VON ZEDLITZ CASE

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2589, 11 October 1915, Page 6

VON ZEDLITZ CASE

RESIGNATION CONSIDERED BY COLLEGE COUNCIL

DECISION ADJOURNED

HON. A, L. HERMAN RESIGNS

Proicssor G. W. von Zediitz, ivhose continued occupancy of tho Chair of Modern Languages at Victoria C-ollego lias been a matter of considerable comment in the public Press and in Parliament, has not yet completed his engagement. As already reported, his resignation was forwarded to the College Council on several different occasions, and in a letter the Professor begged the council to accept the resignation lest other teachers in the Dominion should be penalised by tho passage of the Alien Enemy Teachers Bill, which had apparently been introduced to meet Ins case. This letter was before the council at a special meoting on Saturday night. Mr. C. Watson presided, ana the other members of the council present were:. The Hon. J. G. W. Aitken, M.L.C., Professor Brown, Professor Adamson, Dr. C. Prenclergast Knight, Dr. Hector,- the Rev. ,W. A. Evans, Messrs. W. S. La Trobe, T. R. Flem- '?£> Morton, A.- R. Atkinson, W. Ferguson, C. B. Morison, K.C., R. A. Wright, M.P., and ' R. M'Callum, M.P.. .. . ~ Counoll v, Covcmment, A letter (dated September 16) was received from the Hon. A. L. Herdman (Attorney-General), resigning his seat on the council. 'In tho course of his letter, Mr. Herdman stated that ho had taken this step after considering the report of th'& proceedings at the.last meeting of tho College Council. "It seems to .meto be clear,'.''lie. said,' "that I cannot, as 'u -member of the National Government, .continue to. act-as a member of tlte College Council. It appears to me obvious that the course of action determined upon by tho council at its meeting means that' a collision' betwe£i the council and the .Government is im-, minent, and perhaps unavoidable. I have the honour thoreforo to tender my resignation of the office I hold on the Collcgo Council, and I beg that you irill 'take the necessary steps to see, that it, is accepted." ' - \ The council accepted with, regret the Hon. A.- L. Herdman's resignation, which took effect (by law) from fchei timo of receipt ,by the council.| It'was. decided to forward a letter to Jlr. Herdman, expressing". appreciation: of his .services. ; ~. .

Professor von zcdlltz. In regard to the resignation 1 of Professor von Zedlitz,' the Finance Committee reported to the council that in' accordance, with.;its instructions; petitions were'draym up>> both Houses .of Parliament, praying that no, legislation should_be introduced wh(ch would interfere with'the free exercise by the council of its functions under the 'Victoria College Act, and that on September 29 the was <hily. heard before the Public Petitions Committee,'M to' Z. The Finance Committee also, laid, before, the council the letters from "Professor von Zedlitz with the recommendation that they be published in- the Press, and. the committee further recommended that the sum .of £350 be paid' to Professor von Zedlitz' by way of compensation. . Mr. Morison had given .'notice of motion bearing on the subject (as already reported), .but on his suggestion tho' Council went into committee to .discuss the Alien Enerriy Teachers' Bill and the. .letters'/from Professor von Zedlitz. .The: discussion in committee occupied the greater .part of .an hour. . /Subsequently it w,as decided to. adjourn decision, on''the. question' of Professor von Zedlitz's ; letters. until the next meeting, so , that the - ctvuncil. iri granting the Professor .'compensation might havo the' authority 'of the Alien. Enemy Teachers Act, which had not yet received the Governor's assent. It' was also decided to ,draw uu a' report of the council's attitude.on the question and forward this to the Press.

It was stated by Mr. M'Calhun that already the, Professor ; had sworn allegiance to three British' sovereigns, and that, when he' is! clear: of the .University, lie intends to proceed to! England to take out naturalisation papers,"-'and to offer his services to.the Empire.