LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2651, 23 December 1915, Page 6

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

—9 COURT OF CONVOCATION. jg; r —Allow me . a few words in reference to a letter dealing with the Court of Convocation which appeared recently in your columns. Some of the matters dealt with are important, so 1 venture to think it is a pity that the letter appears over a nom de plume, and not over the writer's real name. Tho writer, "Facts," complains that none of tho moving spirits of tile District Court of Convocation are bonafide graduates of Victoria College. Does the writer know that it is only within the last fifteen years or ; so that this Collogo has boon granting degrees, and that consequently most of its graduates are young men and women. That boiiid so. it is little wonder that most of the "moving spirits," being tho elder men, are not graduates of Victoria Collego. However, at the meeting 'held last week the chairman was reappointed on tho motion of Mr. Eichelbaum. a graduate of Victoria College. Then "Facts" tells us that tho election to tho College Council is conducted by a committee of the Court of Convocation, "known as the Graduates' Association." This latter body is not a committee of Convocation at all, and indeed has 110 organic connection with it. It is an association of graduates of Victoria College only, and none of the professors or others of "Facts'" "moving spirits" are eligible for membership." Of course tho Graduates' Association does not conduct the examinations, as alleged by "Facts," but his assertion that they do is a complete contradiction of his statement that the Professorial Board can nominate six members to the College Until recently the Graduates' Association has returned three members to the Collego Council. The Act of last year has altered this, and now they are elected by Convocation instead. As long as the Graduates' Association elected the members a good deal of effort was put forth to ensure having good men on the council. The first appointments to the council made under the new regulations took place six months ago.. "Facts" says in reference. to these elections by Convocation, "there is never a contest." Your readers will see that this "never" refers to a period of six monthß. The fact is that Convocation, though new to tho work, has bepn bestirring itself. That body has been in communication with the. Graduates' Association, and, in response to a request from the former body, the latter has circularised its members urging them to attend meetings of Convocation. Every effort is being made to obtain the correct addresses of all graduates entitled to take, part in the proceedings of Convocation. Circulars weroi'sent previoiis i to tho last meeting to all Graduates likely, to. bo able to attend it, and it has been resolved to notify graduates, of" all elections to bo held. The great difficulty is tho lack of interest displayed by the graduates, other than a small number. This cannot bo charged against the "moving spirits."—l am. etc., CHAS.. J: COOKE, . Hon. See., Graduates' Association. Kelbttrn, December 20, WIS. CAN WOMEN ASSIST? Sir, —I trust that' I shall not be accused of want of chivalry when tho. suggestion is made - that some, of the gentler sex aro responsible for deterring eligible young men from serving their' country. ' Far be it' from me to asperse those bravo and self-sacrificing women who have given so generously of their loved ones, who,, despite tho heart-ache, liavo urged, na.v, de'mnndctl, that their men-folk i shall first do their duty, but from irrefutable evidence I am forced to the conclusion that there are many who havo'allowed their personal wishes to prevent men from enlisting to protect tlisir homes and country, and to succour and relieve those wlio have -been so grievously wronged in other lands. It is in this' direction that wo ehoukl look for reasons to account for tho unwillingness to servo . in . many cases; Women little wot' their power, nor do t'hey, consider , that their attitude is littio : short of treason to the State. Could not a- special campaign ho instituted, consisting of addresses to women and girls in factories and shops, followed by a pledge-signing by all who aro willing to refuse to marry until tho

war is over? There aro many, also, who Insist on marriage before enlistment; . and who will thus probably add greatly to the burden for pensions to bo bonif*'later. Surely this is ,ileo hichly reprehensible and grossly unfair to New Zealnnd. Lot us appeal to tho women to assist, and I feel sure that there will. not be-any cause to conmlain of shortage of volunteers. Tn the direction indicated women can assist. Will thoy respond?—l am. etc.. HEROINES WANTED. RECRUITING. Sir. —Enclosed I send you a cutting from "The Colonist." Would you kindly reprint it in your valuable paper, also a few words from mj'self on the subjcct? As trho whole jiosifcion of rorecruiting is so grossly, unjust as carried out at present, with a further worso form of it being put into force by calling up those who have expressed their willingness to go if required, . and exempting those who say "No," though tliey claim all tho privileges .that the country confers, but refuse altogether to bear any part of, its responsibilities, I think tho voice' of every man who sees the injustice that is being done should' be raised) to call Ministers' attention to how 'grossly they are failing in their position of trust in not seeing tho weight of responsibility something like fairly adjusted.—l am ;etc., ~ HENRY DRATTEN. "Brooklands," Lower Moutere, December 18,1915. The enclosed cutting is tho following letter, signed "L.E." :— s ' Many of us -who have sent all our boys to the front are aghast at the feebleness of our statesmen, who openly acknowledge the injustice of the present system,- wliereby many able-bodied single men escape service, yet lack the moral courage to make the necessary move to right it, though the whole country is practically at their back. Haven't we got a man in the Government with enough grit to face it? Afraid of conscription; afraid to do ' right; Why point at the shirker who shrinks from the fight? . Unable, our chiefs, to "stand up to the ball," They fail, moral cowards, fo answer the call.