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Salient was born on the night of
For many years SMAD had been the official Student Association fortnightly publication and had fulfilled its function well; but in the middle thirties the mental climate at VUC changed. It was, of course, the result of happenings in international affairs. As the invasion of Manchuria was succeeded by Mussolini's Ethiopian escape, and the cynical mockery of the Spanish War was followed by the rape of Austria, it was inevitable that a more serious mood should appear at VUC. The change from SMAD to SALIENT was one symptom of the changed outlook, shown elsewhere in the passing of more radical motions at debates, in the formation of new clubs, and in a widespread doubt regarding the honesty of the prewar political set-up in Europe.
"The change was made," said the first editorial, "because it was felt that the spirit of the times demanded that any suggestion of Olympian grandeur or academic isolation from the affairs of the world should be dropped and should be replaced by a policy which aims firstly to link the University more closely to the realities of the world."
At the beginning of
Y.P.C. has forwarded the above letter for publication. We trust that students will take advantage of the opportunity to learn more of the students of other countries. "Salient" tries as far as possible to keep Victoria in touch with world youth through its exchange service.—See pages 4 and 5.
Salient was from the first a cooperative enterprise. That was its real strength. The staff had formal meetings, pooled their ideas in all departments, issue by issue, and before each number appeared, thrashed out what they wanted to see in it. Then they set about getting the material. It was agreed that far from avoiding the controversial issues of the day, we should dive right into them, and place the most burning questions before the students as clearly as we could; that we should come down off the high horse of impartiality which had always been a hard horse to ride anyway, say what we thought, sign the articles, and leave the students to place their own value on them.
We did not have long to wait for a response. After the first two issues the circulation rose rapidly to 600 out of a College roll of 900 an all time high. On the evenings when Salient came out it became usual to see the Common Rooms filled with students, heads hidden by the spread sheets of the paper, but who would suddenly emerge for short periods to take part in one of a number of heated discussions going on over its contents before diving back to read some more. I wonder if any of those students knew how eagerly the staff awaited reports on how each number was received?
In addition to covering all the College news we ran special numbers on the wars in Spain and China. We alleged consistent and conscious collaboration between the Chamberlain Government and the Fascists in Germany. Italy, and Japan and pointed out the dunger of the gun loaded to fire at Russia going off across the English Channel. The last issue for the year came out on
Need I say that the original staff developed a strong affection for the paper? It embodied much of the liberal tradition of the student body at V.U.C. a tradition which has survived the official and unofficial attacks or reaction for generations, which has been stoned and assailed time after time: but which always turns up trumps at critical moments moments such as the general meeting which defeated the proposal to censure the Socialist Club for their Indonesian procession. It is to be hoped that Salient always embodies that tradition. If it ceases to do so, may its leaves wither—as they undoubtedly would. In spite of occasional desperate moments and a little hair-tearing, the staff enjoyed that first year. It showed us what could be done by real co-operation, and proved a thesis some of us had held for a long time—that students strive on something stronger than a milk and water (literary) dict.
I'm glad Salient is now ten. It has survived difficult times but seems to be a healthy specimen, constitutionally sound, so that it can reasonably look forward to further years of activity. I hope this proves to be so. It appears to have become a V.U.C. tradition. But should Salient ever fall behind the times, then it is to be hoped the students of the day will have the good sense to make another change and produce Salient's successor. In the meantime, a long life and a useful one!
"Salient" wishes to thank the staff of Commercial Print for the co-operation they have shown and for the good work they have done as printers of "Salient" for eight of "Salient's" ten years. We regret that the fire which seriously damaged their building last year has made it impracticable for them to print "Salient" this year. We trust that the damage caused by the fire will be remedied as speedily as possible.
"Salient" also would like to welcome Universal Printing Products, Ltd. as "Salient's" new printers. We trust that we shall have the same record of happy co-operation with them.
Having got the recommendation from the Czechoslovak Youth Organization—SCM—In Praque, four Czech students are asking for a kind favour.
We are very interested in your country, however. It is almost on the other end of the world. We should be very glad indeed to come into contact with some of the members of your organization, who would be willing to keep up correspondence with us and eventually come to CSR to see the "Sokol Festival." (Sokol is our greatest gymnastic organization, and I believe I can say it is known in the whole world.) It takes place in Prague in June and July, 1948. For this ocasion people of the whole world come to Prague. If anybody of you come, we could accommodate three persons in our flat, consisting of two rooms, for we are leaving for Sweden in June. But also in this case we can present you two Czech students, who speak English as interpreters.
And now, let us introduce ourselves, though it is rather late, We are two girls, studying the High Social School, and two boys, one student of the High Political School and the other studying the High Technical School in Prague. We are between 22 and 26 years of age and shall finish our studies in two years, all of us.
We two girls have heard in our faculty lectures very much about the excellent social organization in New Zealand and were always told that it is one of the most modern in the whole world. For example your care for sucklings is really so perfect that you have reached the minimum in sucklings mortality. We have also heard much about your wages, politics, social assurance and so many things, which we could envy you. Because our whole economic and social organization has been destroyed during the long-lasting war and German occupation, our State tries to re-establish it according to the modernest principles.
In regard to our future profession, we think it would be very useful for us if we could, after finishing our studies come to New Zealand for some time in order to get experiences, which we could then use in our native country.
We hope there will be someone among you who will be interested in CSR and would like to see the Sokol Festival 1948.
We think that people of the whole world, especially young ones, shall learn to know each other so that they would be more able to remove misunderstandings among all nations.
Loking forward to your kind answer.
At the head of this page appears the names of the people who have compiled this anniversary-cum-retrospective issue and it is due to their very hard work in searching old copies of "Salient" and writing up 10 years of student journalism that you can read something of what has happened during those 10 years. There may be gaps and omissions in the story, but it is certainly not for want of effort and cooperation. "Salient" needs more staff, however, and freshers are especially invited to join and carry on the good work of a decade.
All contributions to "Salient" fall under four headings. 1. Reports by the staff—these may be altered, rejected or rewritten at the subeditor's discretion. 2. Articles contributed without request. These will be printed so long as they remain within the law, are appropriate to a student publication and have a reasonable standard of literacy. Purely literary articles, poems, etc., will be accepted or rejected at the discretion of the Editor. We would sooner publish Shakespeare's sonnets in serial form than some of the trash which has disgraced our pages. 3. Letters. These must be less than 250 words or they will be treated as articles, which may be rejected. ALL letters will be printed. 4. News from overseas exchange. This we consider is of primary importance and will displace articles of less importance.
* * * * * *
As "Salient is larger in size now, we hope that lack of space will not forbid the presentation of anyone's views and that perhaps for once someone may be sufficiently interested to start a controversy or air his ideas through these pages. Don't let idle gossip about "red" bias stop you, for those gossips are taking the easy way out1 and not writing anything at all.
Have you ever thought of the University as a sort of badly-run academic factory, composed of departmental assembly lines turning out their yearly quota of individuals, crammed with semi-digested, unintegrated knowledge—the potential specialists, technicians and experts of tomorrow?
This may sound a little harsh but look at it this way. Today's world is urgently in need of the specialists, the technicians and the experts to help solve its problems of reconstruction, and it is the university's problem to satisfy this need. But it is one thing to provide an expert off the assembly line and another to provide an expert whose knowledge is integrated and who has some understanding of what his work means when applied to society, In short, one who has a social ethic.
Scientific management of industry with its attendant soup-kitchen problem, and the control of atomic energy with its attendant resultant destruction are but two reasons why the soecialist cannot allow his knowledge to be exploited without doing anything about it but weep afterwords.
Relating all this to Victoria we find that it was proposed in
We quote:—
"It is almost unbelievable, for instance, that four lectures in a course of 13 should be devoted to medieval times, when there are so many immensely more relevant and important topics to be discussed . . . Here are a few topics suggested at random, which to me at least seem far more worthy of attention than many of those included in this year's list. The Idea of Democracy—what it is and how it arose. "The present set of lectures is a beginning—(it wasn't)—let us hope they will be widened in their scope and application until every university student will have a trustworthy and comprehensive knowledge of all the important intellectual, scientific and cultural achievements of our civilization."
The new primary and secondary school syllabuses have made an important concession to the need for a social consciousness with "social studies" but what are the universities doing? Nothing.
V.U.C. is creating a school of social sciences—we hail this with Joy. But why not go further? Set up a committee (or any workable alternative) to investigate and implement methods of integrating subjects and providing compulsory lecture or discussion periods whereby students may be given an opportunity to relate their knowledge and future work to society.
We shall have to replace "science for science's sake" with "science for society's sake."
Following its policy of being interested in affairs outside the College "Salient" has in the past interviewed several international celebrities.
Back from Spain in
Voluble Von Luckner was treated as a joke, a hearty, happy-go-lucky German sailor who had real Lowell Thomas's book about himself so much that he had begun to believe in it. He said: "If Germany and England combine, there will be no League of Nations and no war—and the world will be ruled by the two whitest nations. And, by Jove. Chamberlain knows it—he knows how to do it!"
Under headlines, "Must control unruly China." and "Militarists ruining Japan." were reported interviews with Consuls of Japan and China.
Japanese Mr. Genji was pleasant to talk to. He condemned China's action, violating treaties, provoking attack. China harbours communist armies, rabidly anti-Japanese. Japan wanted markets, not conquests—no conflicts but co-operation and mutual understanding. Standards of life in Japan not to be compared with that of New Zealand, "We have always had just fish or rice."
Chinese Feng Wang said the Chinese Government was not communist. The Government was based on Dr. Sun Yat Sen's principles of the people. The 8th Route Army pledged allegiance to the Government, abandoned the Red Army and renounced practice and theory of violence. China was prepared for three years' war.
In
Mr. Ivan Menzies was caught between acts backstage in
Aunt Daisy, when interviewed, caused the following to appear in "Salient":
"Good afternoon. 2ZB speaking."
"Could you put me through to Aunt Daisy, please?"
"Just a moment please." Muted voice. "Do you think Aunt Daisy can speak?" Very long pause.
"Hullo?"
"This is Salient, the Victoria University paper, speaking." Doubtful voice: "This is Aunt Daisy speaking—do you want to speak to me?"
"Yes, Aunt Daisy. We are collecting the views of various eminent people, on the University——"
Hearty laughter. "Do you think I am an eminent person?"
"Certainly."
"Well, I don't know much about the University at all. I took lectures in journalism at Auckland under Mr. Alan Mulgan some years ago, but apart from that I haven't had any connection with the University."
"What do you think of the University girl, Aunt Daisy?"
"I haven't met many of them—I really haven't got time—but I've met a lot of teachers, but they're mostly Training College, aren't they?"
"Do you think it's worth while for a girl to have a University education?"
"Oh, certainly! Absolutely!
(We have used the blackest type possible.)
"I always think that you should get as much education as possible, and a University education is delightful, isn't it? It helps to improve your brain, if you've got one, and helps you to get a brain if you haven't got one. I think it's beautiful. You learn to take the rough with the smooth, and it is so nice—the social side, I mean—laughing and playing together. It must help a girl to become a good housewife."
"Thank you Very much, Aunt Daisy. I know our 'Varsity girls will be very interested to hear your opinion."
"I say, do let me see this before you put it in, will you? Some of the newspapers print the most awful
"Certainly, Aunt Daisy. Goodbye".
"Goodbye".
Salient through the year has been progressive. It has, of course, represented the opinions of those who have been interested enough and who have had sufficient energy to contribute articles, letters and criticisms.
Salient has never pretended to express everybody's views or to attempt to please everybody... It has an anti-fascist history of which we are proud—in 1938 for Loyalist Spain, and the treacherously attacked China—in 1938-39 against" the appeasement policy of Chamberlain—and today we support youth organizations who are building new democracies on the ruins left by fascist occupation armies. The majority of V.U.C. students, unfortunately, are apathetic, and large numbers do not appear either to have an opinion themselves, or to be interested in other peoples on important subjects.
In 1941, however. V.U.C. was unanimous. The Executive unanimously adopted the following manifesto, which was subsequently affirmed at a Special General Meeting of the Students' Association. On this occasion V.U.C. shook off its apathy and defended itself—at this period "Salient" did represent the views of all the students of the College.
A spectre is haunting New Zealand—the spectre of the University, Red. He is unpatriotic and addicted to foreign philosophies; his attitude to political and social problems is irresponsible and immature; he is defeatist and unwilling to defend his country against aggression.
Prague University, even under Czech democratic government, gained a certain notoriety for the "subversive" left-wing opinions of some of its students and lecturers. But when, shortly after the outbreak of war, the students drove the Nazi agents from the college and built barricades in the grounds, the Gestapo could not force its way into the college and had to call on the regular army for assistance. Eventually they shot a hundred students, sent many more to concentration camps, and closed the University. Perhaps this all goes to confirm the general opinion that university students are apt to advocate action when more mature minds would rather wait and that they are inclined to forget that these actions may have prejudicial effects on their future lives. All this is very true and it was, no doubt, pointed out at the time by the Czech Fascist organizations who had advocated the disciplining of Prague University for many years and who were now sensibly and loyally collaborating with the Nazis.
Similar things happened in Poland, Norway, Holland, and in all the occupied countries. Everywhere the Nazis found university students among their most irreconcilable enemies. Something of the same sort in China must have been responsible for the decision of the Japanese High Command to bomb universities as military objectives. As the Japanese explained, Chinese universities were hot-beds of communism.
It should not be difficult to understand the reasons for this hostility. It is not the cringers and lickspittles who fill the concentration camps of Dachau and Buchenwald but people who think and who say what they think. Both of these dangerous habits are acquired at Universities, not by all students but by a sufficient number to give such places a bad name. Fascism, moreover, by the conditions of its existence is driven to implacable hostility to all true culture and learning.
It is unfortunately true that in every country there are people who fear the freedom of speech and thought possible in a democracy. Nowhere is this freedom greater than at a university and consequently no other institution is so vigorously attacked. While we have no desire to label patriotic but misguided citizens as fifth columnists we must observe that the religious and political extreme right-wing which is most hostile to the universities has not distinguished itself by its hostility to the Nazis in the occupied countries of Europe. This is readily understandable for they cannot be very enthusiastic about "The onward march of the common people of the world towards their just and true inheritance" for which the road will be clear when Britain and the USSR have smashed German Fascism.
Unless we are prepared to speak the truth as we see it even at the risk of losing what popularity we possess among such people we shall betray the cause for which over three hundred of our fellow-students are fighting in the Middle East. Not only would our cowardice in this matter play its part in destroying the democracy they are defending but it would certainly fail to assist in the war effort. In this connection it is interesting to compare the cruel and futile campaign for the persecution of pacifists that has been conducted by some organizations with the free and open discussion on this subjection that has been continued at V.U.C. throughout the war. The result has been that pacifism at this college has declined in the face not of persecution but of arguments of a superior logical force.
There were voices raised at this college to denounce the Reynaud Government when it savage and anti-liberal campaign was paving the way for the triumph of the men of Vichy and the surrender to the Nazis. Some of us expressed doubts as to the democratic principles of Baron von Mannerheim, "the champion of Finnish liberty in Hitler's phrase, who now marches with the Nazis. Some refused to join in abuse of the great nation whose armies are now, as Mr. Churchill puts it, "holding the bridgeheads of civilization." For all of these things we were attacked and for none of them we apologize. For on these matters the "University Reds" were right and their enemies wrong.
Therefore We, the Students of Victoria College, Deplore the Slanders which have from Time to Time been Brought Against us, and Pledge Ourselves to Maintain those Principles of Freedom for which British. Soviet, and Allied Youth are Giving their Lives.
(This manifesto was unanimously adopted by the Victoria University College Students' Executive, 2nd September, and was reaffirmed at a Special General Meeting of the Students' Association on the 18th September,
La vraie place de la femme, elle est a la maison, an foyer. Le role de la femme est cssentiellcment d'etre mere. Evidemment
Sir Thomas Hunter, together with with local celebrities, Messrs. Hislop. Walsh and Appleton has consented to lake part in an "Ugliest Man" competition run by the Communist Party for Patriotic Funds.
Progressive forces throughout the world have realised that union in strong national and international organisation is necessary to ensure that man's fundamental needs of food, shelter, security and freedom of expression are won for all. The youth of the world desires peace, decent conditions in which to study and to work, and a freedom to organise to secure these needs. The World Federation of Democratic Youth, representing 45 million young people, and the International Union of Students, representing 2½ million students, are the two main international organisations to which VUC is affiliated. Their work is outlined below. World Student Relief and the International Student's service are organisations which came into being during the war to cater for the material needs of student POWs and student refugees. Outside VUC, the main organisation in New Zealand affiliated to WFDY is the Young People's Club which Salient reviews on this page.
The following article is written by Salient by Ron Smith. Ron spent the long vacation in Australia as a delegate from VUC Socialist Club to the annual conference of the Australasian Student Labour Federation. He has spent some time studying student organisation in Australia and is well qualified to write about Student and Youth organisation.
"The post-war student movement is the biggest in history; student organisation is more intense than ever before; developments have occurred that bewilder the casual observer, baffle the conservative and rouse the lovers of progress to greater hope and greater effort."
From January 8th-15th this year, the Australasian Student Labour Federation was in Conference near Melbourne. This was closely followed by a 10-day Congress of the National Union of Australasian University Students. Also at the beginning of January the Student Christian Movement held a large National Conference. The above-quoted words of an Australian student sum up the main impressions I obtained from attending the two first-mentioned meetings.
It takes some zeal and determination for over 100 students to attend heavy meetings on student organisation, morning and afternoon for five days, when the temperature is just over the 100-degree mark and the beach and cool sea beckon nearby. What were the questions these students were discussing so earnestly? Broadly they wanted to improve their system of education and they wanted to know how students overseas were solving their problems.
One of the most interesting and valuable discussions was held on Student Faculty organisation. Redrupp, the Australian delegate to the Council meeting of I.U.S. in Prague, gave a comprehensive report on these organisations in Europe. There, organisation on a Faculty or Department basis Is very strong. Questions they deal with cover the range of the subject, the books used, teaching methods, e.g., seminars and tutorials, library facilities, student-staff relationships, the representation of students on the Faculty Board or similar controlling body, and so forth. Criticism of a lecturer by these student bodies carries serious weight. He mentioned that a large party of medical students were visiting five European capitals studying social medicine, a tour organised by a Student Faculty Commission.
In answering the question: "How can (say) the Arts course be improved?" the difficulty is that no student has detailed knowledge of the other N.Z. and Australian Universities. This could be overcome in two ways., Firstly, by a thorough survey of each faculty in all Universities by means of a questionnaire, and secondly, by holding meetings of students of the same faculty from the different Universities. Attempts have been made before to carry out the former, but It was decided to institute a new survey in the light of the experience gamed from the previous attempts and from Red-rupp's European visit. After the Session the meeting split up and separate meetings were held by all the members present from each Faculty. These meetings were par-ticularly valuable and brought down excellent reports which we went through at a later session.
Another important question was that of Student Health Schemes. Melbourne has picked up each year 2 per cent to 3 per cent, with early T. B. through their medical scheme. The question of voluntary or compulsory schemes was discussed and the very low percentage of students who attend a voluntary scheme, thus increasing its cost, was pointed out. The Preventitlve Medicine Research Branch of the Royal College of Physicians, after a study of student health, recommended a compulsory scheme and investigations into student housing and feeding conditions. After discussion the Congress recommended that the policy of NUAUS should be for a compulsory scheme.
The greatest interest and discussion arose in the International Union of Students. Here we had Redrupp, a member of the Executive of I.U.S. and a delegates at the Council Meeting held in Prague, to give a detailed report of the work done By I.U.S. and the improvements effected in its' organisation. The question of students and politics was still to the fore. The idea of the domination of an "Eastern Bloc" was disposed of by Redrupp and the weight and influence of Britain and America was shown. At Prague an Australian resolution was carried providing that the I.U.S. should only enter politics to the extent necessary to deal with student questions. After cross-questioning Redrupp and' further discussion, the students at the Melbourne Congress felt that the I.U.S. was the strongest and best international organisation of students ever effected. The benefits of such an organisation are manifest and the Congress carried, with but one or two dissentients, a motion recommending that the Australian National Union should maintain its affiliation to I.U.S.
Miss Mason who Was an Australian delegate to the World Student Christian Movement Congress in
Dozens of other important topics were dealt with but space prevents more than a mere listing of them. The question of organising all tertiary students—University, Teachers' Colleges, Technical Colleges and Pharmacy Colleges—into one Federation was discussed. A report was received on the World Federation of Democratic Youth from Harley Foster, one of the 40 Australians who attended the Prague Youth Festival.
As the Axis armies entered and occupied country after country and the ruling classes of those countries showed not only a disinclination to resist but an active desire to collaborate, the peoples themselves gradually began to organize resistance to the invader. This resistance grew into the great movements which characterized the struggle. After the final defeat of the Axis Powers we witnessed a vast organization of freedom-loving peoples with a positive will towards democracy and a lasting peace. From these sprang many federations of peoples who in their own sphere wished to implement the clauses of the Atlantic Charter and other programmes of our wartime leaders, promising, the final eradication of Fascism, the four freedoms, self-determination of nations, etc. Among these federations we find the World Federation, of Democratic Youth (W.F.D.Y.) to which are affiliated 45 millions of young peoples of all nations. Each year since the end of the war the Federation has-held a conference in one of the European capitals, at which policy has been established and past work appraised. The organisation has established several bureaux, viz., Peace Bureau, Colonial Bureau, Needs of Youth Bureau, Publicity Bureau and Travel and Exchange Bureau which give some indication of the work engaged on. The Federation is in the lead in the fight for peace. Democracy and the Unity of Youth and because of this it is attacked by those forces wishing to destroy democracy and pave the way to a new war. During the last period several member organizations have been declared illegal or forced to work under oppressive conditions. Such was the case of "EPON" in Greece, "The New Democracy Youth League" in Malaya "The League of Democratic Youth" in South Korea. "Trade Union Youth" in Brazil and "American Youth for Democracy" in U.S.A. The Federation has sent a commission to the countries of South-east Asia which has reported on the terrible conditions in those countries. A commission is also proposed to visit Spain to study the conditions of youth in that country. The Federation aims at unifying the youth of all countries in the struggle for better-conditions for youth in all spheres, for the protection of democratic rights, for the maintenance of the United Nations Organization and the furtherance of its aims and for the rigorous suppression of the anti-democratic forces which are even now making alarming inroads into our avowed peace programmes.
A session was held on student publications. The long shadow, stretching from the U.S.A. of a threatening economic crisis, was clearly seen, and discussion was held on its effect on graduate employment in Australia.
A strong resolution was carried urging the NUAU's Executive to take up vigorously any attacks on academic freedom. This is "very important as there was in N.Z. during
The struggle for education starts with the sruggle for a living. Some of the students at Melbourne had to work in cafes and milk bars in the few days between the two conferences; many had hitch-hiked across hundreds of miles to get there. Hundreds of New Zealanders have been able to continue their studies and complete their degrees solely because of the financial aid rendered under the Rehab. Scheme. There is no space to go into the Australian Financial Assistance Scheme for non-servicemen students, of which there is no equivalent in N.Z., nor to deal with the demands of NUAUS in this respect put forward in
A visit to the Universities at Melbourne and Sydney is quite an experience in Itself. One sees block after block of large buildings, luxurious student union buildings and large playing fields and campuses. The situation here of desperate shortage of buildings, inadequate cloak-rooms and overcrowded cafeteria has been aggravated by the post-war influx, but not caused by it. In particular the almost ridiculous building known as the Gym. Is now hopelessly inadequate for our University. The formal part of studies—the lectures and examinations—are only half of education; the other half consists of the "extracurricula activity"—the Debating Club and the Drama Club and the Socialist Club. For this sphere we find lack of committee rooms, a clash between sporting and cultural clubs for the use of the Gym., and the situation where three clubs are regularly wanting to use It on the one night available. There is no provision for screening 35 m.m. films; the production of decent plays is proscribed. If there is one thing that a visit to Australia does. It Is to convince one that a large-scale effort must be immediately made to raise funds and get our Union Building under way. Every student who is concerned with more than getting a ticket to a job must take part in a campaign to obtain for Victoria and adequate Union Building.
Finally, although Salient has always done a magnificent Job in reporting overseas developments, there is no doubt that personal contact provides an insight into events that reading cannot supply. To meet people who were at the Youth Festival at Prague, who attended the Council meeting of I.U.S., and who worked on the Youth Railway in Yugoslavia, brings you from isolated N.Z. into the mainstream of the world youth movement. Travel is part of education: and N.Z.U.S.A. must immediately take up the question of travel concessions on ships and on the N.Z. Railways and also of enrolling students temporarily in the Seamen's Union and allowing them to work their way when travelling overseas.
The International Union of Students is the student United Nations with headquarters in Prague. It represents 2½ million students, about 60 per cent, of all the students in the world. We in New Zealand are represented, through NZUSA, by John Ziman, a recent graduate from Victoria.
To give a clear picture of what IUS is doing, we give below Its main aims and activities.
VUC delegates to NZUSA conference at Easter must see that the fees are paid.
He is not drunk who from the floor can rise and drink again, but drunk is he who prostrate lies without the power to drink or rise.
Towards the end of
Today the Federation of Young Peoples' Clubs comprises seven clubs and its objects are "to educate young people on the basis of common discussion; to initiate and support movements for legislative and other measures to improve their social and economic status; to work for the right for a free and higher education, and to develop cultural, social and recreational activities." Constitutionally, the Federation and its affiliated clubs (which are, in practice, autonomous) are nonparty political and nonsectarian religious.
In the past, major campaigns of the Federation have been participation in the Victory Loan Campaign, the preparation of reports and delivery of evidence before the Apprenticeship Commission and
The Federation is affiliated to the World Federation of Democratic Youth, and had two delegates to the recent World Youth Festival in Prague; also close contact is maintained with a similar body in Australia—the Eureka Youth League.
While "Salient" blushes to perpetrate a pun we ask you to search your souls and answer the question:
"What have you done for Victoria?"
Most important of all—to us—do you contribute to "Salient?"
If you do not do any or a fair proportion of the above, then, please, first find if the fault is with you before criticising the efforts of the hard-working but all too small band of willing workers in this College.
Twin Beds. (One practically new.) Ring 40-726. After midnight.
Some people think that girls, viewed In the niewed Are liewed . . .
(Heard on tram passing the War Memorial the other day.)
Small Child: Mummy what's that for?
Harassed Mother: That's the War Memorial.
S.C.: What's that for?
H.M.: It's a memorial for the fallen.
S.C.: What—fallen women?
Young woman, husband in camp would like another to share flat, reasonable. 3251 "Evening Post."
Wanted to exchange: Double sleeping bag for pram.
Wanted—a hot contralto for close harmony. G. S. Bogle.
Student paid Tuesday, broke Friday, would like to meet student paid Friday, broke Tuesday.
Overheard this from a young woman who works at the Muscum. "It will take several months to get back into shape after the Air Force has gone."
When Salient went to press ten years ago, its aim was "to link the University more closely to the realities of the world." The realities referred to were in the main the political realities—Franco and Spain, China and Japan, the submergence of Austria and Czechoslovakia in Greater Germany; at home, capitalism and M. J. Savage, Uncle Scrim, Aunt Daisy, and free speech. There was a smell of burning from the first fires that heralded the great conflagration, and writers hastened to send out last-minute warnings before the ship became a blazing wreck.
In the circumstances one would not have been surprised to find a parallel poetic "realism" in vogue. Certainly the Phoenix Club read a paper on Realism, and offered ten shillings for the best essay on "The Relation of Poetry And Politics." But except for attempts like—
and some of RLM's. the poets kept crying for the moon, or languishing in lush alliterations. The cynics were affectedly world-weary, light humour almost invariably had the heavy touch, even simple thoughts were dressed in ponderous and overdone language, and often an oblique
Probably the editors did believe that the poet should be relating knowledge and social action, commenting on the lives of people busy in a city or on an island, striving to order our values and interpret our moods: but an editor who receives no copy cannot maintain a policy. In face such tremendous difficulties, due to the almost complete lack of support from the
The
This sorry state was obvious to many—sometimes they vainly objected and sometimes they in turn became literary editors. The following letter is typical of the career of the literary columns:
. . .And Awake"For some time past, we the undersigned, have been vaguely troubled concerning the precariousness of the so-called literary columns. This important section of Salient seems to be compressed, and even annihilated, without any notice or reason. Is this owing to insufficiency of material, to the paucity of such material's literary value, or is it perhaps the opinion of those in control, that literature is subsidiary to food and other interesting topics?
Sgd. G. W. Higgin.D. M. SakerN. R. Taylor.
In Reply—Up till the time of receiving this letter. Mr. Higgin has sent in no contribution to the Literary Page. Needless to say all of this has not been published. Mr. Taylor has sent in one—all of this has. Mr. Saker. up till the time of receiving the letter, has sent in six contributions. With this issue three have been published. Food is considered, in its place, to be demostrably more important than imagination, which all three gentlemen will quickly find if they stop eating.—Ed."
The war did not help. It took away writers and inspired none at home—it was less effective than the threat of war. In
and were pleasantly surprised to have it criticised as "worthless, meaningless botch." "positively fantastic garbage." etc. But in this same year. "Searos" appears and links up a very dull patch with the renaissance of
The reader may wonder why we constantly refer to verse only; but if there has been little notable verse, essays and prose fiction have been almost entirely absent. Indeed, this lack of versatility amongst our writes has been most striking and curious. The limitations of space may be in part responsible, but one suspects other reasons." It is as though these forms of expression have been overlooked, and it may be that, he who will be sentimental sees an invitation in the verse form when plain prose turns the shoulder. Whatever the reason, we hope someone will attempt to revive a lost art—a wholesome discipline—to discover the pleasure and power of thoughtful prose, and the humanity fiction can illumine.
But if students have not been writing they have been reading. There has always been a good book review, and a quick appreciation—at times too quick and too free—of most of the Caxton Press writers: Curnow. Glover, Fairburn. Brasch, Baxter. Holcroft. Sargeson. TOMORROW'S demise did not pass unnoticed, nor T. S. Eliot's CRITERION, nor did the suppression or DECAMERON escape with less than an editorial. New developments were constantly being brought to the notice of the students. Salient's files cover adequately ten very eventful years of literarv history: in New Zealand the birth of Modern Books, the Progressive Publishing Society. New Zealand New Writing and Landfall: overseas the writings of Koestler. Auden. MacNeice, the Readers' Digest, the Left Book Club. Penguin New Writing and Poetry.
Victoria has been noted for the at-tention it pays to current politics, and it may also fairly claim to be a place where it is recognized that literature can live on in "the vertical man "
Foreword: Film reviews are intended this year to take their place as a regular ingredient. The inter-relation of cinema and society is so inclusive that it is almost entirely overlooked. Generally it is thought of (if at all) under the head of Entertainment which means the utillation of jaded senses by brainless coquettes like Joan Crawford or by vulgar ape men like Clark Gable (who played Parnell without his beard lest it should mar his manly looks).
It is high time that genuine and fearless film criticism became the function of a university paper. What we read in the commercial press is almost always the reprint of blurbs sent in by the makers of the films themselves. Each company is given a free hand to boost its own goods—provided it pays the newspaper proprietors advertising money. And the review space given is directly proportional to the amount of advertising. No wonder every third-class film is hailed as an outstanding masterpiece.
(Vol. 1. No. 1. P. 3.)
With these promising words J D Freeman launched Salient into the
When we turn to critism proper, we find that Salient's genuine and fearless film criticism" never lacked assailants, Mr. Freeman's first effort was an assesment of the worth of Dead End. Altogether a memorable show," he says, and backs up his opinion by more than adequately illustrating his main points:
The appreciation of new technique was a positive contribution to the enjoyment of the film, but the "realistic" criterion was immediately attacked in the name of Romanticism, whitewashed till it became the principle of cleanliness—under the guise of Dorian Saker. His half-truths were successfully combated by R. W. Lithgow in the following issue. He thinks the film great for two reasons. "Firstly, Its characters are true to life—real: and secondly, it showed up evils of the present that should be rectified." Both social criteria.
I think we have now come to the fundamental question underlying most of Salient's early critical articles. How far can a film be Judged In terms of art alone and to what extent must social and philosophical implications enter into our assessment of its values? Robert Frank in
We may on this basis split up 'Salient's OBJECTIVE critics into the realist-philosopher group such as U.D.F.. R.L.M, and H.W. on the one hand, and the escapist-"pure entertainment' group such as "a" (who used a "criticism" of Balalaika as a medium for vindicating extravagantly his escapist principles). R. Frank and Sebastopol on the other. The basic contradiction is brought out in the controversy arising over "Garbo and the beast" wher H.W. considers the philosophy underlying such a film as Two Faced Woman" and finds It stinks to high heaven (
Well, It would seem on the whole that the realist-philosophers win hands down, for even If one does disagree with the findings of a particular critic, there are gems to be found in their criticisms which heighten our sensitivity towards films, ultimately the great goal of film criticism. Meanwhile it is an undoubted fact that there is not one product of the other brand which tells us anything except that the critic enjoyed htmself.
Happily, a synthesis of the two extreme views arose in the person of Dennis Hartley (WHUI to you). He combined the best of both in establishing a consistent SUBJECTIVE standard of taste. His "social consciousness" does not get in the way of his thoroughly infectious enjoyment, but one often feels the sting of a critic who is fully alive to the social implications of the art under re-view, e.g., The Human Comedy—"Saroyan's drooling come to life." He has an adequate knowledge of technique, and unlike the "pure entertainment" fiends, is able to tell us why he enjoyed a show, not only that he did enjoy it. We are not surprised to learn that GM was WHUI's early tin god.
And what of criticism since WHUI? There have been one or two emasculated attempts to fill the gap by building up a personality whose subjective criteria it is possible to infer. Also, we notice the odd return to
Well, even if it hasn't already it will pretty soon and it would take more than all the King's horses, etc., to put it together again, but all cracks aside, we don't want to have to put the old green monstrosity together again—what we want and what we need is our new Student Union Building.
For the benefit of Freshers and those who live in the seclusion of their ivory towers, it is as well to mention that the idea of a new Student Union Building is not entirely new. It may surprise some to learn that plans for the financing and construction of the building have been under discussion since a few years after the completion of the present gym, way back in
Then things lay fallow for a number of years till in the first issue of "Salient."
In
In a
If we are to get our Student Union Building before the harbour waves are lapping at the site (see N.Z. Year Book for rate of submergence), then we must have other means of raising money than Extrav, and Cappi-cade profits—they won't always be as high as they were last year—and it remains to be seen if Mr. Daniell's suggestion that we raffle the old gym will have to be carried out. Meanwhile it is the business of every student to see that the Student Union Building does not degenerate into a mythical ivory tower but becomes an actuality—soon.
At the present time we have about £12,000 to £13,000 in hand. We need to raise this year about £8,000. The following committee is being set up to raise the money.
It is obvious that the second division will have a great deal of work to do. They must have the support or all Students in order to raise the money needed. Therefore all students must do their utmost when asked by the Executive to do so.
Be prepared to work to raise a Students' Union Building worthy of Victoria.
* * *
Since its very early days Salient has been interested in health, nutrition, medical examinations and preventive medicine generally. In
On "The Physical Education Committee of the British Medical Association has made the bold and forceful statement that 'All Universities should make provision for the physical education of undergraduates.' This field of education which has been sadly neglected in New Zealand was the subject of a report to the New Zealand University Students' Association . . . proposes a minimum policy ... to meet the needs of the New Zealand Universities."
"The most important item to be provided is:
Medical examination for all first year students, with a view to pointing out any defects and indicating a suitable course of physical activities. Optional examinations after the first year. The examinations to be of an advisory nature, and a poor report would not debar a student from attendance at University ..."
"This programme . . . could be put into operation with a minimum outlay on materials and buildings. A second point in its favour is that the Government is interested in this kind of necessary work, and all efforts should be made to bring the New Zealand Universities into line with the rest of the world."
On "A large body of V.U.C. students who realise the value of periodical physical check-ups as a necessary feature of student life, and a safeguard of the students' future, College life brings together students from all sections of the community, imposes severe mental and physical demands on the individual . . . Periodical physical examinations can detect much concealed disease at an early stage in its career and by bringing the disease under early control save the student from future sorrows and the treatments needed if the disease continues unchecked.
The proposal that a 900 part-time Medical Adviser be appointed to V.U.C. has been put forward. This Medical Adviser would undertake to give a general medical examination to all students enrolling at Victoria University College, to be followed by periodical overhauls in subsequent years."
In 1943 a referendum vote was taken and out of the 900 students then attending V. U.C. 625 recorded a vote on the medical examination proposals. 605 of the 625 voters declared in favour of the scheme for an annual medical examination.
In
In
An extract from a Salient report of
"Every University visited had a Compulsory Medical Scheme. This was generally financed by a small fee and organized by the university authorities. These schemes have been running successfully for years and are taken for granted by all students."
At a special general meeting in
The facts were, quite simply, that a special general meeting of students had decided, among other things, that it wanted an annual compulsory medical examination for its Association members. This seems to be a simple enough statement and to indicate the use of a certain amount of common-sense on the part of said students. Imagine our surprise when we found that we were headlined in "Truth" and the daily press.
"Truth with a typical disregard for facts and an almost religious belief in emotive journalese, really let itself go. The fact that the students had the temerity to request a compulsory medical examination was sufficient proof that V.U.C. was once more in the grip of the Red menace. We were, in the same sentence, "fascist, communist, socialist, totalitarian"—rather a difficult feat I should imagine.
A reply signed by nearly 300 students (within a day and a half—time was short and the reply had to be in smartly otherwise more names would have been on the list) was sent down and printed in full by this paper. Sneering remarks were made but the facts were in print which was the more important factor.
The daily press on the whole gave us a slightly better hearing and in some cases they actually asked us (V.U.C.) for our comments on the matter. It may come as a surprise to some who have not thought on the matter that the much vaunted freedom of the press is a rather untamed animal, e.g., the press is "free" to print pretty much what it likes about the doings of students but we are not necessarily "free" to see our replies in print.
As long as students act the silly goat and behave generally in a reasonably childish fashion, as at Capping Time, we are treated by the press with paternal indulgence and it is allowed that one "is only young once" and other such not. But, let the students get a serious thought in their heads, e.g.. when they thought that it was a good thing to be medically examined or to think that it was a bad thing for the Dutch to shoot the Indonesians, and there is a very different tale to be told. Distortions become the order of the day in all reports of meetings, etc.. the University becomes once, more filled not with childlike youth but with dangerous Reds; the pleasant punsters of Capping become dangerous half-baked theorists of Marx and there is hell to pay. It is a little difficult for us to see just how these transformations take place within the College but the papers assure us that it is so.
One astonishing feature of the Medical Scheme at this stage is the wording of a reply received by the Health Scheme Committee here, from the B.M.A. The Committee had written asking the B.M.A. for their assistance and advice in the drawing up of a workable scheme for this College and you can imagine their surprise when they received a reply couched in terms unpleasantly reminiscent of "Truth's" hysterical ravings. This is rather interesting when you look back to the Salient Editorial of
It becomes more obvious as time passes that it is essential for students to have a compulsory annual medical examination as a step in the direction, of effective preventive medicine. Every year some students fall prey to T.B. and other communicable diseases of which they could have been cured much more rapidly and easily if they had been discovered at an earlier stage. The Committee envisages a scheme which will eventually not only give an annual examination but provide a health service for the students throughout their student life. Salient believed in the efficacy of preventive medicine in
In
During the early years of the Chinese-Japanese War. I.S.S. gave Chinese students assistance. The relief organizations from Europe and China were separate but now I.S.S. has only one fund, from which students everywhere are assisted.
In
In
By means of funds raised, I.S.S. is able to help giving medical supplies, food, clothing, books and subsidizing meals and accommodation. It is important to note that I.S.S. is active in this way, because this is the practical way in which students throughout the world can express their common bond.
Since the end of the war more is required. Thousands of pounds are needed annually, and in recent years New Zealand contributions have been declining.
Are You going to be satisfied with your good fortune and prosperity and ignore the plight of students overseas who lack the bare necessities, not only of study, but of life itself?
In
To sum up, only two of the ten points (5 and 6) have been attained, and No. 9 partially (NZUSA has not been directly affiliated to WFDY, but VUC has been affiliated itself; and VUC's representatives have kept closer contact with Salient, or rather, vice versa). The other seven points have been shelved or abandoned. This is owing to two factors, to apparently insuperable obstacles outside student control, and to that age-old evil, student apathy.
Every student at some stage of his career finds occasion to groan about something. If sufficiently independent, he goes to his professor pours out his worries, and is satisfied.. But there are hundreds with similar troubles without the necessary "nerve" to have their grievance settled. Professors are busy people, and many students are reluctant to barge in on them in such a way.
Some students have ideas on the syllabus or improving the teaching methods in a department. In
In
Two years later Dave Cohen proposed a similar scheme with similar results. Salient continued the battle in
Then in the first issue of last year, Salient again set out its proposals. Though still under the name of Faculty Committees, the proposed Staff-Student Committees were to be set up in each Department, and were to consist of the Staff of that Department and one representative from each Stage. The scheme was fully endorsed by a General Meeting of the Association in March. Despite support from some staff members, the Professorial Board' again said "No."
So progressive Victoria "still lags behind A.U.C. and the Australian Universities. Salient urges every student to demand this necessary reform. It is the Job of every intellectually active student to see that Departmental Committees are set up at Victoria.
For a large share of our life, the troubles of other colleges all dealt with the Nazi domination of Europe. The fascist attitude to education and to the students of democratic universities featured often in the editorial columns of
"Guns Spluttered before the great closed doors of the Ministry, which were guarded by armed men. In the courtyard inside, men of the F.F.I. mingled with their comrades of the National University Front, with graduates, teachers, professors, civil servants, students and schoolboys. Some of us stood by with loaded guns, while others worked in the office with the heads of the Department, issuing orders against traitors and collaborators, and appointing trustworthy men and women to responsible posts."
Meanwhile, in the United States, six thousand Texan students became involved in the battle of Brains against Business. On
At home the influence of corporate action' was most noticeable over the "Fitt Affair." This estimable professor was "libelled" in a copy of the Auckland Students Capping magazine. The council subsequently banned all student publications. The following morning the streets of Auckland were white with slogans of the oppressed.
Events moved so rapidly that no complete account was published. Following the previous night's Press report, it was moved by a timely AGM "That the executive go into the question of publishing an Auckland edition of Salient—a motion which was carried with acclamation. A second motion was also moved and carried. "That this AGM learns with regret of the
The attitude of the student body received much publicity in the press.and this was partly responsible for the noted change in policy of the Auckland University Council.
No recent student function has caused so great a stir as the speech of John Child to the Otago University Students' Welcome Ceremony, last year. In contrast to the solidarity shown by the Auckland students during their row with the council the prevailing attitude at Otago was one of general apathy. Not only did the executive fail to give John Child the support that a president might expect, but they later dissociated themselves entirely from his action Salient could do little better than to give full, publicity and comments on the situation.
The following is reprinted from the issue of April 23. last year—
"It is a poor comment on the status of the OUSA when it is completely superseded in the democratic privilege of passing judgment on its own elected representative. Furthermore, it is unfortunate that the Executive of the OUSA should take such a gutless, apologetic attitude, smacking of the proverbial small boy who has broken a window. They have in fact, apparently deserted their own President.
* * *
"John Child expressed certain immoral views. i.e., views inimical to the moral glasshouse of upright citizens and students. That these views were couched in such obviously ironic context has been overlooked by some, by others seen, but deplored as untimely or tactless, and by some accepted in a wholesome gulp, digested and excreted.
* * *
"We suggest that the Executive of the OUSA take a more positive altitude towards the Council decisions, and that it maintain its democratic rights to manage its own affairs without peremptory, dictatorial usurpation by the College Council."
Below on this page are to be found a few highlights in "Salient's" hectic career. They are not all, but are representative. For the amusement of those who are not interested in major upsets, we also present one or two minor storms. May "Salient" always create controversy and stir just one or two more people out of their apathy.
"It has developed into a minor war."— Mr. O'Brien at Undergrads' Supper.
And after much childish bickering it almost seemed that truce had been reached.
But out of a blue sky descended the stork with his little bag of tricks—one letter for "Commercial Print," printers of "Salient":—
The Manager. Commercial Printing Co. Ltd. June 13, 1946 .Dear Sir, The following is an extract from the minutes-of meeting of Executive held on Thursday,
May 23, 1946 :"Moved Mr. Poole, seconded Miss Keys, that the Editor 'Salient' be instructed to publish on the front page of the next issue of 'Salient' a retraction of the editorial entitled Our Judgment,' this retraction to be prefaced by a statement expressing the Editor's regrets that he omitted to do this in the last issue. Mr. Campbell and Mr. Cohen to be responsible for seeing that this was done.—Carried."
As "Salient" is the official organ of the Association, the Executive will not assume responsibility for payment of your account if the issue in your hands is handed over for distribution without containing the matter referred to above.
Yours faithfully. , Secretary. M. J. Poole
Not only has the Executive, both as a body and as individuals failed to inform the Editor of this odd motion, unique in the history of VUCSA; not only on the eve of press has Mr. Poole assumed the role of Editor Extraordinary without the cognizance of a single student in the college, demanding of an amazed printer that he publish a stupifying series of statements in an issue already overset with routine reports: Not all this Without Mr. Marcus J. Poole of the Esteemed Legal Profession Descending to this Low Level of Coercion in Order to Gain his own. Ill-Deserved Ends.
Nor is "Salient" the "Official" organ of Student Opinion.
* * *
The salient points emerge from this extraordinary farrago of events:
The Executive has passed a most invidious motion in accordance with which the Editor is supposed to retract a statement published in the Editorial Column, a column that remains under the sole Jurisdiction of the Editor, and the opinions expressed therein the prerogative of the Editor alone, to be read and accepted as such.To date, Monday 17, the Editor has not received notification of the carrying of the above motion.Without the authorisation of a single person or body Mr. Poole completed in the name of the Students' Association a series of letters that Dean Swift or Frederick Engels might have envied.A printer whose untiring efforts have for five years produced "Salient," unrivalled in Australasia among Student Papers for typography and quality of printing, has indicated that if this is our attitude to his work we might try elsewhere for our printers.
So much for Your Diplomacy, Mr. Poole!
(We reprint the above without comment.—Ed.)
It all started at the Annual General Meeting when it was moved that the Students Association fee be raised to £1/10/-, such fee to include a year's subscription to Salient and one issue of Spike.
As the fight raged, a gentleman (by name of W. S. Mitchell) opposed the motion and produced seven neatly-tabulated arguments aimed at Salient's active political commentary and its very, very blassed attitude generally. A search through Salient back numbers reveals that the main bone of contention was that Mr. Mitchell had once had two letters ignored by Salient. With the objectivity of the historian we would suggest that the gentleman was very aggrieved. The editor of Salient (J. D. Freeman) then rose to the occasion and produced nine neatly-tabulated arguments (plus three sub-arguments plus statistics) why Salient should have acted in this wicked fashion and why its policy had to be biassed. Apparently one of the aggrieved gentleman's letters arrived too late and the other was irrelevant.
When the furore was at its height, Mr. Freeman offered to let Mr. Mitchell edit Salient for two issues. The challenge was accepted. The critics of Salient were in power! . . . Salient went its normal chaotic way. The standard of Journalism was no better, the general sterility pervading the articles was relieved by a few biassed letters and one or two articles expressing animosity, which for the amateur historian are the only things of interest in the issues. Mr. Mitchell in an apologetic note gave full credit to the hard work done by Mr. Freeman and his staff, and retired his team from Salient Room, still protesting a little at the blassed policy.
And the morals of the story?
An upheaval of a different kind—N. Adams gives an idea of what happened when Robin Oliver and Jim Witten-Hannah were brewing tea on Ruapehu's crater. The eruption which then occurred flung them into notoriety. We publish a letter from "Salient,"
* * *
Dear Sir,—It is with mingled feelings that we hear of the attempted seismic observations of two of our tramping stalwarts, Messrs. Oliver and Witten-Hannah, and we must commend the efforts of Mr. Witten-Hannah to rescue his unconscious comrade. While we are told that their action in camping at the edge of the lake was merely the fool-hardiness of thwarted scientists with their noses to the trail, a suspicious mind inclines us to believe that a hitherto unsuspected sadism, coupled with a too inquisitive investigation of the more intimate parts of Lady Ruapehu, was probably the raison d'etre of that minx's orgasm. May we recommend our ambitious pair; let them either confine their attentions to Ngaruahoc, a male of the species, or direct their researches among the feminies of the species homo sap.
Personally, we would like to see formed a Society for the Prevention of Wanton Excitement of Volcanoes.
In view of the serious situation which is exercising the minds of all women, in New Zealand in regard to the abuse of the licensing laws and the unrestricted sale of liquor, the women of the Walkato have set up an Executive Committee, as the result of a public meeting, which will be known as the Alcoholic Reform Association.
Our platform is:—
As unity is strength, we feel sure that the women and men of your district would wish to co-operate with us in this matter, and suggest that you might call a meeting and present our platform. If this is supported by your meeting we would be very pleased to receive your written endorsement. This would naturally strengthen our Association so that eventually we might make representation to the right quarters, when we have gained the whole-hearted support of our women and menfolk.
Your letter of the 31st March has been referred to me for reply. My Executive has unanimously rejected the proposals as outlined by your Association, and I have been instructed to state that this Association is not prepared in any way whatever to lend its support to your movement.
It is considered a most inopportune time, when so many of our men are overseas—there are about 360 students from this College alone
I notice with amusement that you have not bothered to review the question of "tied houses" which, one is compelled to conclude, is probably the greatest factor against a more orderly control of the liquor trade. The
In one of the earliest issues of Salient, 1944, the fact was brought to the notice of V.U.C. students that the Senate had decided to raise the exam fees. The rise was in most cases from 60 to 100 per cent. This decision was made, with no warning to the student bodies.
As was pointed out by Salient, the University is subsidized by the State. The student, however, is not; in many cases he lives on a minimum income and these extensive increases would probably prevent many students from continuing their studies to the honours stage. It should be noted here that Government bursaries have not been increased to assist in this and other rising costs of living.
Reaction in the universities was immediate. A petition was drawn up by the Examination Fee Committee appointed by N.Z.U.S.A. and sent to the constituent colleges, training colleges and commercial colleges. The committee also made inquiries to the Price Tribunal, and sent letters solociting support to organizations such as N.Z.E.I., and the Junior Chamber of Commerce; to these letters encouraging answers were received. Salient was unable to report any further progress for almost a year. During this time the Senate who had been approached, politely but firmly said that they were unable to make any statements until the results of the Court of Appeal case N.Z.U.S.A. v. Senate were announced.
We regret to state that the case was lost. This may be attributed to the fact that the Price Tribunal was unable to take any stabilizing action as "the University sells nothing, neither does it perform any service to the community:"
So there the matter rested, until in
Vehement adjudgment of modern dancing was recently pronounced at an Australian church conference. That a woman should marry when scores of other men have had their passions roused by her, was a thought that revolted the Rev. Semmens and
Salient has during the past years been lightened by reports of the witticisms and faux pas which regularly emerge from VUC debates. As it is impossible to give a resume of the multifarious activities of that lively University Society, we present for your delight a few keys to unlock the door of memory of those enjoyable Friday nights.
The present foreign policy of the Soviet Union is a menace to world peace. April, 1946—Lost.
Mr. MacCreary: "That strange monster, the Soviet Ambassador's car. . . . What country seeking war would sink its resources in such a phenomenon?"
Mr. Winchester: "Some of the speakers seem to be in a state of nervous pregnancy."
That the present policy of U.S.A. is one of imperialist expansion. May, 1946—Carried.
Mr. Solomon: "Insidious campaign to make NZ the 49th State . . . monopoly of the taxicab service . . . concatinistic continuity."
Mr. Ron Smith: "A little pressure from the White House,' and they get no more tooth-paste." (Int.: "Squeeze 'em.")
Mr. Lovell: "I Just got up to correct a few facts. I read 'Harper's' and the 'Readers' Digest.'
That the B.M.A. is hampering the progress of medical services in N.Z. May, 1946—Carried.
Mr. Chorlton made three points only. One or them concerned the subject of the debate. "The B.M.A. should run the Government like all the other unions."
That the British proposals for India are in the best interests of Indian people. July, 1946. Boat.
Ben. O'Connor: If these proposals don't mean freedom for the Indian people then I'll join the Communist Party! (Cheers). "I've got an application form here," Jim W. was seen to get a fountain pen from his pocket in preparation.
Mr. Hickey (seconding O'Connor): "Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen, and Communists"—The people of India will decide for themselves under the new constitution. In India you have plagues, floods ('and the English for 200 years'). The English must get out quickly."
3. That red bluegums should be planted to further the White Australia Policy.
Mr: McCreary's speech was a Rhapsody in Blue and just about every other colour of the rainbow. Claiming that red bluegums were sticky, and barking up the wrong tree was a bad thing, he decided to leaf it alone and not go through the awful messy business again. Cries of "eucalyptus you."
The motion was carried.
6. That an Executive, grant should be made to provide liquor in the Gym.
Mr. O'Flynn was in reminiscent mood and told an amusing story of the days when men with torches prowled round the Gym, to surprise unwary tipplers. A student dashing round the Gym. with a bottle of beer under each arm. a man with a torch in hot pursuit, and a well-known member of the Professorial Board running third.
10. That familiarity breeds.
Mr. Cohen went from breeding to begetting and likened the smouldering fire in the heart of the male to a compost heap. He simply couldn't conceive what this smouldering fire led to. Mrs. Cohen from the audience: "You ought to know."
Do not think of knocking out another person's brains because he differs in opinion from you; it would be as rational to knock yourself on the head because you differ from yourself ten years ago.
he amplified his initial remarks, in no uncertain terms. ... It would be absurd to suggest that ... all dancers are sinners, but we cannot take the risk or the responsibility of providing opportunity which leads to promiscuity. . Nothing can Justify jitter bugglng in which girls are upturned to show their panties."
Pending further action all dancers are to adhere to these rules. Girls to provide themselves with the following articles: (a) One suit of mail armour; (b) one padlock, key to be swallowed; (c) slacks only for jitter-buggers.
Men.—All hip pockets to be removed; the following are forbidden: Skeleton keys; emetics, laxatives, tin openers and oxyacetylene flames. Women must wear helmets with visors, men will wear moustaches— the cemetery is to be picketed and flood lit. All dancing will be under supervision. Any man whose passions are raised or any woman who suspects that her sanctity is being lowered, will immediately contact a responsible member of the social committee who will provide the necessary precautions.
(P.6. No. 4, 1945.)
The Editor walked into the sumptuous Headquarters of Salient one day, ad found a 900-word article on the file. He read it and thought it was about time that somebody knew just how the paper was run. A little investigation revealed that it had been written by one of the staff, apparently as an apology for his non-attendance at the allocation meeting the previous night. We print it, probably to bolster up our flagging morale or inflate our ever-present self-esteem.
Fortnightly, generally promptly, the Salient reader pays his thrippence and digests the College news. Few consider how this news is got to him.
At the beginning of each year, a notice calls for voluntary staff as sub-editors, reporters and other officers. There is no pay attached to, these positions, and no "perks" other than a free copy of the current Salient.
On Wednesday night (st night) Salient is issued, and the same evening sees the staff meet for assignment for the next issue. Every club meeting has to be allotted tentative space. Editorial, special articles, features, illustrations, advertising space, must all be considered two weeks ahead of issue, and a balance struck. The Art department is first off the mark. Decision is made as to what illustration is needed. The artist has to be contacted and the original drawn, or a photo has to be acquired or taken, prints made, and be in the block-makers' hands by Friday (3rd day) afternoon. It takes ten days to make a block.
The bulk of material is handed in by reporters on Wednesday (8th day) when the subbing staff sorts out the wheat from the chaff, and prepares what is to be published. Newspapers sub-edit mainly with scissors and paste but professional reporters write to a formula, so that necessary cuts can be made without having to recast. Salient contributions, without exception, have to be recast—which means re-writing.
Now it is one thing to re-write a clean typescript, and quite another to re-write or even read a pencil copy written on the back of an old letter, with corrections re-corrected in pencil. (Yes, it actually happens). Such copy, though it be word perfect, must be typed before it can go to the printer. The compositor makes two correct taps per second on a machine ten times more involved than a typewriter, every second of the working day, so cannot be expected to edit copy wholesale. If such copy MUST go in, it is subject, and rightly so, to surcharge. A major fault In both reporters and contributors is that copy is too discursive and loosely written. All such copy has to be re-written. Finally, a "style" is set for Salient as for every other publication, which should be generally followed. The professional writer follows style no matter to which paper he is writing. He also writes to the space available whether it be 100 words, or 1,000. Yet, if by any unforseen chance his space is short, and his copy must be cut, it can be slashed to the bone with scissors and paste, and yet remain a reasonable, balanced write-up.
While we cannot expect such a standard from Salient contributors, the present standard can be bettered. There should not be the need for one sub-editor alone to re-write 2,500 words of a single issue as happens now.
As much material as possible is typed before it goes to the printer. Good legible ink script can be passed if necessary. Heads, sub-heads, leaders, legends and general typography are worked out for every article, and the whole of the edited MSS are sent to the printer by Thursday (9th day). Sunday (12th day) sees the editors and subs busy again proof reading and doing make up. Each page is pasted up from the proofs, and this paste-up goes back to the printer on Monday (13th day) for printing so that Salient can be issued two days later Stop Press items often displace other material so that the whole page has to be re-arranged.
It must be remembered that reporters and other staff are also students, often part-timers, getting the paper out at considerable personal inconvenience.
Reporters cannot be expected to give over every night in the week to cover meetings. Hence coverage devolves upon club secretaries, or a member of the club appointed publicity officer to keep Salient informed of what goes on. Some activities, of course, are covered automatically. e.g.. Exec meetings. NZUSA, VUCSA. meetings, films and special assignments. It is up to the clubs themselves to make their activities known to the reporter who covers that particular branch. There is too. a letter box in Salient door.
Salient, like any other paper, is willing to print any news item of general interest to students. It is willing to print writing, illustration, cartoons, photos or sufficient merit and general appeal. We have been accused at various times of dirty yellow journalism. Red Revolution, and of presenting only one side of a question. We have no apologies to make. We print practically every MS that comes to us, and are rarely overset for more than an issue or so, and so if only one side of a question appears, it can only be assumed that the other side has been moved to burst into tears, but not into print.
The aim of Salient is to publish every week. Unless there is a greater increase in both quantity and quality of MSS. this will not be possible. A few hints may not be misplaced:—
You think that something should be done about something? Then say so!
You have a constructive criticism to make? Then make it! You disagree with a viewpoint expressed by another contributor? Then give us yours! You have read a new book of great interest? Review i!
In writing, make a rough draft, saying all that you want to say. Next day, read it over, tear it up. And rewrite it. Leave it another day. Now write it again, cutting out all those high falutin phrases, compressing it by half, and getting into the guts of the matter. Leave it another day, and then edit harshly. With radical surgery cut out those pretty phrases that remain, excise those loose words and constructions. Type a fair copy, or write it legibly in ink, and send it in. Later you will be able to run off copy that can go to the printing unmarked by subbing.
Finally, remember that Salient is "An Organ of Student Opinion." is sent to many other universities. The views in Salient are read not only in NZ, but also Australia. Canada. USA. Great Britain and South Africa, so it is not purely parochial. Your opinions are of interest to the rest of the College and may be of still more interest to the outside student world.
A cursory glance through ten years of Salient reports on Tournament and sporting clubs shows a lamentable series of failures to obtain the coveted shield, but a most praiseworthy optimism and a great deal of very hard work put in by hopeful athletes. At times, individual members of clubs and individual teams have hit the headlines in local or national sporting meetings. Salient, however, which deals in headlines, thinks that perhaps it would be better to forget the minor victories and major losses and present the following headline from Vol. 1 No. 7 (Cinderella's Dream Comes True V.U.C. Wins Tournament Shield Stout Work at Auckland
At a meeting last year, representatives of all the Wellington tramping clubs agreed that the best place in the Tararuas for a new hut was at the foot of the Block XVI track, nearly an hour up the Tauherenikau River from the Chalet, and 24 hours from the road.
Ted Bradstock, our delegate at this meeting, now heads an active subcommittee whose aim is to have the roof on the hut before the end of the term. Everyone connected with the Club is very pleased to see this much-needed job under way. Firstly, it is to be a memorial to Roy Dickson and Stan Allaway, who were killed in an accident last year. A suitable plaque has been ordered. With our own hut, we will be able to repay the hospitality other clubs have been extending us all these years. There won't be any tramps offering this term except working parties into the hut site. We hope to see you there. There will be plenty of jobs, all equally important, from bushwhacking to billy-boiling.
To make this a worthy memorial, funds will be required. You will hear more of this later—plenty more.
A bird's-eye view of the Finnish front in a blinding snowstorm. In the foreground are eighteen Finnish skiers in white parkas huddled behind a snowbank, ready to surround and annihilate a Russian division (their fourth this week). To their left is a column of Russian tanks destroyed by a Finnish schoolboy, the snow-covered mound to their right hides the bodies of five blind men, six workers' children, and a one-armed rheumatic old woman (sole support of a family of twelve), who were machine-gunned by a Red air fleet. Just beyond the woods the Red troops are retreating wildly from the Suo-mussalmi towards the Soviet border, without shoes, uniforms or underwear. Some are tearing the bark off trees to appease their mad hunger. (They haven't eaten since the Tsarist regime.) The eye-witness reporters in the snow-filled shell-hole nearby are Harold Denny, Webb Miller and Mr. X (the source of reliable reports). The huge Soviet bomber hanging from the tree was brought down by a member of the Helsinki Girls' Foils Club (a junior member). The camouflaged igloo on skis near the lake is the Finnish Army field headquarters, and the naked men near the igloo are Red deserters from Georgia, who report that the sun never shines in the Soviet Union. The fresh ski-tracks in the middle foreground were made by Colonel X and his adjutant, who are off to bomb the Murmansk railroad for the late city edition. The snow covered figure on the white horse leading the white-clad troops in the blinding snowstorm in the struggle for democracy is Baron Mannerheim.
The next "Salient" will be a Tournament issue—at least we hope so. Copy is due a fortnight from today, and it is absolutely essential that it be in on time. Let us know your teams, their prospects, and any outstanding competitors you may have.
The Printer accepts only copy which is typed double space on half sheets of foolscap. This is important. Remember 12th March is the absolute deadline.
We also need a Sports Staff, and for a change some members of Sports Clubs would be welcome. If you are interested, the next meeting is on Wednesday, 10th March, at 7 p.m. in "Salient" Room.
"Where does the Students' Association fee go?"
This is a question which is often asked by freshers and is of interest to all students.
The revenue from this source, after a small deduction by the College office of a collection fee. is administered by the Executive which is elected annually by students.
A predetermined part of each fee goes automatically to the Building Fund, which one day will be spent on a Students' Union.
The major portion is used in grants to sports and cultural clubs; the running of social functions (including tournaments, tea dances, balls, under-grads' supper, Extrav., Capping, etc); the issue of College publications ("Salient" and "Spike"); and in administering the cafeteria. The wages of the office assistant and payments for upkeep of the gym., etc., are also charges met by this money. In addition, nearly £700 per annum is paid in wages for an accountant and office staff.
The Students' Association caters for a wide diversity of student interests as will be noted from the list of Clubs given below.
Victoria's fee is extremely reasonable when compared with other N. Z. University Colleges, where extra fees are paid for joining each club.
On payment of the Students' Assn. fee you automatically become a member of all the following clubs, all clubs welcome new members:
Watch the notice boards and the cafeteria for announcement of meetings and practices.
Although the editors do not realize it (and certainly are not responsible for it) there is a large gap in the S.C.M. Student Handbook this year. So, to fill this gap and to give freshers all the vital information they really need for their first eventful year, we are publishing the Swords Club Notes. In the words of all the best advertisements, freshers should "cut out this coupon" and (no—don't send it to the editor) add it to the pile of lecture notes, text books. Salients, and all the other indispensable printed matter which is constantly referred to by the wise student.
The Swords Club started its activities at Victoria in
The club's record is tribute enough to an excellent coach, Mr. Dickson, who will instruct club members in sabre and epee as well as foil. New members will be welcomed by a band of enthusiasts, and for those who have not their own foils a limited amount of club gear is available.
Watch the notice-boards for the time and place of the first meeting, which will be early in March.
Club Captain: Peter Hampton.
Club Secretary: Nannette Broom.
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Murgatroyd
Was a cow more athletic than Mudderly.
She hopped a fence and was
Destroyed
Udderly.
Universal Printing Products Ltd.