The Spike or Victoria College Review, June 1908
The Spike or Victoria College Review
The Spike or Victoria College Review
The Editorial Committee invites contributions, either in prose or verse, any subject of general interest. From students or officials connected with the College. All literary communications should be addressed to The Editor, Victoria College, Wellington.
Subscriptions are now due and are payable to Mr. H. Oram, Financial Secretary, Victoria College.
"What! should I don this robe ?"
— Titus Andronicus.
For some weeks previous to the last Annual Meeting of the Students' Association, a document setting forth the advantages of general adoption of the distinct academie costume by students was prepared by an enthusiast and cirenlated freely through the College. The result of a general discussion of the whole question al the meeting was that a fair majority were in favour of requesting the Professorial Board to allow the wearing of the gown hy those desirous of doing so. This request has since been considered by the Board which has refused to take any action in the matter. In a due spirit of sadness and humility we bow to the Professorial decision.
The supporters of the innovation give two chief reasons for their advocacy of the system, and regard them as beyond argument. The first is that is that the members of such an illustrious institution as Victoria College has how become, should on those occasions upon which they come into official contact with the general public, seize the opportunity of impressing the populace by a general display of the costume which denotes their membership. There is no doubt that many of the public do regard Victoria College as a kind of secondary school. It takes an equal place in their minds with Wellington College or St. Patrick's College, or possibly would do so if it possessed a better football team. Anything that will help to remove is more closely connected with the ordinary College life, and lies in the added dignity to the wearer, in the improvement to the outward appearance of the College, and in the constant suggestion of the ideals which it is hoped will be associated in the minds of students with these relies of antiquity.
There are several reasons for the non-adoption of the idea which probably influenced the decision of the Professorial Board. First and foremost, as uniformity is the essential basis of the desired improvement optional adoption of the costume is useless, as a considerable section of the students can be relied upon not to exercise their privilege. Of 407students now on the roll only 119 signed the document in favour of the movement. This is not sufficient ground upon which to assume that the desire for gowns is general in the College. Then al the last meeting of the Council the ad visibility of raising lecture fees in order to cope with the increasing expenditure of the institution was discussed, and with this possibility in view, the expense of gowns becomes a consideration. Again there is already insufficient room for the requirements of the gowns would come the necessity of providing lockers in which each student could keep his treasure under lock and key. Where are these to be erected, and from what source is the amount of the necessary expenditure to be derived?
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"How long shall I be patient?" — Richard II.
During the last few months the work of canvassing the Middle University and the City of Wellington for the amount necessary to complete the sum required for the erection of a College Gymnasium and Social Hall has been steadily progression, and has met with sufficient success to warrant an impression that the material consummation of our hopes cannot now be very long deferred.
The deputation which recently waited upon the Minister for Education met with a favourable reception, and Cabinet has shewn a practical interest in the work and welfare of Victoria College by placing, in aid of the fund, a sum of £572 (being £ for £ of the amount in hand at the time of the visit of the deputation) on the estimates which Parliament will be asked to pass next session. For this favour we are sincerely grateful.
To erect a building which shall accord with the ideas and suggestions of the gentleman who was responsible for the donation of £250, a sum of about £ 1500 will be required, of which amount about £1180 will be at the disposal of the Committee when they receive the Government subsidy. The students themselves are responsible for £180 of the money, which means that the general publics have subscribed a total of about £180.
Deeply appreciative as we are of this assistance from our friends and well-wishers, we are certainly not of opinion that such an amount adequately represents the interest which ought to be taken in Victoria College by that section of the people of New Zealand to whose educational requirement she ministers. A far seeing citizen cannot fail to recognize that any action of his which tends to stimulate or assist the present day desire for increased knowledge, is the surest provision he can make for the future welfare of the state.
This building is a real need at Victoria College, more so this year than ever, on account of an increase in the number of students; and there can be no doubt that its erection will be in the best interests of the general development of the youth of the general public.
The opinion has been expressed by many that the Committee should proceed al once with the money already available, but it seems to us that any such hasty action at this stage of the proceedings would be extremely inadvisable. Even if it is necessary to wait another year, the advantage of then being in a position to erect a substantial building which will not be inadequate for its requirements after the lapse of a few years, far outweighs any inconvenience al present caused by its non-existence.
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"All studies here I solemnly defy." — I Henry IV.
Most of our readers are aware of the recent decision of the Cabinet to show in a practical manner its faith in the value of University Education by establishing scholarship for the assistance of post-graduate research work. The scholarships are to be of an annual value of £100, tenable for two years, and their object is to promote investigation of subjects in which research is likely to be of value to the industries of the Dominion. The encouragement of a system of education which shall ultimately benefit the people at large should be the aim of a democratic community, and we believe that the results of the present experiment will fully justify the enterprise of the Government.
It has been argued by a correspondent in one of the daily papers that the scheme as at present constituted is not the best for the achievement of the object in view, and that it would be better to send the selected candidates. Home for three years under agreement to return. It is the old cry "Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?" We would like to protest against the all too prevalent idea that the colonial-trained man is necessarily and always inferior to the imported article. Certainly greater facilities for research would be available at Home, but how can our products and our economic conditions be efficiently studied on the other side of the world? Again, how long would a really first-class man stay in New Zealand after he did return?
The future prosperity of our country greatly depends on a scientific development of its matural resources, and a step towards that end will have been taken when the research scholars commence their work. We do not expect to see the result of their lab ours at once, nor is any great advance of our industrial conditions to be expected even after some years—the thorough investigation of any of the specified subjects is probably sufficient to occupy the whole time of some generations of scientists. Nevertheless, improvement must ensue, and official recognition of the expediency of research work may help to dispel the notion that University education is of no practical utility.
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"God defend me from these two!" — Merchant of Venice.
On behalf of the students of Victoria College we have much pleasure in welcoming to our midst the new members of the staff, Professors Picken and Adamson. Professor Pickens's mission is to elucidate the inner mysteries of the science of mathematics, while Professor Adamson will control the studies of a section of the legal community in the College.