Exit the Capping Day of Olden Times

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 68, 11 June 1927, Page 11

Exit the Capping Day of Olden Times

QUIETNESS AND ORDER

GOVERNMENT COMMAND (From Our Resident Correspondent .) WELLINGTON, Friday. Capping Day is not what it used to be. That is evident. No heavilypainted and ridiculously-f rocked undergraduates parade the streets and hold up tram and motor traffic; no lunch-hour crowd surges around the ragging students, listening to their hilarious—and sometimes risque—songs and jokes. To-day’s ceremony at Victoria College—the first capping function to be held since the drastic edict of the University Senate —was one of respectability and tone. Their Excellencies Six* Charles and Lady Alice Fei'gusson drove up to the University in the viceregal car. and entered the college library to find a respectful and well-or-dered gathering waiting to receive them with the National Anthem. So solemn and so circumspect, indeed, was the proceeding, that the chairman of the College Council, Mr. E. McCullum, felt called upon to more or less apologise for the change in the nature of the ceremony.

“The form of our function has changed,” he began. "From the happenings of the past Their Excellencies might have thought this a dangerous function to attend, but we can assure them that they will need have no feai* of disorder to-day. (Laughter.) We do not ask you to treat this as altogether a solemn matter, and while you may interrupt me or some of the other speaker's, we must ask you to pay deference to His Excellency’s speech. “We have received an intimation from the Government of the country to take steps to prevent disorders. We do not take the blame for this, although we might be responsible in some slight degree.” The board desired to work in unity with the university students—whether junior or‘senior—and make them efficient men and women. There was no suggestion that the ladies were responsible for the disorders.

The college authorities possessed no desire to crush the bold spirit of youth of the counti'y, but outside of the* capping there should be good behaviour. He suggested the adoption of a scheme under which the students themselves could associate, and discipline anyone who was not upholding the best conduct traditions of the college. His Excellency the Governor-General said he attended the function with no apprehension of disorder, but rather filled with apprehension that a scholastic address would be expected of him. He promised them no such address.