Capping Processions

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 194, 14 May 1936, Page 11

Capping Processions

Sir, —Evidently “R.G.T.” did not read your leading article in Saturday s issue. If lie did and also saw the procession, and still maintains that there was noth- 1 ing wrong—just “poor”—then the professors at Victoria University College have a harder job than I thought. Since when has it been necessary, for oue to take a course of political science before oue is entitled to judge whether a thing is clean or obscene, modest or vulgar? If the body of clean-minded youths and maidens of Victoria College are offended by my letter, let them determine to clean up the Augean mess that flaunts itself as representing that body. Let them insist that those who will not be. amenable. to the ordinary decencies of life be denied tho privilege of college life. Why is it that through paucity of ideas in their carnivals they descend to exploit the common vices? There is hardly an item in their processions that does not contain some youths scantily elad in female underwear with all the indecent suggestions unlimited. These are facts. Who are they parodying? Their mothers and the women students? Let us hear, that the decent portion of college life is taking action ere. they lose the opportunity. I am, ANOTHER CITIZEN. Hafaitai.

Sir, —“‘Another Citizen” expresses his disapproval ot “the vulgarisms and obscenities of the annual students’ procession.” lie is indignant at what he saw, but by the purport of his letter, he evidently saw only what he wanted to see. No doubt “Another Citizen” would describe a classical statue iu the nude, as “vulgar and obscene.” or perhaps just “muck.” lie is offended because many of tho captions to the tableaux were suggestive. If there were any captions which were suggestively equivocal, “Another Citizen” was quite capable of apprehending that equivocal meaning, which in his own words is indicative of a “mentality of the lowest filthy order.” But altogether he exaggerates. Nothing iu the procession was so vulgar or obscene as he would have ns believe. If it had been, the procession would not have, of course, survived the first street of its progress, unless “Another Citizen” implies that the forces of law and order, as well as the general public, take no notice! The public, however, did take notice, judging by the broad grins of the crowd iu Post Office Square. —I am. etc.. KENNEDY A. GOUGH. Victoria University College. May 12.

Sir. —An argument coueerniug the strictures of "Another Citizen” on the capping procession enabled me to-day. to learu what some of the more revolting features really were. Doubtless to the pure all is pure, and doubtless, also, many, elders who should take the trouble to find out the exact meaning of some, of these cryptic displays are not sufficiently interested. Being now more enlightened, 1 licg to add the .protest of a parent .of growing daughters, as I have sufficient imagination to visualise an interpretation of these obscenities to the accompaniment of giggles. Like most fathers, I hope and believe mv girls are decently clean-minded, but 1 also know that they will be naturally very curious as to the meaning of everything—far more curious than their bored father. Perhaps such bodies as the parents’ association might take tho trouble to find out what was really displayed. If they did, I think we should hear more about it.-T am. etc.. pAREXT .