§ 60 Mr. JAMES CAMPBELLasked the President of the Board of Education (1) whether he has yet referred the case of Professor Cowl, of the University of Bristol, to the Advisory Committee of the Board of Education; if so, with what result; (2) whether he has received complaints on behalf of or in reference to several professors and lecturers in the University of Bristol to the effect that they are constantly being made the victims of unfair and frivolous charges, which are investigated in secret by the various boards or committees of the university without giving the parties concerned any opportunity of being present or refuting the charges; and (3) whether, in view of the published complaints of general mismanagement in the University of Bristol, and, in particular, of the unfair treatment of certain of the professors and lecturers, he is prepared to appoint a Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry or to recommend His Majesty to exercise his powers under the charter of the university of appointing a visitation?
Mr. PEASEI must refer to the answers I have already given on this subject in reply to questions by the hon. Members for Hoxton and Bury St. Edmunds on the 19th and 20th of last month.
§ Mr. CAMPBELLIs it a fact that this gentleman has been removed from his professorship without any complaint whatever being formulated against him, or his getting any opportunity of appealing?
Mr. PEASEI understand that when the college at Bristol became a university all his appointments as professor ceased, and he was not re-engaged, in the interests of the public.
§ Mr. CAMPBELLWas his re-engagement recommended by the senate of the university, and did the council deliberately ignore, without giving any reasons, the recommendation of the senate?
Mr. PEASEThere was, no doubt, a difference of opinion between the senate and the council in regard to his appointment.
§ Mr. CAMPBELLI shall renew the question.
§ Sir HENRY CRAIKWould it not be in the interests of other universities in the Kingdom, whose prestige has been seriously injured by the maladministration of Bristol University, that the case should be inquired into before further public grants are made?
§ Sir W. HOWELL DAVIESHas the right hon. Gentleman the slightest reason to suppose that the University of Bristol would place any barrier in the way of his getting full information on all these questions which have been so largely submitted to the House by graduates of Trinity College?
Mr. PEASEI am sure that the University of Bristol would welcome such an inquiry, but it is certainly not one of my functions to hold an inquiry of the kind.
§ Mr. CAMPBELLCannot the right hon. Gentleman take the suggestion to recommend His Majesty to exercise his powers to appoint a visitation?
§ Mr. CAMPBELLBut he is not here.