ROWDY STUDENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 April 1922, Page 7

ROWDY STUDENTS.

UNSEEMLY EXHIBITION IN AUCKLAND. UNIVERSITY DEBATE MARRED. Auckland, April 17. The debate in connection with the University tournament on Saturday evening was marred by an unseemly exhibition of rowdyism on the part of a group of Auckland students. The first two speakers (one from Canterbury and one from Auckland) were subjected to a running fire of interruptions that made it difficult for the audience to follow them. Up to this point the chair was taken by a temporary chairman, pending the arrival of the Mayor, who bad been unavoidably delayed. The chairman appealed for orderly conduct, but without result. The Mayor (Mr. Gunson) arrived and took charge as the third speaker was about to speak. The interruptions being continued, the Mayor sternly rebuked the offenders, and intimated that the interruptions must cease. This had the desired effect, and the remaining speakers were accorded a good hearing. Shortly after the Mayor’s rebuke, however, the majority of a group of students who had been responsible for the trouble walked out of the hall in a body. At the conclusion of the debate all 'of the students stated that they had left the room as a protest against what they regarded as unfairness, in the interjections being stopped after two speakers had been subjected to them. Two members of the audience spoke very strongly on the subject, characterising the action of the students, especially in walking out, as unsportsmanlike and ill-mannered. One speaker’ remarked that their action was as unjustifiable as jostling competitors on a tennis court or running track. Both speakers warmly commended the Mayor for his firm attitude in dealing with the noisy youths. The speakers representing Victoria College and Otago University, who spoke last, escaped the tumult.