Stricter Watch On Student Procession

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30759, 25 May 1965, Page 1

Stricter Watch On Student Procession

(New Zealand Press Association»

AUCKLAND. May 14.

Stricter supervision of the Auckland students’ procession will be carried out next year and the capping book will no longer appear in its present form.

This is after the decision of the Auckland University Council today in endorsing a report from the Senate.

In future detailed : plans of the manning, ■ decoration and ‘ placarding of each j float shall be submitted | to the Senate for ap- ; proval, well in advance I of the day set for the I procession.

The Superintendent of Police will be invited to resume the practice, which has recently lapsed, of inspecting

I the procession before its [departure from Princes | street. i Alcoholic liquor and misjsiles will be strictly banned from all floats. [ The Senate considered not [a little of the trouble arising from the procession was because of missiles being thrown from buildings along !the route and would support a request to the City Council to take any action it saw fit to prevent any recurrence of such incidents.

Senate members did not endorse all criticisms of the procession and those who saw it did not feel that it differed appreciably from those of previous years. The capping book was found to be in the poorest taste, lacking in originality and likely to convey to the public a quite misleading impression of student abilities and interests. The Senate considered the capping revue a lively and well-staged production. The Vice Chancellor, Mr K. J. Maidmcnt. said Senate tmembers considered the profession was much as it had always been and were astounded to read of the Mayor’s reaction. The procession was a longstanding institution, said Mr Maidment and it should be maintained if done decently.

It was decided to ask the ceremonies committee to examine the suitability of holding a procession of graduands to the Town Hall before the capping ceremony with the staff and the council.