. :It was- not far the University Council to perform' acts of State. If they had any suspicions of'.these individuals they should give • the information to tho Defence Department. The two men affeteted by ,the motion were the lecturer on German (Herr ron Dechend) and a teacher of musio. at the Ccriseryatorium . (Herr. Scharf). Both had' been in Australia roaiiy years, and had married Australian wives. _ Neither was capable 1 of , doing, Sr inclined to do, anything inimical to Bur best interests. - Tho Defence authorities'had investigated both'cases; they ■ pad, intercepted • correspondence,, and i>aid domiciliary visits; arid they. were . satisfied with both men. Yet Dr. Leeper asked them to dispense with common .'sense and justice, and turn tliese men out to beggary.' It.was.pure hysteria, and playing to the gallery. Dr. Leepor protested against language.: 'Professor'Masson withdrew the expression, and went'on to say that the, . University- should lead public opinion, bu tit should not be affected by anonymous letters from ignorant and iil•matured people. - Mr. , Theodore Fink' said it Should, not be a matter of . indifference' who was placcd in authority, over .their students. -Rov. E. H. Sugden thought that the University had shown . sufficiently its loyalty, ;without' advertising , the fact.. Ho pleaded for fair play and justico. Mr. J. E. Madley wanted to know r what was their policy as a. Government institution: Were they to employ men who said they did not know oil which side they were, as Herr von Dechend had said? Surely, the teachers of our youth should be well-wishers. Sir Harry Allen taid the students in • Herr von Dechend's c.lass had written , . that there was nothing objectionable. He did not feel justified in voting for the resolution. < ' The .Vice-Chancellor (Dr. Macfailand) . isaid he was not prepared for. the whole- . sale ostracism of Germans. We had'sons of Germans who had grown up good and loyal citizens, as the Germans names in the casualty lists.would show. ■*'" ■•After further discussion, and the consideration of/various amendments; the motion/ was finally ? carried in the fol- : lowing form That the engagements of unnaturilised citizens of any enemy country who may be in the employment of the University be not renewed at tho end of itheir present term of office. Tho voting was as follows:— : - V' Ayes (8): Mr. Mackey, Dr. J. P. iWilsori,- Mr. Sugden, Mr. Frank Tate, Mr. Littlejohn, Mr. Adamson,- Dr. Leeperj and Mr. Fink. iVoes (3): Tho Vice-Chancellor (Dr. Macfarland), Dr. Bride, and Professor Masson. "> Sir .Harry. Allen ' abstained from • (rating. :

■ PATRIOTIC CONCERT. The Tramways Boys' Art Union will lie announced, on Tuesday evening next at n graid concert in. the Town Hall, commencing at 8 o'clock. The best talent has .been engaged, and the names of somo of tho artists are published elsewhere, and the full programme will be published on Monday. Seats may be booked at the Bristol Piano Co., Ltd. Prices of admission will be 2s. and Is.—funds wliicli go to assist the wounded soldiers. Additional interest is lent to this concert by tho fact- that the winner of tho (■prizo is to bo announced.