CAPPING DAY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1782, 21 June 1913, Page 6

CAPPING DAY.

AN ELEMENT OF FRICTION. COUNCIL & SENATE. The following official correspondence on the subject of tho Auckland capping ceremony which was raised at the meeting of tho Victoria College Council on Wednesday has passed between the Registrar, of tho College and tho University authorities :— Mr. Powles, on behalf of the council, after that body had discussed tho letter from the Professorial Board, wrote to tho University Registrar as follows:— "Dear Sir,—The matter of the arrangement of the capping ceremony having been brought before tho council last evening, especially with reference to tho question of tho presentation of diplomas to tho students of Auckland College, and the possible friction caused thereby, the council passed the following resolution, which I was directed to communicate to you:— 'That the Registrar of the New Zealand University having intimated that the degrees of students of Auckland College will bo conferred at Wellington unless candidates attend at the Christchurch or Dunedin ceremony, this council respectfully requests the Senato riot to conier the Auckland degrees at tho ceremony to bo held in Wellington on tho 26th instant; and that, unless other satisfactory arrangements can bo made, the council regrets it cannot seo its way to make preliminary arrangements • and to tako control of the'discipline of the capping ceremony, as lias been done heretofore at tho request of the Senate.' "In sending this resolution, I am to say that unless the Registrar _of the .University notifies me before midday on Monday that some alteration in tho proposed proceedings will bo made, the council and Professorial Board will take no further action in matters connected with tho capping ceremony—(Signed) C. P. Powles." Mr. Powles also wrote as follows to tho University Registrar: "With reference to the capping ceremony on the 20th inst., I am directed by the coumcil of this collega to ask that the ceremony may be held in the morning as the opening of Parliament takes place in the afternoon." . To tho foregoing the University Registrar was directed by the Chancellor (Sir Robert Stout) to reply as follows:— "(1) That tho capping ceremony will bo carried out as already intimated in my circular, and at the time and place therein stated. , , . "(2) That -tho Chancellor regrets ho is not to havo tho-pleasure of the aid of your council and Professorial Board. "(3) That ho considers it would not be edifying to discuss with'your council the attitude your Professorial -Board and council havo takon up. "(4) That if Auckland .students attend tho capping ceremony the comradeship that exists among students will bo illustrated by tho kind, courteous reception they will receive from their of Victoria College. To imagine anything else, would be casting a slur on the students of Victoria College. "(5) That tlie last sentence in- your longer letter was unnecessary, as it' is customary in this offico to answer letters promptly."