PM Transcripts

SPE: E7CH BY TIT, PR1II41 MINISTER TUHE RT. HON. R& G. MENZIES
AT TNSTALLATIOi' OF CANCI.-ILOiL CF A. Ntu0CANBERRA,
11_ DTH APRIL,_,
Chancellor, Your Excellency,
There is an old standing rule, Sir that when I wear one
of' these things ( doctor's cap) I am allowed L take it off' when I
speak. I introduce you to that rule at once, ( Laughter)
There is also a standing order in the Parliament, up the
street against tedious repetition. It is, of course, consistently
ignorea. ( Laughter) And I am going to ignore it this morning
because having heard His Excellency, the Governor-General, I
realised that there was really nothing more to do, in all honesty,
than to stand up and say " I concur and have nothing to add". But
having said that of' course I will break the rule myself and add a
little. I think that i~ t is a magnificent thing, a very
appropriate thing, that this University, which was not created as
something local, or limited, but was designed to achieve world
standards and perhaps world influence in many sphere, shou~ ld have
had as iLs previous Chancellor, one who I repeat what has been
sail is probably the outstanding Australian of our time, and now
should have one of the world-famous scientists of our time.
It may be that there will be some who think that for you
to come out here Mr. Chancellor from far away is something odd
you know we are all familiar with the slogan " What's wrong with
the local boys?". All I want to say, Sir, as one of the " local
boys", is that I was enthusiastic when I hoard that you were
willing to take this post and that is just because of the reason I
ventured to mention: that this University must, if it is to
justify our hopes, become a world famous centre of learning and,
particularly in its advanced studies make contributions to
knowledge which will run right round the world into the minds of
men and women of different races, and of different tongues.
Therefore, this, as we see it, is a University possessint
already and will moro and more do so of courso an international
quality, a quality which over-rides the mere boundaries of a State
or, for that matter, of the Commonwealth of Australia,
Ther.-, ore, we do ourselves great honour when we have, as
our Chancellor, a man whose name is known not only here, not only
in Great Britain, but known right'round the world of' science.
Just imagine what it will mean to many people in this
institution, engaged in scientific work of any kind, to be able,
periodically, to sit down with the present Chancellor and discuss
some of their problams. I don't think it is always realisod what
a tremendous thing it is in all branches of knowledge for younger
men to have the opportunity of associating in a personal fashion
with great scholars, with famous men. Some of the glory rubs off
on them. It is something that they remember. It is something
which serves as an inspiring force in their work, and in their lis
And so it is a splendid thing that we should have here,
once more, a famous man. He stepped into our minds and into our
hearts ready made, so to speak, because many of us have had the
pleasure of knowing him beforo. To those who haven't, his fame
has preceded him. He is here not only among scholars, not only
among experts in his own fieldA; he is here in a community that
alrody has a profound respect for him and will have even greater
gratitude as time goes on. ( Applause)