OCCASIONAL NOTE

The Trustees of Aligarh College in publishing a statement of their decision in regard to the resignation of Mr. Towle, the principal, and others, apparently imagine that they have emerged from the affair with credit. But it is clear even from their account of what has happened that it would be very difficult for any self-respecting man to serve in Aligarh College. The trouble arose from a recommendation of Mr. Towle that Mr. Gage should receive an increment of Rs 25 a month in his salary. The hon. secretary placed the matter before the Syndicate, who sanctioned the increment.

This occurred in March 1917. Nearly a year later, in January 1918, the Trustees at their annual meeting passed a resolution refusing the increment, and Mr. Gage very naturally tendered his resignation. About a month later the Trustees evolved another resolution in which they said that “they did not mean to finally refuse the increment but that at the time they could not grant it as they desired an inquiry into certain complaints that had reached them against Mr. Gage.”

After having thus added insult to injury, the Trustees seem to have discovered that the procedure in vogue for some years regarding increments had deviated from the rules and that their own resolutions were null and void. And all this over an increment of Rs 25 a month! Can it be wondered that the European staff desired to have nothing more to do with an institution which seems to be run on the lines of pure Babudom?

MUNICIPAL ELECTION CASE

Mr. H.P. Duval, District Judge of Alipore, has delivered judgment on an appeal preferred by Babus Gouripaddo Nath and Bhodhor Chandra Moti Lall, who were candidates for the Behala Ward of the South Suburban Municipality against a temporary injunction granted by the First Munsiff of Alipore restraining them from appearing as candidates at the re-election ordered to be held by the District Magistrate of 24-Parganas.

Babu Khetter Mohan Banerjee, who appeared on behalf of the appellants, contended that the District Magistrate had ample jurisdiction to pass such an order. Babu Ramtaran Bannerjee, for the respondent, submitted that the Munsiff was justified in passing an order for a temporary injunction, and that an anomaly would arise in case the defeated candidates should win the ensuing election, and in case the judgment of the Munsiff should be passed on favour of the respondents who had secured the highest number of votes at the last election. The Judge, however, decided to set aside the order of the Munsiff for the temporary injunction.

RANCHI CO-OPERATIVE UNION

The annual meeting of the Ranchi Co-operative Union, Ltd., was held yesterday at the Union Club. Under a shamiana in the court-yard three fly-shuttle looms were shown working. The Hon. Mr. Maude, C.S.I., member of the Executive Council of Bihar and Orissa, who presided at the meeting, inspected the looms with much interest. In the course of his address Mr. Maude expressed satisfaction with the progress made during the past eight years and during the year under report and particularly with the working of the Weavers Stores, Ltd. Much yet remained to be done.

Taking the population of the district and the number of villages in it, the membership represented about 1 per cent of the adult male population, and the number of villages benefited represented about 2 per cent. This he did not mention by way of disparagement but only to indicate the vastness of the field before them and the necessity, if possible, of still more vigorous efforts in the future. He congratulated and thanked the honorary workers.

BANKURA COLLEGE

In aid of the Mitchell Commemoration Fund, the students of Bankura College staged on Monday last Suren Babu’s drama “Moghul Pathan” at the Christian Hostel in the College compound. The performance began at 9 P.M. and concluded at 2-15 A.M. The spacious hostel courtyard, with the stage and the green-room were illuminated with electric lamps.

There was a large gathering. At the close of Act I, Mrs. Johnston at the request of the Principal, the Rev. A.E. Brown, presented from the stage the “Mitchell Challenge Shield” to the College captain, and two silver medals to “Bhisma” and “Dasaraj,” who played at last year’s performance. Professor Karmakar (general secretary), on behalf of the College Performance Committee, expressed thanks to all who had assisted the present performance, which was a complete success.