ACADEMIC ROBES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20425, 29 November 1929, Page 16

ACADEMIC ROBES.

Sir, —Your correspondent John Dumble does not seem to. be aware of the. facts, that many students' wear gowns as it is and if our college was polled a large majority would vote for the compulsory wearing of academicals. • It is utter nonsense to imagine the University of New Zealand developing "traditions." Between politicians passing University Amendment Acts annually and the constant interference of the officials of the Education Department there is not the remotest chance that any academical custom or rule will acquire permanence. As Professor Walker rightly pointed out on a recent occasion, the urgent need of our university was stability. An institution that changes its .regulations for matriculation ten times in as many years has no claim to the confidence of the public. That a demand for caps and gowns would give local employment, and so benefit workers, is true, and where the "economic fallacy" arises would puzzle any writer on economics to detect. Your correspondent seems to belong to the class that imagines the who attend lectures without academicals are displaying a manly independence and freedom from tradition. It is now becoming apparent that a, large majority of both graduates and undergraduates are old-fashioned enough to believe that -such action only indicates ignorance and impudence, and that the sooner students who are destitute of good taste and good manners are compelled to amend their ways the better for the college. If carried to their logical conclusion, your correspondent's arguments would deprive the clergy of their gowns and the' lawyers !of their wigs. There is no doubt that the executive of the Students' Association, is right in taking action in this matter, nor is it probable that they approached the professorial board, unless they were assured of the support of the majority of their fellow students, and it is to be regretted that the board did not seo fit to take more decided action. A Graduate.