"RAGGING" CONDEMNED.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 174, 25 July 1928, Page 9

"RAGGING" CONDEMNED.

BOY MAIMED FOR LIFE. DEPARTMENT TAKES ACTION. (By Telegraph—Own Correspondent.) THAMES, Tuesday. In a letter to the Thames High School Hoard of Governors, the Director oi Education, Mr. T. B. Strong, severely condemned the ••ragging" of new pupils at boarding schools. He said a ca>a had recently been brought under the notice of the Minister of Education, alleging that '"a lx>v, during the course of his initiation at the hands of his fellow boarders, was so seriously injured that he was now lying dangerously ill in a hospital, and would lie maimed for life. ""The department's officers." continued the letter, "have on many occasions rec-oivpd complaints of flic rough handling of new boys, and of these socalled 'initiation ceremonies.' whcr-> occasionally disgusting practices are carried on, and small hoys undergo illtreatment. which should not be permitted. 'fhe department is of opinion that "lagging' ought to he put down with a firm hand, so as to avoid the recurrence of cases such as those brought under it« notice, and it trustthat the boards will take action accordingly. " The president. Dr. -T. R. Liegins. said he thought that "'ragging" was a harmless custom, provided it was not over done. It was resolved to forward the director's letter to the principal of the schoo'