"CAPPING" DAY

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 196, 14 May 1920, Page 8

"CAPPING" DAY

QUIETEST ON 11EC0RD GRADUATES PRESENTED SPEECH BY A DISTINGUISHED VISITOR Unwonted orderliness marked tho annual "capping" ceremony in connection with Victoria University College, which took place in the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall yesterday. The proceedings passed off practically without interruption, .which, in view of the disorder attendant upon some of tho previous "capping" days, was distinctly singular, but none the less appreciated. The chair was occupied by Mr. C. Watson, chairman of tho'-Vicloria Collego Council, and the Chamber was crowded. The Hon. C. J. Parr, Minister of Education, was present at tho outset, and in the absence of the Chancellor of the University, the graduates wero presented to the Bishop of Wellington. ~\ Graduates Presented, The list of graduates was as follows; - Masters of Arts (with Honours).—Fanny D. Bingham, Norman A, Byrne, Alice Cocker, Michael Gilfedder, Harold G. Miller*, Bernard J. Ryan, Gordon F. Saunders, Robert G. A. Sawell, Ivan L. G. Sutherland*. ♦Jacob Joseph Scholars. Master of Science (with .Honours).— Ethel W. J. Fenton. Master of Commerco (with Honours).— George W. Clinkard. Bachelor of Arts.—John A. Allanf, Marjory I. Cresswcll, Clyde A. Gumming, Harold T. M. Fathers, Edgar C. Felthnm, Helen J. Forsyth, Margaret A. Harlq, Hubert P. Isaac, Albert Jackson, Dora Johnstone, Sydney I. Jones, Brois Kelsey, Lillian G. Keys, Monica Lennon, Winifred M. Mather, Jean H. Mackenzie, Agnes M. Moncvioff, STargery Myers, Archibald A. M'Lachian, Albert Paisley*, Dorothy F. Priestley, Henrietta M'C. Robertson, Rubina A. Roy, Eleanor A. Sewell, William A Sheat, Marjory A. Shirtcliff, William H. Stevens, Clarence P. Wo'rley. *Sonicr University scholars. fSpecial War Scholar. Bachelor of Science.—Janet M. Anson, John E. Brodie, (Elliott M. Christie, Tom A. Glendinning, George \AV. , Morice, Eleanor A, Popo, Irene J. -M'C. Sievwright, John C. Smith, Roland D. Thompson, Thomas R. R. Wliitehouse. / Bachelor of Laws.—Kenneth C. Clayton, Alan M. Cousins, Reginald H. Greville, James D. Hutchison, Noel S. Johnston, Reginald V. Kay, Nmman F. Little, Andrew J. Park, John Tait, Norman E. Watson, Alan C. Whitelaw. A Bright' Outlook. Tho proceedings commenced with the singing of the College song, "Gaudeamus Igitur," by the students' assembled. The chairman 6aid that things wore very well with the College, the outlook was very bright. In this connection it was significant that the number of students this year (over GOO) constituted a record. Tho 6ame was recorded of the other--New Zealand colleges. The college buildings were very overcrowded, and the now wing was being delayed on account of the shortage of materials. Whencompleted, it would find room for the library, tho Macnrthy School of Economics, and a women students' cloakroom. Tho University had now onco more a full staff. , Reference; was made by the chairman to the loss the college had sustained through the resignation of Professor Easterficld, alter 21 years of faithful service, in order that ho might assume the position of. director of the Cawthron Instituteyat Nelson. * The Bishop's Warning. In a short address Bishop Sprott, after sjxtonding his congratulations, to the graduates, made a few general observations on cducntion. He wished, he said, to utter a word of warning. The chairman Had referred to tho great demand for/' jciducatwn that had arisen since the war. This was tho result of the universal demand for efficiency. While such a demand had his whole-hearted sympathy, he thought there waj a slight danger which he hoped tho New Zealand University and the Victoria College would guard against. Ho referred to the risk of efficiency being too narrowly interpreted, that efficiency which was called industrial life and activity. He did not decry efficiency in commerce and industry, or tlie demand for technical training in order to ensure increased productiveness. He would, however, count it a m|isfortune if our ulivivcrsities ultimately resolved themselves info merely technical schools. Education should not bo regarded merely as the means of making a living. It had been correctly defined as the training of all the-personal powers of man, as body, niind, and soul, Wo could not properly cultivate one capacity without some attention to the rest.. The idea of tho harmonious cultivation of all their personal powers for eocial service was the goal towards which they should aim. He therefore hoped • that tho University of New Zealand and tho Victoria College would strive to train the whole man, 9 Importance of Imagination, Touching on the training and development of the imagination, Bishop Sprott dwelt upon the importance of cultivating the faculties in this direction. By imagination he meant the power of presenting in the mind pictures of things absent. This would tend to counteract the dwarfing tendencies of restricted local vision. Lack of imagination was a largo clement in the unrest of tho world today. A great statesman had said that England lost the American colonies through narrowness of mind caused by lack of imagination. Therefore, he commended the students before him that day to find some place in their scheme of life for the cultivation of the powers of imagination. (Applause.) In conclusion, the Bishop appealed to the students to see that Victoria College attained greatness, not through length of time, but by the achievements of her sons and daughters. Dr. Newton's Address, The next speaker was Dr. A. P. Newton (London University), who is on a tour of tho Dominions. Dr. Newton stated that in tho course of his travels in America he was impressed by the deter , mination on the part of students of all . ranks to do their best, and to aid in the reconstruction of a world that had suffered one of tho greatest trials in its history. During the war the university nails were depleted. An undue proportion of the casualty lists seemed to . have been drawn from the ranks of the univorsity students. This showed that they were evs.r in the forefront of danger. Similarly, if they looked at the 'centre of things they would invariably \ find that tho thinking during the war was dono by some,ex-university students. He instanced ruauy cases to give point to, his conclusion that tho universities of tho world in the future had a morn j important part to play than they over ; had in the past. A university had throe i purposes to fill in the life of the com- ; munity. Firstly, it had to train students to euable them to pursue then various occupations; secondly, a university had to bo n seat of learning; and • lastly, it had to be a centre for research ■ work. It had come about by the circumstances of the world that the ( task 1 of saving civilisation during the period of rccoiiS'ti'uotion, was. placed on the • shoulders of! men who spoke English, i whether they lived under tho Union Jacic . or tho Stars and Stripes. That was a duty that we could not get away from, and in its fulfilment it followed naturally, that tho task of directing our forces fell to the lot of the university-train e<l men. If civilisation wns to go on and progress, the places of the brightest and best university students throughout tho world who had fallen in tho war would have to bo filled. The test tad row come upon us, and much was required of us in the future . . , -n ~ The proceedings terminated with the ! singing of tho National Jnthem.