NO ACTION

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 May 1943, Page 3

NO ACTION

BY SYDNEY UNIVERSITY SENATE REGARDING PROFESSOR’S VIEWS ON RELIGION. SPIRIT OF FREE INQUIRY DEFENDED. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) SYDNEY, May 5. No action will be taken by the University Senate against Professor John Anderson for his statements on religion and education. This was stated in a letter to the New South Wales State Legislative Assembly in which strong opposition was expressed to any suggestion that the spirit of free inquiry should be stiflled in the university. The letter, which was signed by the Chancellor of the University, Sir Charles Bickerton Blackburn, added that every encouragement was given within the university to societies and groups whose object it was to foster the Christian religion and promote the knowledge and observances of Christian principles. Professor Anderson’s statements provoked wide controversy in which the right of free speech and criticism had been strongly defended.

The New South Wales Legislative Assembly, by a unanimous vote, censured Professor John Anderson for statements which he made on religion and education. Professor Anderson is professor of philosophy at Sydney University. Speaking at a meeting of the New Education Fellowship, he said: “The teaching of religion has an important political character, because it promotes the extension of credulity/ which is a very desirable thing from the point of view of the ruling order.”