A BURLESQUE?

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8738, 21 May 1914, Page 6

A BURLESQUE?

COLLEGE STUDENTS TO-NIGHT’S ENTERTAINMENT CAUSES A PLOTTER. When the matter of the election of a chairman cam© up at last night’s meeting of the Victoria College Council, Mr R. McCallum said ho wished to draw attention to one matter. He had no objection to the motion (that Air H. H. Ostler he re-elected chairman). He wished to know what position the council was in regarding certain proceedings advertised to take place this evening. He wished to know whether, in connection with the students’ functions, tho chairman was going to usurp the position of tho Chancellor of the University, and whether the proceedings that were announced to take place to-night were a burlesque on the capping ceremony in regard to tho conferring of degrees. Tho chairman: “It is a very proper question, but it is not relevant to the business before tho meeting. I notice it stated that the graduates were to bo presented to the chairman, and my name was put iu. That was a mistake. You can bring the matter up later.” Mr .McCallum: “I would like to bring it up ” Tho chairman: “ Tho council has discussed the matter and authorised it.”

Mr McCallum; “ Well, Mr Chairman, I desire to enter an emphatic protest against this council lending itself to any such jsroceedings, because we are doing nothing more or less than flouting the Chancellor and the University Senate.” The Rev. W. A. Evans said it was not a university function at all—it was merely a college function. Mr McCallum: “If I get an opportunity later to give expression to my views it will be all right.” Tho Hon. A. L. Herdman; “ Yon should have been present at the meeting when the matter was discussed. ’ GETTING BACK ON THE CHANCELLOR.

' At a later stage Mr McCallnm again I referred to the matter. He contended that the committee authorised by the) council had gone entirely beyond its, powers. The impression he had got was that the council was attempting to tone down the disciplinary effect of the check meted out to the students by the Senate. The Senate considered that a section of the students had misbehaved themselves, and .the supported the Chancellor and discontinued the capping ceremonies. He Sid not object to the council - giving £3O to the students to carry ant ai carnival and celebration, but ho wanted to be careful that the committee had not gone beyond that. He considered they had assisted the students to get back on the Chancellor and tha Senate regarding the capping ceremony, and they had done it in a very insidious way. They had invited our most distinguished visitor, Sir lan Hamilton, and the Prime Minister (Right Hon. W. E. Massey) to a celebration which was practically to take the place of the capping ceremony, fuai was not the spirit in which thel council had passed the motion. In this! attempted burlesque of the capping: proceedings the council was assisting the students to get back upon the punishment that was meted out to. them by the Senate. The chairman: “Are you not overlooking the fact that Sir Robert Stout /■Chajiicellor of the University) was prolont and approved of this? 1 '

Mr MeCalixmi; “Sir Robert Stout bad no objection whatever in joining lath you in giving £30.” Tho Hon. A. L. Herdmam: “What do yon take exception to?” Mr McCallum: “To the inviting of ■Ur lan Hamilton, and Mr Massey. So long as Sir km Hamilton and Mr Massey know it is for the purpose of getting hook on the Oliancd lor and the Senate it is all right. So long as they know they are taking port it io.rcicai proceedings it is all right. . . I have a very strong feeding that om professors are behind the students U their defiance of the Ohancedor.”

Members: “No, no.” The Hon. A. L. Herdman; “Thai is grossly nasfaac.” Mr McCallnan said he had said all ho wished to say. Ho had. deemed it [to be bis duty. He was not opposed to the hoys getting £3O, but he was; opposed to the misleading of public men. MATTER FOR REGRET. The Hon. A. L- Herd-man thought it| a matter for great regret that Mr Mol Galium should surest that the gentle,' men responsible for the enitca-tainmera!* intended to flout the Senate inskiknis;ly and deliberately. One of the objects tho Professorial Board had was to see that tie proceedings would be conducted in a proper way. It was in the interests of the students and the college and not against the Senate. He was sure Sir lan Hamilton and Mr Massey would be under a debt of gratitude to Mr McGalltun for saying they had been, invited to the function under false pretences. It was a great pity the mat-tor had been raised. Nobody had imagined anything of the sort till Mir McCallum tried to put it into the minds of members of the council and the public. Tho Rev. W. A. Evans declared that the entertainment was not a burlesque on the Senate. It was important that the students should have an opportunity once a year to get into close touch with the public. The council would not he doing its duty unless it took part in tho function and helped it on. It was the one opportunity they had during the year to bring the university into close touch with the public. Mr C. Wilson said he could not believe that a body of staid men would give £3O for the purpose of assisting a burlesque. He believed they did it so that the functions that had always boon carried out in connection with the college should not be interrupted. After some fnrtbcr discussion tbe matter dropped.