CAPPING DAY CEREMONY

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26410, 2 May 1951, Page 8

CAPPING DAY CEREMONY

USUAL PROCESSION NOT HELD

Capping day yesterday differed considerably from the recent customs ot Canterbury University College, and though many graduands were disappointed that difficulties caused alterations in the usual programme, the official function was well attended. For a start the graduation ceremony had to be moved forv’ard from the usual Thursday so that halls for this function and the diploma ball in the evening would be available. That meant that graduation—normally the climax of capping week—took place when celebrations had scarcely got moving. The Civic Theatre is usually engaged, but it had been previously booked for a conference which was subsequently cancelled at short notice because of shipping difficulties. The procession of graduands, lecturers, professors, and members of the college council in full academT dress, was cancelled because the distance to the St. James’ Theatre was considered uj great. Yesterday, many of those concerned arrived al the St. James’ Theatre in cars, by bicycle, or on foot, opened little bags on the footpath, donned robes, degree hoods, and mortar boards, and then filed in with only distinctive tickets to indicate their place in the ceremony. The official party, consisting of the chairman of the college council, rector, registrar, speaker, and departmental heads, marched down the aisle to the stage just before the ceremony opened. The Chancellor of the University of New Zealand (Sir David Smith) was engaged elsewhere, and he was represented by the chairman of the council (Sir Josenh Ward). The degree day sneaker was to have been Sir James Shelley, but, because of his sudden illness, Mr A. H. Tocker, the former rector and professor of economics at the college, was asked at short notice to give the address. It was thus very much a family affair and heckling undergraduates probably took more liberties (han they would in other company. As deputy of the chancellor. Sir Joseph Ward had to recite the prescribed form for conferring degrees of the university before beginning with each faculty. Students cheered his diction at the start, assisted him with the words at a later stage, and as the long catalogue neared it; end. they urged him to “make it good, this is the last time.’’

Mr Tocker had been speaking for perhaps 15 minutes on the development of Canterbury College when a noisy body of students began to clap for the termination. Mr Tocker is an old hand with students and, a'ter a moment's solemn consultation with chairman and rector, he said: “That's just the history. Now I want to get on to . . . .” He laughed at the ensuing groans and passed to an appeal frr tolerance of student high-spiritedness in such times as capping week. “This creative energy has to break out somewhere now ii it is to be of use to the country later on,” he sail. Many of the public who raised criticism probably not realise that “hard cases” of former years were among the engineers who had lately been working assiduously for the public benefit in flood repairs and getting power restored. The students gave this an uninterrupted hearing. Mr Tocker sat down unexpectedly. Sir Joseph Ward then announced that the college had been unable to arrange the customary aftermon tea entertainment because of the gas shortage. There was general laughter Tea is usually provided by the c illege council in the college hall. Because < f general disappointment that this fe tnro would be lost, the executive '• tbe Students’ Association arranged (in less than 24 hours) to fill the gap. and 500 graduates and their relatives and friends were guests in the Students'

Association building yesterday afternoon The trouble about boiling water for tea was overcome by securing the loan of large vacuum containers.