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The Spike or Victoria University College Review October 1915

The Editors' Aneasy Chair

page 59

The Editors' Aneasy Chair.

Hitherto, the "Spike" has refrained from discussing the case of Professor von Zedlitz. Our reasons were good, and obvious enough: the chief being that, until quite recently, the agitation for the removal of the Professor was the work of a number of gentlemen, who had never been connected with the College, who had not taken the trouble to obtain correct information as to the facts relating to the Professor, who rushed into print with a number of ill-considered charges, the only effect of which was to inflame the minds of that section of the public which was equally misinformed, and who were inspired apparently by nothing so much as the desire for self-advertisement. The first phase of the agitation has, however, now passed; and reasons exist, which imperatively demand that we should make a definite pronouncement. In the first place, the movement for the Professor's removal is no longer confined to the extremists. We have always felt a good deal of respect for the "Evening Post," and for the policy for which it stands. It is essentially the organ of the moderates. It has always represented fairly, courageously, and honestly the views of that very large section of the people, which looks with dislike upon extremes. Everyone will recollect that the "Post" was the one journal in Wellington that published uniformly fair and unbiassed reports during the strike in Wellington two years ago. The memory is fresh with us of the "Post's" courageous stand upon the Bible-in-Schools question. Realising that the "Post" is always actuated conscientiously by the desire to be accurate, fair, and just, we have consequently noted with keen gret that the "Post" apparently is of the opinion that Professor von Zedlitz should not be retained, owing to the fact that the services of other non-naturalised German subjects have been dispensed with—"Our opinion throughout this distressing and deplorable controversy has been that one rule must apply to all. When an exception is made the way is opened for endless disputes and bitterness." And as a number of German civil servants have been dismissed, in fairness Professor von Zedlitz must also be dismissed. This is undoubtedly the view of a very large number of fair-minded people; and the first reason which induces us to discuss this subject is the desire to put forward that aspect of the case which seems to us to meet such a view, and incidentally to justify the position that we take up—that the page 60 services of Professor von Zedlitz should be retained. Another good reason for this discussion is that the Government has introduced a Bill which, if carried, will end the controversy by the dismissal of the Professor; and while the question is still open we wish to place upon permanent record what we believe to be the view of an overwhelmingly large majority of the Graduates and Undergraduates of Victoria College.

In the first place, we wish to draw attention to one fact, which may have been present in the minds of many people, but which we have not yet seen definitely formulated. This fact goes to the root of the matter, and if we are right as to it, we cannot help feeling that a realisation of it would considerably modify the views of many of those who now are opposed to Professor von Zedltz. The fact is, the agitation for the removal of the Professor does not rest upon a principle, but upon a mere technicality. If Professor von Zedlitz had become naturalised, we should hear no word to-day of his removal. If Professor von Zedlitz were removed from his chair, and a gentleman, German by birth, British by naturalisation, were appointed in his stead, no objection whatever would be raised. Now, we have had just such a gentleman at Victoria College. In fact, we may put it more strongly this gentleman was resident for some years in New Zealand; he obtained his living here; he secured a Senior Scholarship, German being the subject; he has not hesitated to express to us his German preferences; he has stated to us that England is simply in this war for what she can get out of it. England. he says, is very cunning; yet this gentleman, by virtue of his having taken out naturalisation papers, would be perfectly acceptable as a University Professor to those who have caused the present agitation!

Now, the chief argument used by those opposed to Professor von Zedlitz is this—the fact that the Professor has not become naturalised proves his sympathy with Germany, or at least his lack of sympathy with Britain. This is the argument brought forward by the Chairman of the Patriotic Society, and we gladly admit that it is one of the constructions that may fairly be placed upon the fact that the Professor has not become naturalised. But there is another construction—one, which those of us who know the Professor, feel to be the true construction. The present war has proved that Germans in every part of the world have not hesitated to avail themselves of the cloak afforded by naturalisation. In fact, the first step to be taken by any German spy in the country in which he proposed to carry on page 61 operations, was naturalisation. Germans throughout the Empire have seized the opportunity, while remaining closely in sympathy with Germany, of becoming naturalised in order to obtain all the advantages accruing from British citizenship. Is it not conceivable then—more than that—is it not certain that an honourable man of alien birth, but British in sympathy, in thought, and in spirit, should decline to avail himself of the only means open to him of becoming British in fact, because such a means was daily being abused by unscrupulous aliens, who would gladly see the mighty fabric of the Empire torn asunder by the hordes of Prussia? We know Professor von Zedlitz to be in all essentials, but one, British. That one essential is a pure technicality; but were it removed there would be no objection to Professor von Zedlitz's retention in his chair. That is why we have said, that is why why we do repeat, that the agitation for the removal of the Professor is not based upon principle, but upon a mere technicality.

We should like to discuss at length the other aspects of the case that present themselves—is the Professor a German citizen, the significance of his having offered to become naturalised, the rights of the College Council, the duty of a professor to inculcate patriotism, but space prevents this. We can only echo once again the hope that the Government will think better of its decision to remove non-naturalised teachers—a step that would be deeply deplored by all those most intimately concerned—the College Council, the Board, the Graduates, and the Undergraduates.

On the day we go to press Mr. A. E. Caddick, who has edited the "Spike" for the last two years, enters the training camp at Palmerston North, preparatory to leaving for the front. With characteristic self-sacrifice he sat up until 1 o'clock on the evening before departing to finish an article, which appears in this number. We wish him the best of luck in his venture, and trust that he won't forget that this magazine depends to a great extent for its success upon old students.