The Crimson Cloak of Carnival

NZ Truth, Issue 868, 15 July 1922, Page 6

The Crimson Cloak of Carnival

; Since "The Man at Corner" made his vigorous protest m last week's "Truth" against the excesses of University Coliege students under the Capping Carnival cloak, "Truth" has been inundated with expressions of approval, '"hese have come not only from Wellington, the place where the horse-play complained of was the subject of condemnation, but from other centres which appear to have suffered a similar infliction. A number of incidents have been brought under our notice to show, that m numerous cases girls and young women were rudely and 'roughly handled. In some cases the victims have not only suffered mental distress and ignominy, but have been injured physically, and nervous prostration, we are assured, has been not by any means uncommon. This unwarranted violation of the decencies can have but one result. Capping Day carnivals will reeome a thing of the past. We are a. ware.. that -.the police have been greatly concerned over this matter before to-day. "We admit their difficulties. They have no desire to act "the part of "spoil- sports," nor to check unduly the high spirits of youth. We are m the same position. But when a permit to l.old a procession is interpreted as permission to exercise almost unbridled license — frequently bordering on, if not overstepping the limits of decency — it \<? high time to. consider seriously whether the carnival celebration should be permitted at all. .Before another permit is issued the authorities must insist upon being satisfied with sumdent guarantees that there will be no repetition of the objectionable horseplay of the past.