STUDENTS UNSEEMLY BEHAVIOUR.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3639, 17 May 1927, Page 2

STUDENTS UNSEEMLY BEHAVIOUR.

AUCKLAND TO HAVE NO GRADUATION.

Auckland, Last Night.

Owing to disturbances at the in-ter-College debate in the Town Hall Concert Chamber at Easter, it has been decided that there shall be no University graduation ceremony in Auckland this year.

The conduct of some students at the debate was such that the chairman, Mr. E. 11. Northcroft, stopped proceedings until all the students in the audience had left the hall. Some rotten tomatoes were thrown at the judges and two live hens were released on the stage. The professorial Board recommended that the Students’ Association be called on to furnish by the end of the First Term the names of any Auckland students implicated in the disturbance; that in the event of this information not beingforthcoming no graduation ceremony should be held this year; that the Tournament Committeo be requested to address the chairman and judges of the debate a formal written apology; and tb.at the Board approach other colleges with a view to the abolition of the bebate as a public function at tournaments.

The Professional Board also reported that since passing the resolution it had received a reply to the effect that the executive of the Students’ Association was unable to identify the men responsible for the disturbance; that an apology approved by the chairman had been sent to the Students’ Association to the chairman of the debate and the judges; that the Tournament Committee had decided that in future the debate be held in camera.

The Hon. George Fowlds, president of the College, said the behaviour on this occasion was such that the Board: must give some mark of its disapproval. Matters could not be satisfactory unless those responsible were identified and sent down. The Professorial Board’s remommendations were adopted.