The Star. THURSDAY, JUNE 4, 1908. THE COLLEGE ROUGH.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9253, 4 June 1908, Page 2

The Star. THURSDAY, JUNE 4, 1908. THE COLLEGE ROUGH.

I The young gentlemen who created an organised disturbance of a mo6t disp,raceful character at the Empire celebration proceedings at Canterbury College yesterday not only insulted the citizens who were present on the platform, they insulted the whole community, and they insulted their country. Under similar circumstances, a mob of uneducated boys taken from the streets would have displayed an instinctive courtesy which would have led them to behave better. Last week a very vigorous protest came from Auckland touching the same matter, for in tho northern city both Lord Plunket and Sir Robert' Stout, the King's representative and the Chief Justice of the dominion, respectively, were treated in the same disgraceful manner. Just what it is that induces these callow cubs to make cads of themselves it is difficult to determine. They display their courage, of course, by banding together in herds before they start their yelping, and this form of gregariousnoss makes their behaviour even more deplorable. There is supposed to be somo tradition which allows "students" the privilege of behaving in a manner that would result in the arrest of the ordinarj' person, but the tradition as it exists lias nothing but its sheer inanity to recommend it. The cat-call is, of course, a most subtle form of humour to those who can properly appreciate it % but the little mind that regards it as a fit and proper accompaniment to the stately ceremony of honouring his country's flag would be better receiving his education in a reformatory or in a mental hospital. No doubt it is a clever and intellectual pastime to shower impertinences upon the college professors and other gentlemen of prominent standing in the community, but these expressions of opinion might reasonably be kept for the seclusion of the students' own debating club if it is necessary to give expression to them at all. The incident is probably n reflection of the abominable capping-day ceremony, where it is customary to allow a certain amount of latitude to the students, but even that ceremony has degenerated sadly of late years. There was a time when the songs and speeches had an element of intelligence k as a possible excuse for their perpetration, but more recently they have become nothing more nor less than coarse and primitive impertinences. The breed of gay dogs, in fact, has degenerated into one of impertinent puppies. Unless some of the elder and more responsible students can take this matter in hand and see that there is no repetition of such indecent behaviour it is time that the police stepped in. If one or two of the offenders were brought before a magistrate and charged with disturbing a public meeting, as the roughs who annoy the Salvation ' Army or make a nuisance of themselves in. the theatres would be, they would probably give their behaviour a little ; more consideration in the future. We can make every allowance for the exuberance of animal spirits which is every boy's prerogative, but there is a stage when that exuberance ceases to ' be legitimate and becomes a gross vio- • lation of every canon of common courtesy.