LOOKING FOR TROUBLE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1782, 21 June 1913, Page 4

LOOKING FOR TROUBLE.

Matters in connection with tho University capping ceremonies in 1 New Zealand appear to be getting I quite out of hand, and tho authorities seem unable to devise effectual means of bringing about an improvement. The public presentation of diplomas ought not to be ( allowed to degenerate into a burlesque, and yet the students might well be given somo latitude on such occasions, in accordance with ancient precedent and time-honoured tradition, even if their ideas of wit and humour may not agree in all particulars with those of the Chancellor, who naturally takes a more ; serious view of life than the average University student. Of course, the real business of these annual gatherings ought to be the first consideration, and it is intolerable that the speakers should be subjected to continuous interruption. Such unruly behaviour is most irritating to that part of the audience which is really interested in the progress of higher education. It is quito easy for a handful of disorderly _ people to prevent the best speaker in the world from being heard; but to do so is an exhibition of bad manners, not humour. However, there is no reason why the students should not be given ample opportunity in the intervals between the addresses to give vent to, their superfluous spirits, and an occasional interjection with point or wit in it during a speech is by no means objectionable at a capping ceremony. The diploma day gatherings _ in Wellington appear to have a fairly good reputation for orderliness, whereas Auckland is at present under a cloud, and the students there have been deprived of their annual opportunity of making things lively, the Senate having decided to confer tho Auckland diplomas at tho Wellington gatEering. The Victoria Collego students, however, do not liko their ceremony to be made use of as a whip to thrash their Auckland friends, and there are rumours of trouble if this element of friction is introduced. In view of the possibility of discord the Victoria College Council has informed the Senate that unless other arrangements arc made regarding the Auckland degrees, tho Council is not inclined to take control of the coming ceremony. The Chancellor (Sir Robert Stout) is not, howover, prepared to agree to any alteration, and states that tho programme will be carried out as arranged by the Senate, even though the aid of. tho Council and Professorial Board be withheld. The Senate certainly appears to be looking for trouble in thus raising tho question of the penalty imposod on tho northern students. Why should it be intruded into tho Wellington ceremony? Tho Auckland diplomas could have been oonferred privately, sent by post, or delivered in somo other way, instead of being made an elemont of discord on Victoria College capping day. It is hoped that wiser counsels will even yet prevail, and that the Senate will reconsider its decision to confer tho Auckland degrees at tho ceromony to bo held fn WeiI lington next weok.