THE CHANCELLOR’S OUTBURST.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16943, 18 January 1923, Page 6

THE CHANCELLOR’S OUTBURST.

TO THE EDITOR j The speech by Sir Robert Stout at ; the University Senate and his annual j discourse on the antics of “rowdy 5 ’ j undergraduates at capping time, perI haps are too well known and appreciJ at its true value, to be com mentJ cd on, but at the same time such an I attack, even from Sir Robert Stout. ! cannot but raise the anger of Univer- ! sity students, who once in the year in- ! dulge in mild jollification to mark the 1 culmination of the year’s strenuous | work. Christchurch has witnessed ( many capping day 7 ceremonies, none of which could on the whole lie, taken ex--1 ception to. It is true, certainly, that , one or two individuals do forget themselves a little-c—but hardly sufficiently . for Sir Robert to make such a hitter ! attack' on the whole celebration, the ! dressing in ridiculous clothes, etc. As { a matter o ffact the Capping Oar- ; nivals, which incidentally follows the j precedent set by the Home ’Varsities, are looked forward to by many outsid ers, and not only the student class who, ias Sir Robert would have us believe, j jumps at the slightest chance to disj grace the New Zealand University, and j also, one might mention, sometimes, indulge in personalities. Sir Robert j Stout’s name not being unknown to ! undergraduates. Is it personal feeling | on the part of the Chancellor, is it that Sir Robert, a public man of many | years’ standing, cannot stand gentle ■ chaff, or is -Jfc merely the desire to denounce anything which denotes fun, that causes such remarks to be made ■ year after year, by a man who. though undoubtedly capable in his own sphere, to all outward appearances, will never admit that even he was young —I am, etc., ANTI-MORBID.