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ABSENT PROFESSORS.
'OFF ON SLIGHTEST PRETEXT'
University Senate Discussion.
Professors seemed to be dodging away
from the University on the slightest pre
text, remarked Sir John Kirwan, M.L.C.,
at a meeting of the Senate of the Univer
sity of Western Australia last night. Sir
John Kirwan had just perused a eection j-f
the Vice-Chancellor's report which stated
that five members of the staff, four of
whom were professors, had left recency
to attend a science congress in the East
ern States. He had raised the point, he
said, because there had been a good deal
of comment about it, and it gave rise to
an idea that the University was over
staffed.
'I would like to know,' Sir John Kir
wan said, 'whether or not the students
will suffer owing to the absence of these
four professors. There was an idea in
some quarters that the staff was over
manned, and when professors and other
members of the staff went away in such
numbers, it gave some ground for this im
pression. Each of the four professors had
left some days before the end of the term,
and he would like to know whether they
would be back in time for the beginning
of the new term. The Universities' Con
ference was being held in Sydney, and if
they attended that, they could not pos
sibly be back in time. Professors had a
very long vacation — two short periods of
16 days and a long vacation extending
over four months. In addition to the pro
fessors mentioned, he understood that
three other members of the staff were away
on the other side of the world. 'Are the
students suffering through the absence of
these professors?' Sir John Kirwan con
cluded. 'If they are not, it is evidence
that the staff is overmanned.'
The Vice-Chancellor (Professor Whit
feld): The two arguments do not necessar
ily follow. The professors applied for
leave to the Academic sBoard, and it was
pointed- out at the time that in the case
of three of them, lectures were not
schedulel during the period when they
would be away. Three of them happened
to be presidents of sections of the Austral
asian Association for the Advancement of
Science, and in two instances, arrange
ments were made for other members of
the staff to give their' lecture for them. It
is important for members of the scientific
staff to meet their colleagues in other
parts of Australia, and to get the stimu
lus of their scientific thought.
Sir John Kirwan asked whether the
universities' conference could not be held
during the long vacation?
The Vice-Chancellor said that the ques
tion did not come into the case, because
the professors were not being asked to
stay for the universities' conference.
Mr. H. B. Jackson: Is it correct that
long vacation for professors extends over
four months?
The Vice-Chancellor eaid that owing to
the necessity for supervision and the mark'
ing of examination papers, the professors
had nothing like four months free.
Mr. Jackson: They have about three
months.
Sir John Kirwan agreed that it was de
sirable for professors to come into con
tact with their colleagues elsewhere, but
the same thing applied to other members
of the community. So far as he could
see, the professors were dodging away ou
the slightest excuse.
The Vice-Chancellor: Surely it is some
excuse if a man is asked to be president
of a section of a scientific congress— an
opportunity that will not occur twice in
a lifetime.
During further discussion Professor Ross
said that it was necessary for professors
to remain in the State during January and
February in the long vacation in order
to advise students concerning their studies,
etc.
The Vice-Chancellor said that' the pro
fessors did their reading in the long va
cation. A professor was no use unless
he kept abreast of the .times.
Sir John Northmore: Oh, it is a study
vacation? (Laughter.)
The Vice-Chancellor: Well, it is sup
posed to be. I don't think the public
quite understands the position. A profes
sor has to keep in touch. A man learns
more at such conferences than he does
in a year by remaining at home .
After further discussion, it was resolved
to write to the Australasian Association
for the Advancement of Science and the
universities' conference, suggesting that
their next meetings should be held during
the long vacation.
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