THE VON ZEDLITZ CASE

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2568, 16 September 1915, Page 6

THE VON ZEDLITZ CASE

DEPUTATION TO COLLEGE COUNCIL PETITION TO PARLIAMENT 'About thirty men and women waited on tho Victoria Collego Council last evening on the subject of the case of Professor von Zedlitz, who is employed on the staff of the College. Mr. T. W. Histop, who headed the deputation, said that the deputation wished to show that there was a large portion of tho community who took adifferent view from those who have taken a prominent part in the discussion in the Press. Mr. Hislop said that ho had had letters sympathising with the action of retaining Professor von Zedlitz's services from tho Rev. J. Gibson Smith, and Mr. A. Gray, K.C. As far as tho results of -she professor's teaching went, bis students had gono to the front. People who remained behind had attacked him, and his attackers had not been conspicuous for valiant conduct in attacking the real German whom we were lighting. They had attacked the individual German. Mr. Hislop contended that while the Government allowed the professor his liberty the College Council should have the right to employ him. He said that it had not previously been pointed out that by an Act made in the Victorian reign a foreigner who had an English mother and lived with her in England was to lie regarded as an English citizen. The appeal lie was voicing was not for ' Professor von Zedlitz alone, but that person was a particular individual, concerned. He agreed with the Sjdney "Bulletin" that if the professor was a suspect be should be behind barbed wire; if not, it was wrong to "pursue him with the boot." ''

Miss England, representing the women of the deputation, and Mr. George, representing College students, spoke in support of Mr. Hislop. Tho chairman of the council told the deputation that their representations would receive consideration.

The question of the continuance of the Professor's employment -was afterwards discussed by the council. . Dr. C. Prendergast Knight had given notice to move: "That Professor von Zedlitz shall be given twelve months' notice' of the termination of his engagement as Professor of Modern Languages with the Colloge Council."

The council went into committee, and on resuming in open board the chairman reported that it had been decided: "That the Finance and Business Committee, together with Mr. A. R. Atkinson, shall be instructed to present a petition: to both Houses of Parliament praying that no legislation shall be passed which will interfere Vith the free exercise by this council of. its functions under the Victoria College statute." _Dr. Knight remarked that ho had given his notice of motion before .any discussion on the subject had taken •place in Parliament, and he had that evening withdrawn it because he objected to any threat from Parliament affecting the council. '