STUDENTS' CARNIVAL

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2154, 21 May 1914, Page 6

STUDENTS' CARNIVAL

IS IT DEFIANCE?

MR. M'CALLUM HAS FEARS

FOR SENATE'S DIOTY

A protest against the Victoria College Council countenancing tho "hitrlesquo" proceedings in which tho students arc to take part to-morrow night at tho Town Hall was raised by Mr. .11. M'Callum, 11.P., at a meeting of the council last night. At a previous meeting at which Mr. M'Callmu was not present, tho council had sanctioned t.lio holding of the celebration, and on being approached by a committee of and students, and on the recommendation of the Finance and General Purposes Committee, had subsidised it to tho extent of £3t).

. Mr. M'Callum attempted to raise tho question when the business before the meeting was tho election of chairman, hut without opposing the return of Mr. H. H. Ostler, who was re-elected unopposed. On that occasion, however, ho was ruled out of order. Later, Mt. M'Callum was allowed to go 011 with his protest. Tho impression lie had got, he said, was that the council was attempting to tone flown the disciplinary effect of the punishment., which the Senate intended to mete out to the students. The Cham»llor, supported by the Scnato, had decided to discontinue tho capping ceremony, bscauso a section of the students had misbehaved. He did not objeet to tho council giving the students £30 to carry out. some sortof celebration, befeauso it was desirable that an esprit do corps in the college should be fostered, but the- council had gone beyond that, and had assisted the students "to get back upon" the- Chancellor and the Senate The patronage of the council was lent to tho function, and tho students had invited a distinguished visitor, Sir lan Hamilton., and also the Prime Minister of the Dominion to a ceremony which was to b® held practically to take tho place of the capping ceremony. This seemed to be a little more than' the- council had intended. . 1 3!r. Ostler Are not you overlooking tho fact that Sir Robert Stout (who is the<-Chancellof) was present at tho meeting, and that he approved it? ■ Mr.-,M'Callum: Sir Robert Stout did not object Ito giving;, £oQ. ■ . Mr. Hordmaii: What part of the function "do you object to? _ . Mr.' M'Callum: "1 object to tho invitation. of Sir.laii:Hajniitmi and Mr. Massey. So long as these distinguished gentlemen know that this is a. burlesqueand know that they are. taking part in farcical proceedings I am coiiteut. They axo entitled to go. But .1 am not coming to thb council to mislead either Sir lan Hamilton of Mr. Massey. Theso gentlemen, I imagine, have ' accepted the invitation without knowing that, these are proceedings by boys which arc to take the place of tho ordinary capping ceremony denied them by tho Senate." Later he made tho following reference to the College Professors when a member mentioned that tho professors were supporting tho celebration: "I havo a very strong feeling ■that our professors wero behind tho students in their defianoo, of tho Chancellor."

Members: No, no. Mr.. Herdman: That is grossly unfair. Mr. M'Cnllum: That, is Hiy view of it, anyway. I may be wrong. I lived in Wellington at the time, and I was present at tho function ami I had a very good notion that I can judge character and conduct as iveli as other men.

Tho Hon. A. L. Hcrdnran: I don't want .to take up much of tho time of the Council in 'discussing this matter. : I don't think it is Worth tlissmsston. Biit I think it is a matter for ver,v great regret that Mr. M'Galium should come to this meeting and make a suggestion, made for the'first timo to-night, that the gentlemen who are. responsible for the organisation of this entertainment intend deliberately to. float tho University Senate. If lit? had been hero at tlio beginning of tire business ho would liavo seen that the Professorial Board had tho intention that the proceedings should lio condiieted iti an ; orderly way. I am quite sure Sir lan Hamilton and Mr. Massey will 1)6 under a deep debt, of gratitfldo to Mr, M'Callum for warning them of tlio risk they aro running. I , believe that Sir lan Hamilton and Mr. Massay will enjoy themselves. It is a great pity it has been suggested that there is this deeplaid plot to injisre the University Seaato.

The Rev. Sir. W. A. Evans said thattho matter had been fully discussed at tho Senate at Duncdin, and it bad then been fully understood that all the colleges would have their own ceremonies. It seemed to Mm that it was highly' .important that, University Colleges should have an opportunity of getting into touch with the public once a year, and this was their one opportunity. Mr. C. Wilson said ho was sorry Mr. M'Callum had suggested that the Professorial Board had aided and abetted the students in defiance of the Chancellor and tlio Senate. He did not believe for-a moment it was true, and if it were truo it would still liava been better not to mention it. Mr. M'Calluiji said he regretted nothing he had said. It had seemed to mm hetoro he camo to the meeting that Jus remarks were iustified. If the' proceedings of Friday night proved that they wero not justified lioboclv would I bs better pleased than lie.