CANTERBURY COLLEGE.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18414, 22 June 1925, Page 4

CANTERBURY COLLEGE.

LAW SOCIETY DINNER. The Canterbury College Law Students' Society held its annual dinner at the "Dorothy" on Saturday night. Mr T. W. Eowo presided. Mr M. J. Burns, in proposing the toast of the Society, said that the Society was originally formed to endeavour to obtain a professorship of law at Canterbury College, the feeling being that law had been rather neglected at the College. The Society provided a common meeting place for all law students. Members of the Society should remember that they were to be the law practitioners of the future, and that the profession was not to (be 'considered mcrefe* as a commercial proposition. Law was one of t.lio oldest and most respected of professions, and its traditions must ho maintained. Especially in an ago tending to commercialism and materialism tins ideal should not be forgotten. The Society bad been extremely for-: tunato in having had two such able and energetic secretaries as Mr Brassington and Sir Hensley. Mr L. J. Hensley, in rej)ly, said that the Society was now.in its third year, and this was its second annual dinner. Mr Burns had well 6tated the objects of the Society, and he joined with Mr Burns in praise of Mr Brassington, who had done the spade work for the Society. A dinner engendered good fellowship. Judge Parry, in his book, "The Seven Lamp? of Advocacy," had called the seventh lamp fellowship. Ho urged the freshers to carry on" the work of the Society, to make it grow and transcend its past glory. Mr A. C. Brassington, in proposing the toast, of "Tho Profession,'' said it was very gratifying to find that so manv of'the older members of the profession were interested in the Socictv find gave up their time to come and lecture to tho Society. In this connexion he wonld like specially to mention Mr A. T. Donnelly. The Society was primarily a society of Canterbury Collego students, and the proposal to establish four separate universities should bo seriously-considered by the studonts. Yet the profession was very fortunate in having such representatives as Mr Donnelly, Mr AH and, and Mr Cuningham on the Board of Governors, and thev could rely ..with confidence on their decisions.

Mr A. T. Donnelly, responding, said ho had been very much interested in the formation of tlia Society, in its propress and development. Tho feociety should stimulate law students to take o, t,-icier point of view of tlieir profession. It should dive what could not 1)0 obtained in the perusal of text-, hooks. It was of the greatest importance that students should get a pood knowledge' of the literature and history of law. . It made all the difference between a man who aimed merely at a livelihood and a man who wa<s a true craftsman. Student days were those in which to gnin this "knowledge. Besides its Cultural advantages, it often pave a great advantage in an argument in Court Th'ey should all he proud of their, profession and should maintain its high dignity and tho standard 6et by tho* cement lawyers of thft pa.st. _ Mr L. P. Barrett, in proposing the health of the staff, expressed admiration for tho courage and enthusisam of those gentlemen wlio rushed -up to preside over tho destmies of students. They devoided themselves of pi ensures and enjoyment to come to the College. clii'Jsd lirHhr th© <seHii)g _ sun and apathy of students, to maintain the dignity of law in general and 90 students "in nato that taw had never been a speciality of Canterbury College and that its 'famous judges, those, strong, silent men, ignorant of tho existence of newspapers and with. a. f-010 eye to dutjk might be counted on the fingers of one hand, even if tho hand were devoid of all but a thumb. Mr T. W. Howe, replying to the toast, said his connexion with the young students of Canterbury College had extended over a period of fourteen years. From it he had derived btfui pleasure and knowledge. The students had derived, he thought, somo pleasure, too, but> whether an equal of knowledge, it was hard to say. With regard to the separation of universities, he thought that the time had not yet come. A Royal Commission was sittin" - in ClirLstchurch soon, t to take evidence on that and other points, and any member of the Society might, if he wished, give evidence before it. Ho believed a considerable bond of sympathy had been established between students and lecturers, and for real fun he believed the jurisprudence class was equal to any other in Canterbury College. Other toasts were: —"Other Faculties," proposed by Mr W. B. T. Lecte, replied to by Messrs It. J. MacLaren (Accountancy) and J. Brodie (Arts) ; "The Ladies," proposed by Mr A. L. Haslam. reply by Mr J. H. Williamson; "Our Host," proposed by Mr T. W. Rowe; "Tho Chairman," proposed by Mr J. H. Williamson. Musical items were given by Messrs D. W. Russell, C. G. Prury, W. M. Te Awarau, F. Page, E. S. Bowie, and M. J. Burns.