STUDENTS' FEUD

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24084, 1 October 1941, Page 8

STUDENTS' FEUD

FRANKS AT UNIVERSITY] ROMPERS OVER COLLEGE DUCKINGS AS REPRISALS Two leading university students were tossed into the cold water of the Albert Park fountain shortly beiore nine o'clock last night. Scantily clad, struggling as desperately as well-tied ropes would let them, and piercing the air with questions as to their tat.e, in the merciless hands oi about •'0 Training College boys they paid swift retribution for previous pranks. The latest development in a small "war" waged since the Training College students started attending classes at the university, their own building having become an auxiliary hospital, the ducking was a retaliation lor two indignities forced on the 1 raining College students. A display of 15 women s rompers, "acquired'' from flic lockers of the Training College girls by university students, was discovered yesterday morning pegged to a line that stretched from the central spire of the university to a lower pinnacle. That, right on top of being locked in a hall, was too much for the Training College boys, who set out last night on a punitive expedition far-reaching in its results. A " Gift " Made The ducking "campaign" was carried out with almost military efficiency. II people in the park wondered what was about to happen, none interfered to see what- was going on. Each victim was thrown well into the pond and landed sprawling in the water, whose temperature was most unsatisfactory ior nocturnal bathing. Thev took it well. Three table tennis tables from the university were then carried down through Albert Park and formally presented to the Y.M.C.A. Earlier m the evening someone had telephoned the Y.M.C.A. saying they had a number of spare tables which could be given to military camps. They preferred to be anonymous in their "good deeds" and would bring down the tables themselves. The tables were duly left at the Y.M.C.A. and the Training College boys claim that the onus is now on the university students to return them. There was no ill-feeling" in the pranks, said the ringleader last night. I'he university students had gone a "bit over the edge" in taking the girls' rompers, though. Domain Gates Statue Alter the ducking incident a band of Training College students, including a number ot girls, foregathered at the Domain gates shortly after If) p.m. equipped with two commandeered university capping gowns anil placards. It was their intention to drape one of the gowns around the statue at the gates, but the task proved none too easy of achievement. Neither the setbacks nor the drizzling rain could dampen their enthusiasm, and a ladder was mysteriously procured. It was yards too short, but after determined efforts the statue was duly draped. As an additional gesture, the sculptured swan was similarly draped, a policeman's helmet being added. It was subsequently noted that on the outstretched leg of the statue was suspended a placard with the words: "Seat of Learnin'." Advanced though the night was, the party proceeded to Albert Park and similarly draped several statues there.