VICTORIA COLLEGE

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11251, 1 July 1922, Page 2

VICTORIA COLLEGE

GSHBUATIOH CEREMONY SUCCESSFUL STUDENTS WARMLY CONGRATULATED. AN ENTHUSIASTIC GATHERING. The annual graduation ceremony of the Victoria University Oollego was held at tho Town Hall yesterday afternoon in tho presence of an enthusiastic gathering of students and tho general public. In tho absence of the chairman of the College Council (Sir P Levi), Mr A. It. Atkinson presided. THE COLLEGE YEAR. Mr Atkinson said that despite hard times and financial troubles the college year had been a very successful one. The college finances had never been very successful, but the energy of the staff and tho eo-operation of the students had carried them through. The attendance last year was 731 students, and this year it was sixteen short of that number. The college had gained —_— out of eighteen senior scholarships at the last examination, which ho considered a very satisfactory record for one institution. The college had also been once more the producer of the Rhodes Scholar for the year, tho honour having been awarded to Mr G. Ait ken (cheer's for Mr Aitken by tho undergraduates). He was sure the reputation of the college would not bo lessened by Mr Aitken when he wont Home to continue his studies. Tho college had won the Rhodes Scholarship for five years out of six. (Applause.) Referring to the college courses, Mr Atkinson said it would be a good thing when the present bad system under which students, especially young ladies, left the institution during their first year, was improved. Dealing with the college building, he said that during the year the new physics department had been completed, and the equipment was a credit to the college, comparing favourably with that of any other college. The institution was still badly in need of money. However, a sum of £l5O had been donated last year for the express purpose of physical research during the year. He hoped that admirable example would be followed by otlier gifts. The new library hall was another valuable addition, and when all the boobs were shifted in it would be one of the finest scientific <x)lleotions of books in the Dominion. Amongst tho donations to the library during the year was a generous present from the French Government. In conclusion, he referred to one important aspect of the year—the criticism of the college’s loyalty by a very tiny minority of students or ex-studente. Ho knew it had been made in a wellmeaning spirit, but nevertheless it had done tho college a good deal of harm. It was perfectly ridiculous to suppose that tho college was not sound at heart. It was a preposterous absurdity to question the loyalty of an institution which possessed suoti a magnificent war record. With the proper support that it deserved from outside the college would continue to prosper and produce greater scholastic triumphs than ever.

SOME ADVICE

FROM HON. DOWNXE STEWART. In eongiatulating the graduates upon tho success of the year, and the undergraduates upon the excellence of their cappin goeremony, the Hon. Downie Stewart stressed the importance of maintaining tho reputation of the college. After referring humorously to the changes in college life since his college days, Mr Stewart gave the students some brief advice concerning their future careers. While the graduates were still under the glamour of their success, in gaining the honours degree, ho said, a degree was a very dangerous thing to oommenoo their future lives with. Thev would find they would be judged when they went forth into the world not on the merits of their degrees, but oil the strength of their characters and according fo tlieir capabilities. The public paid little attention, to what the university thought of its graduates’ qualifications. The other danger he warned them against was that they might imagine that because they had w<vn a degree it furnished them with a means to a livelihood for the future. They would find they had to justify themselves at every step they took. It was impossible, lie continuedj to build up an aristocracy of birth m this country such as existed in the Old Country. It was therefore imperative that we should build up an aristocracy of brains and character. That aristocracy should come from the uuiversities. It was the duty and right of the graduates to act as leaders of democracy in all ranks and departments of life. Referring to the honours list, the Minister remarked that the university could confer no honour that was too high upon such a man as Mr R. H. Espiner, who had gained his Master of Arts degree with honours. .(Applause.) He had known Mr Espiner in Egypt during the war, and could testify that as a man he was worthy of any honour the institution oould oonfer upon him. The degrees were thereupon presented to the successful students by the Hon. George Fowlds, ex-Minister for Education.

SOME REFORMS.

EON G. FOWLDS’S REMARKS. Addressing the gathering Mr Fowlds said ho hoped the students would carry with them a du© sense of their responsibilities. He went on to refer to the needs of education in Ncrw Zealand. There was room for great improvement, lie said, in the present system. The Senate had modified the university system, and he hoped more would be done. One of the most important reforms should be the setting Up in each district of a separate university. “I am fully convinced,” he said, “that our university colleges will never take the ulace in the life of the community, and will never command t-he loyalty and generous support they are entitled to, until they are established as individual institutions. I hope before long, too, that the examplo chown by Canterbury in the appointment of an academic head will become universal. I don’t like the name given to the appointment, but I am satisfied that it is in the best interests of the college and will produce tho best results.”

Several songs were rendered by the students and graduates in the course of the proceedings. A list of the graduates of the yea» is published in another column.