ATHELETICS AND LEARNING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13234, 20 July 1906, Page 6

ATHELETICS AND LEARNING.

DISCUSSION BY VICTORIA COLLEGE

COUNCIL.

[JIT TELEGRAPH.OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

Wellington', Thursday. At the meeting of the Victoria College Council to-day, the Students' Association asked leave to affix to the main entrance the showcase, in which are to be placed trophies won, by representatives of the college. ;

Mr. Wilson: We are .simply going mad about athletics in this colony. 'Lite Chairman: It would only disfigure the entrance hall.

Mr. -Tillhot. moved that the application he granted. ~~ . . : ..

This was seconded bv Mr. McCallum,

Mr. Wilson moved as an amendment that the Council could not see any reason to alter its previous resolution that the showcase be placed in the common room. He did not at ail) object- to athletics, but lie objected to them being made too prominent, as this was purely an academic institution. " We are'going mad about athletics," he remarked, in conclusion.

. Mr. Watson could see no objection to having, the case in the position suggested, and lie pointed out that the life and feeling of the students were largely due to the way in which they were banded together for athletic and other purposes outside their scholastic work.

-Mr. Bell said everyone desired to encourage athletics, but the entrance, to- the institution ought not to have upon it- any sign of other objects outside the educational objects of the college. Records of ■ every other part oh the student's life could be kept in the room set 'apart for students. Mr. Graham grieved that the students should " ask leave to put such a hideous affair at the entrance to the institution; it was not fit to-be put in such a position. Mr. Talbot did not agree that this was purely a scholastic institution, and he declared half the success of the college was, and probably would be, due to its athletic.-'. The Rhodes scholarships were an example of the value in which one prominent man, a, any rate, held athletics. The Chairman agreed with Mr. Bell, and Mr. Graham. This was not a college for teaching athletics. If the entrance was to be adorned, or the reverse, with this case, he did not see how they could prevent trophies won by a polo team, or a ladies* hockey team being placed there. ' Was it not sufficient that there should be a place set apart for them in the building? , Mr. Wilson's amendment was carried by six votes to four.