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NZSPA Reporter Poor administration has been blamed for the Auckland University Students Association's record loss of £10,000 last year. The deficit will jeopardise the Association's operations this year.
Every student enrolled at the university is obliged to pay £6 per year students association fee. Of this. £3 goes towards a building fund and the other £3 is held directly by the association.
This should, in theory, mean that with just under 7000 students enrolled, the students association will have about £20,000 to provide services for students.
But, from this sum of £20,000 received from students' fees, half is being spent to write off the record deficit incurred during 1966.
A further £6000 will go to the administration for staff and office expenses. This will leave the association with £4000 for the year.
This must be used to run the cafeteria Craccum, the coffee bar, capping, revue and will also be used to pay affiliation fees to the New Zealand University Students Association and New Zealand University Sports Union.
How did the association run up a record loss last year? "Poor administration," says the treasurer, Mr.
Capping lost £1000, Revue £3500, Tournament cost Auckland as host university £1000, Craccum lost a further £1200 and provisional figures just released show that the cafeteria made an unexpected overall loss of about £2800.
The executives resolved to take measures to ensure that such a combination of losses does not occur again. The president (
Many graduates are annoyed about the way the University Administration managed to upset their opportunity to graduate this year.
Consequently capping ceremony may be later next year.
" Advancing Capping from May to March 3 was conducted as an experiment and will be discussed before it is repeated," the Registrar, Mr. Desborough, told Salient.
"A Member of the University Council decided last year it would be better if students graduated nearer the time of exams. This was taken up and supported by the Students Association Executive.
"Although applications for conferment of degrees were sent out earlier than usual many Honours papers had not been marked by this date and these graduands did not receive the forms until the closing date for entries.
"Many students, men in particular, took holiday jobs away from home or had to do military service and the forms did not reach them in time," he said.
"From the point of view of the administration the period prior to the early graduation had been "hectic," as it clashed with enrolment.
"The ceremony itself was successful in that graduands were able to have many more visitors as there was far more space."
When queried about the many students who missed out on the ceremony because of the late applications, he said "you can't have it both ways."
"It is obviously not possible to produce all the Capping activities such as Cappicade, Extrav and Procesh before term started, so they would have to take their normal place in May.
"The idea of graduation in March had obviously been carried out to suit graduands," he said, "and therefore the success of the venture should be gauged from the point of this year's graduates," he said He sympathised with the difficulties encountered by the Administration.
It is not yet known what this year's Capping week will be called. Executive is still debating the question. Suggestions are "Vic" and "Rag" week.
From the point of view of some Honours graduates, however, the venture was not successful.
Of 28 Masters graduates in English only 16 managed to return their application forms for capping by the set date (January 31) for capping, either in person or in absentia. Much the same situation occurred in the Economics Department where 13 Honours students passed, but only five graduated.
Of the seven people who did Chemistry Honours in papers (as distinct from those who presented theses), three graduated at the recent ceremony, even accounting for the fact that one of them had been overseas and unable to be contacted, this leaves three students unaccounted for. What happened to their result cards and graduation forms?
Some Arts graduates have complained about the afternoon ceremony claiming "it lacked the lustre" of past evening performances.
One student likened the Chancellor's speech to that delivered by a Chairman of a Board of Directors at an annual meeting.
If graduation is to continue being held in March papers will have to be marked sooner than in the past and entry forms for graduation sent to graduands much earlier.
NZSPA Reporter
The Director of the National Library School (Mr.
Mr. Alley said there were not enough people to run two schools and the cost of £25,000 did not Justify the effort.
The Minister of Education (the
Students can expect to wait at least five years before parking facilities will be available.
Parking Committee Convener Dr. Culliford told Salient: "The difficulty in finding parking space is caused by the increase in student population and the lessening of available space caused by the building programme."
"The problem is so severe that only 55 per cent of the staff have parking allocated to them." The only other group with parking space on campus are disabled students. Part-time students have to park their cars up to a mile away from the University.
Full-time students questioned complained about the shortage and said it was necessary to arrive before 8,30 am to be sure of a place.
President of the Student Association
NZSPA Reporter
Hamilton — Waikato University's new student newspaper, the "Waikato Student," has had a major setback before its first issue.
The paper is a product of the merger of Waikato University's "Kato" and the Hamilton Teachers' Training College paper "Campus."
Joint editors for 1967,
The proposed annual budget was £1500, and an advertising manager was to work on commission to make it the biggest single venture yet undertaken by Waikato students.
But a conflict between the editors and the "Waikato Times," the printers, over the censorship of an article on the "Facts about Lesbianism" resulted in the resignation of the two editors after a meeting of the executives of the Waikato University Students' Association and the Hamilton Teachers' College Students' Association.
The first news of the censorship came to the editors when they were called before the Vice-Chancellor (Dr.
Acting on information received from the printers he advised Messrs. Simock and Williams to delete the piece as the printers' lawyers claimed it was both offensive and actionable.
Both editors felt the article was of value and said they could not see how any charges of indecency could be levelled.
"The Facts about Lesbianism" was originally published in "Craccum," the Auckland University newspaper, and before that was published in "Honi Soit," the Sydney University newspaper.
Messrs, Williams and Simcock were given the choice by Mr.
The two student executives later met and ordered the deletion of the article. Narrowly passed, the directive led to the resignation of the two editors after "the most frustrating four days ever."
The students' association lawyer did not consider the article legally offensive but nevertheless recommended that the article should not be published. He said that publication of the article would be dubbed by certain persons "student irresponsibility seeking sensationalism solely for its own sake."
The first issue will still appear, although how, and by whom even the retiring editors are not certain. It is only provident that Messrs. Williams and Simcock have agreed to produce one issue before they resign.
Exclusions 2
Wilson slide 6
CIA condemned 3
The committee 10
Language requirements 5
Tourney prospects 12
Anyone who wants to renew his library card, should have little difficulty. Simply rush to your friendly local stationer and acquire one QuikStik adhesive label (round). Attach to plastic card. You'll need a blue one for this year.
One of the many things that the library administration has forgotten to explain is how anyone can tell that this is the current year's card. The cards carry no date. No doubt in years to come we shall see super-annuitants waving the cards to obtain student discounts. And now anyone can renew last year's card without the formality of paying fees.
* * *
This Newspaper has not yet revealed the strange affair of Harlow Advertising Services. It is a strange comment on student editors that this sad little story has not made the news.
After an abortive attempt to raise his commission on Salient advertising from 15 per cent to 35 per cent, former advertising manager John Harlow (who raised advertising revenues from zero to £2,000 a year) was suspended from his post by Vuvvsa. Now he threatens to sue the association for libel.
The full details won't fit into this column. We can only comment that Salient too often neglects its own dirty linen while washing everyone else's?
* * *
Will we now have some sense, balance, and taste in our New Zealand protests? It is scarcely surprising to learn from the Court of Appeal that one cannot chain oneself to Parliament Buildings and stay within the law.
A protest is not an exercise in extreme behaviour, nor is it held to test how far protesters can go before they are arrested. Protests are so that a particular view can be made publicly. Orderly behaviour is a necessary part of any responsible protest.
As a thin excuse, some protesters have said that their extreme behaviour is the result of press distortions or excessive police restrictions. Orderly protest is equally permissible against these excesses—but we have yet to see a picket of a newspaper office or police station.
* * *
Recording giant HMV, I am told, decided not to press "Snoopy and the Red Baron" after the NZBC refused to buy. But Radio Hauraki defiantly spun the disc, and HMV was innundated with Auckland demands for copies of the disc. A similar fate met "I want to Stay the Night With You."
Not that the recording companies like Hauraki, which spins copies of new records weeks ahead of local release dates, and thus creates friction between companies and unsatisfied buyers.
—Cynic
Wellington — Inadequate laboratory space and lecture room accommodation as well as poor individual performances are the reasons given for this year's increased number of exclusions from the universities.
Students excluded from one university will also not be allowed to enrol at another. According to the Victoria University Registrar (Mr.
The exclusion regulations were helping to weed out the poorer students and to overcome the accommodation problems in lecture rooms, he said.
Before a student can be excuded from a particular course he usually has to fail to pass two units in two years. But some are not so lucky.
The Otago Medical School has always been notable for excluding about half the students who apply for admission each year. Now three of Auckland's special schools are also following this trend.
Auckland's deputy Registrar, academic, (Mr.
The number of professional students in Architecture will be limited to 60 this year and the number of Engineering students to 170 but it is not expected that any Engineering students will have to be turned away.
However, the Registrar later said no students who applied for the special schools were excluded.
Canterbury has placed a limit of 200 on the number of Engineering students it can take but it is expected that the overflow of 20 or 30 can be included in the Auckland total.
Science students at Auckland may also be diverted from Botany and Geography to other science subjects because of a shortage of laboratory space.
This year at Otago 44 students were excluded from Arts and Science subjects because of unsatisfactory academic progress. In Canterbury, the figure was 110, with a further 120 receiving "warning letters."
At Auckland students who do not make satisfactory academic progress have to apply for re-enrolment. About 400 applications were expected this year. At Victoria the number was expected to be 250.
Usually about 40 per cent of these applications were successful.
Two outstanding guest conductors will be directing the NZBC Symphony Orchestra along with resident conductor
Alceo Galliera and Walter Susskind and eight distinguished international soloists should make it a satisfying season for Wellington, as the programmes cover a wide variety of works, established favourites being interspersed with those new to the concert-goer.
Five of the soloists are making return visits to this country—Abbey Simon, Nelli Schkolnikova, Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, Zvi Zeitlin and Gary Graffman. Alceo Galliera conducted the Orchestra here in 1961.
Solo artists for the series give the season an international flavour, while New Zealand artists feature in three of the 12 concerts. The Orpheus Choir will be repeating their successful performance of
During the season the Orchestra will present a number of works fresh to Wellington. The Shostakovich Symphony No. 12 will be premiered under Galliera and the series includes two works that were played in Wellington only last year for the first time—Stravinsky's Rite Of Spring and the secular cantata Carmina Burana.
Lilburn's Symphony No. 3 and Jenny McLeod's Cambridge Suite are also featured. Prokofiev's works will be given prominence in the series, one of the highlights being the first public performance of his Violin Concerto No. 2.
NZSPA Reporter
Christchurch — Research in New Zealand is being slowed down because workers have to fill out so many forms for the National Research Council.
Never in the field of scientific research have so many forms been required by so few people to so little purpose, said the head of Canterbury University's School of Engineering (Professor
Even when a scientist did not want to start any research, the forms still arrived. "It seems we have to fill in a form for the rat race even when we do not desire to compete," Professor Hopkins said. "If you say you are not contemplating any research in the near future you cook your goose for several years."
Worse still, the council did not seem to take any notice of the forms after they were filled out.
Professor Hopkins said that in the Advisory Council's reports on the needs of bulking research it gave two pages of lip-service to the submissions made to it. But in its recommendations it took no account of its own statements on the two previous pages.
"It seems that research is being dealt with in this way," he said, and this was probably one reason why there was a shortage of research workers here and in Australia.
It was more difficult for a slowly growing university to obtain staff of the highest calibre because of the limited scope for research students and the emphasis on teaching, Dr. Wright added.
The need for more students of this type in New Zealand Universities was recognised and some steps were being taken to remedy the situation.
A former Secretary-General of the International Student Conference said he was upset by the revelation that this organisation had been supported by Central Intelligence Agency money, but did not feel this detracted from the value of its work.
Mr. Norman Kingsbury, ISC Secretary-General from 1959 to 1961 and now Registrar of the University of Waikato, said he did not believe there were such things as clean or dirty money.
"A lot of worthwhile things were done throughout the time I was working for the ISC," he said, "and I still regard these as valuable in spite of the revelation."
The salaries of the Secretariat were paid by national union subscriptions throughout Mr. Kingsbury's term of office.
"But for particular projects, such as seminars or Conferences," said Mr. Kingsbury. "we drew up a budget and submitted it to an American foundation, usually the Foundation for Youth and Student Affairs, or the
Both these foundations have been named as recipients of CIA money.
Mr. Kingsbury said he was not aware at the time of the source of Foundation funds, but he knew the tax structure in the United States encouraged wealthy persons to make donations to foundations.
He stressed that no pressure was brought to bear in the ISC after a financial grant.
"Recent Conferences have been financed by the Foundation For Youth and Student Affairs, and it certainly received no direct benefit from them."
Foundations did not withhold donations to any particular type of project, Mr. Kingsbury said. Their refusals were dependent on the size and frequency of requests.
Asian Student Press Bureau
Leiden (Netherlands): Confession by the officers of the US National Student Association of the American student body's relations with the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has become the most ugly part of the student movement in the United States.
In a press statement issued February 13, the USNSA admitted that It was receiving funds from CIA for the past many years for its international programmes. This confession shook the world of American student leaders and spread quickly to entangle the entire international student movement. Some news agencies alleged that the International Student Conference had also a similar arrangement with the CIA and was receiving financial assistance from certain Foundations having connections with the CIA.
In a press statement the ISC Secretariat (Feb. 17) vehemently denied these allegations and condemned the United States Government and CIA for the corruption of an apparently democratic student organisation (USNSA). The statement reads:
"The Secretariat of the International Student Conference (ISC) representing National Unions of Students; from more than 60 nations has been profoundly shocked by the recent disclosures of a member organisation, the United States National Student Association (USNSA), acknowledging the existence of a relationship, for many years, between USNSA and the Central Intelligence Agency.
"The ISC Secretariat condemns the Government of the United Slates of America and fits central intelligence for the corruption of an apparently democratic student organisation. Indeed the word 'condemn' is woefully inadequate. This outrage has no parallel throughout the whole history of free international student movement. It is a cynical betrayal of the ideals of American students as well as students in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Europe affiliated with the ISC. It is a total violation of the basic tenets of the ISC, namely, 'A Free University in a Free Society.'
"Although the present officers of USNSA have stated that the relationship between the CIA and USNSA is now broken, the revelations have severely damaged the credibility of USNSA as a National Union of Students. Their seriousness demands that all possible tacts be gathered and carefully weighed. Therefore, the ISC Secretariat has today requested the National Unions of Students that comprise the Supervision Committee of the ISC to suspend immediately the membership of USNSA in the ISC until the Supervision Committee has an opportunity to evaluate fully and discuss this whole matter at its next meeting.
"During the last few days, since the USNA statement, some allegations have been made concerning the ISC. The ISC Secretariat categorically denies the allegations. It deeply deplores the atmosphere of hysteria, so reminiscent of the McCarthyism of the 1950s in the United States, that breeds these types of completely unsubstantiated slurs."
This compels students throughout the world to ask the United States Government: "Will every democratic ideal you nobly profess be perverted in furthering your cause in the so-called cold war?"
Just two days before this issue went to press the above crossing (showing student stepping onto) was shifted several feet closer to The Terrace. Thus we are unable to show you how the City Council Is prepared to break its own regulations when it suits.
Students will remember the City Council refused to place a crossing further up Salamanca Road last year because there wasn't 100 feet clear visibility either side of the proposed site. One side was short by about 10 feet. However, as originally installed the crossing in the picture was visible for about 30 feet from the south end of The Terrace. This crossing was in use for about five months.
Apparently the Traffic Superintendent of the City Council nearly ran someone over recently and decided afterwards to move the crossing closer to The Terrace.
NZUSA Press Officer Mike King
The structure of the New Zealand University Students' Association executive may be substantially changed at Easter Council in Wellington.
President
He has suggested the executive consist of a president, an international vice-president, an education vice-president, and two general executive members.
A senior office secretary would act as NZUSA secretary, office manager, and would be responsible for finance.
This executive would meet about four times a year.
A number of officers would be appointed to assist the vice-presidents and handle such areas as cultural affairs and work camps. They would not be members of the executive.
Mr. Mountain said communication between meetings would be maintained by the circulation to executive members of copies of all outward letters and inward memos.
"This structure would enable people with experience ana enthusiasm to work for NZUSA and not be precludeo from doing if they live out of Wellington."
Mr. Mountain will also ask that NZUSA be financed on a student levy basis rather than on the present system of compiling a budget and levying constituents accordingly.
One NZUSA executive member opposes the proposed structural changes on the ground that it would be expensive to fly members to Wellington for meetings, that there would be less incentive for members to work, and that the president's powers of initiative would be inordinately increased.
Criticisms of missionaries will be met by three churchmen coming: here next week.
One is
The team will speak and answer questions on the need for missionaries, their effects on native cultures, and on the superiority of Christianity over the other world religions.
The programme, both at the University and Teachers' Training College is sponsored by the Evangelical Union. Meetings are on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, March 29, 30 and 31.
A Festival of New Zealand and Australian art is being held to mark Unity Theatre's Silver Jubilee. It will be in the recenty renovated Aro St. Theatre. Other societies have been invited to provide features for the month-long programme.
Unity's own contributions are a new play by
The university administration; has blatantly destroyed a rare collection of original art. No longer do the benches in E006 display the pained doodling left by past generations. Clean, new, expressionless, varnished benches replace the rich culture of times past.
Usually reliable sources indicate the £10,000 cheque handed to Sir
It was blank, because the money has not yet been cleared from the accounts.
The real cheque will no doubt be handed over with considerably less publicity.
The National Party Club began its activities this year by inviting two Cabinet Ministers, Mr. Thomson and Mr. Gordon, to speak at university. The student press was excluded from reporting their answers to questions by the chairman, a former editor of Salient, who mumbled something about tradition. The tradition of the freedom of the press, perhaps?
TORO has done it again! He made a firm resolution to keep well away from the library this year. So far he has achieved admirable success.
The Idea of students giving blood on campus turned out to be a bit of a flop.
Several students fainted, some had to be taken home and only 47 pints were taken. Apparently, waiting in the sun before losing one's pint didn't help matters.
Up at the hospital facilities are available to ensure donors remain conscious.
NZSI'A Reporter
Christchurch—The loss of two years' work can be the price of cheating in university exams. This is what happened to a student at Canterbury during finals last year. He was suspended for this year by the University.
The Vice-Chancellor (Professor N. C. Phillips) said he was glad it was the only incident of its kind in many years.
Victoria University was not free of exam incidents. Several students refused to put their names beside the code numbers on their scripts, as they felt some of the markers were prejudiced.
"Depending on whether they like you or not they mark you up or down," said one girl. Another said one lecturer was in favour of girls because he felt sorry for them.
"Tanzania is virtually a Red Chinese beach-head—the Cuba of East Africa," said Mr.
"There are 100,000 Red Chinese trained terrorists in Zambia ready to cross into Rhodesia," asserted Mr. Butler in an address On "The Communist Conspiracy" in Wellington recently.
Mr. Butler, whose organisation is one of the furthest right in Australia, has supported Sir
This conspiracy, he claimed, was trying to seize the whole of Africa in order to control the trade route around the Cape of Good Hone. "Cuba," he said, "is taking care of the
Describing the mass migrations to the south and the failure of northern African "democracies," he said "Africa north of Zambezi is slipping back into a charnel house worse than that found, by Livingston and others."
Identifying himself with "decent moral Christian persons," he described Rhodesia as "a law-abiding country, while 'liberated' Africa is in a blood-bath."
"In no other Dart of the world," he asserted, "have the indigenous population been so well looked after by the Europeans as in Rhodesia."
In his view Rhodesia was a bastion against the spread of Communism in Africa. Mr. Butler said "Rhodesia has thrown one of the biggest spanners into the works of the Communist Global Strategy." He said that opinions to the contrary were the result of Mr. Wilson's "brainwashing," which he compared to Adolph Hitler's technique of the big lie often repeated.
New Zealand and Australia have not sent independent fact-finding missions to Rhodesia because they are afraid their envoys would return with a favourable report, he said.
Mr. Butler spoke mainly about Rhodesia, and had little to say about the Communist Conspiracy.
His speech was frequently interrupted by a voluble group of interjectors, who were described by the Chairman, Mr.
The editors wish to acknowledge the assistance NZSPA secretary
The Students Association's education committee is pressing for the abolition of the langauge requirement for the BA degree.
Although a foreign language was considered desirable, members of the committee felt other subjects were also valuable, especially English.
The recommendations will be put before executive at it's next meeting.
"Any representations from the Students Association would be considered carefully by the university authorities," Professor Brookes. Head of the Political Science Department, told Salient.
"Not much has happened to change our view greatly since the question was last brought up, although particular consideration would probably be given to a system by which a good pass in School Certificate or University Entrance satisfied the requirement," he said.
Although he sees the cultural and disciplinary value of the requirement, its value as a tool for study of the foreign works in a students speciality is, in his opinion, often exaggerated and an insufficient reason for its retention.
"The possibility of Victoria introducing an Asian language next year and the fact that the BCA caters for students in the social sciences who are unsulted to languages, would operate against any arguments for abolition of the compulsory language in the BA," he said.
Other staff members interviewed see some value in the system, although few are entirely happy with it. Several said students are justified in disliking the restricted choice of languages available.
Professor Norrish, head of the Department of Foreign Languages, said: "The whole problem involves your concept of a BA degree and what it stands for." He would not like to see a system whereby it was possible to graduate; having never come in contact with another language.
Students now have access to back numbers of one of the world's leading newspapers.
The University library has acquired microfilm of the New York Times, complete from 1851 to 1955.
The American Council of Learned Societies provided 12,000 dollars of the 14,000-dollar price tag. The Council, an offshoot of the Ford Foundation, had offered items on American history and civilisation to all university libraries in Australia and New Zealand.
The library will at its own expense keep the series up to date.
Having the New York Times on microfilm saves space but there are disadvantages—the machine for viewing the film is clumsy and noisy and could be disturbing to students working in the periodicals room.
Some of the library staff feel a special room is needed for the machine. At present no such room is available.
NZSPA Reporter
Christchurch: "Our aim is to model ourselves on the small British universities, and in the future I would like to see a more Important role played by the technical institute," said the Minister of Education (the
The Minister was commenting on the probable restrictive entry to New Zealand universities in the near future, because of the vast growth of university mils. He considered that 10,000 was the limit for a university, and that this figure was not far away.
To help overcome this problem. Mr. Kinsella thought that new courses could be run at technical Institutes, In conjunction with those at university.
NZSPA Reporter
Christchurch: Engineering courses were becoming too scientific, the Canterbury Chairman of the Institute of Engineers, Mr.
The Canterbury courses were becoming so scientific that the BE degree could more properly be called bachelor of engineering science, he told the annual meeting of the branch.
Graduates were not adequately equipped for practical work after they left university. Mr. Scoular claimed too much theory was given students, compared with practical training.
He urged graduates to become registered and to join the Institute to overcome this inadequacy.
Management training was too often neglected and Mr. Scoular felt it was better for engineers to manage engineering companies than administrators.
Administrative training, however, he fell, should be given by management, rather than at university.
Piano Theory Harmony 4 Willis Street
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March 17, 1967
Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of VUWSA.
Few would be so parochial as to argue there is no benefit in studying a foreign language. But, alas, there are many who argue that the benefit justifies the language requirement for a BA degree.
They argue the requirement brings a student into contact with another culture, provides a basis for advanced study in the student's main field, provides an understanding of our own language and has a disciplinary value. All are plausible nonsense. Of the four reasons advanced there is none more vague than that of disciplinary value. Maths would do the job much better. Similarly if a greater knowledge of our own language is so important, Latin should be compulsory. And who in all seriousness will pretend that a pass in a reading knowledge or for that matter a stage one unit, provides sufficient competence to do advanced studies? For this, stage three level or even the dizzy heights of honours is necessary—then we could all be linguists together.
That leaves contact with another culture. This is the only valid justification for the cruelty of the language requirement.
But the regulation presumes that language study is the best means of gaining such contact. On this there are many doubts. Surely the technicalities involved in learning a language, work against this presumption. Culture demands an appreciation of values and attitudes, an understanding of the historical development, and an insight into the peculiar art of a given society. Translating the story of the two mice (you know, one lived in the country and he went to see his cousin who lived in the naughty city) does not provide these.
A study of art and history would come much closer to this end, Yet today's opportunities for travel and the increasing contact of the world's cultures comes closest of all. More important this type of contact has greater imminence than analytical academics.
To establish their case the proponents of the language requirement must prove it offers benefits greater than those to be gained from a unit the student would study of his volition.
Such proof has never been forthcoming.
Human nature is against it ever coming.
It is only right to conclude that the enforced study of a language has no place in this university. It must be condemned as unworthy of academic freedom, as a hangover from Victorian times when it was considered an 'in' social grace.
Professors and administrators, enough have suffered the shortsightedness of this requirement. Admit it fails to achieve its purpose. Abolish it from the otherwise happy pages of our regulations. G.P.C.
The recent decision to double our Vietnam troop commitment clearly demonstrates the powerful external pressures operating on the Prime Minister and his Government.
During the past few months Mr. Holyoake has played host to Lyndon
All were in favour of greater New Zealand involvement in the Vietnam war.
With the Malaysian force relatively idle now confrontation is over the Government had no excuse to procrastinate about increased military participation.
However as an Evening Post editorial (March 9, 1967) said, "The manner in which the latest decision was reached left much to be desired ... It had the effect of making the Government's early speeches sound exceedingly hollow."
Announcing the decision Mr. Holyoake again referred to "our obligations under the Manila Treaty" (SEATO). Again he overlooked the United Nations Charter which is the supreme international treaty.
New Zealand is not legally obligated under SEATO to send troops to Vietnam. And it is an open question whether our military involvement is compatible with article 51 of the UN Charter which says measures taken under regional defence agreements (e.g. SEATO) must be immediately reported to te Security Council.
Inevitably the war will end and New Zealand could well find itself out in the cold regarding its relations with Asian states.
By supporting the United States to the hilt in its Asian military activities we may be alienating ourselves from the very people with whom we wish to draw nearer.
Also the French President Charles de Gaulle is unlikely to view New Zealand favourably as a "special case" in the EEC negotiations over Britain's entry while United States influence on our foreign policy is so obvious.
Considering a settlement is not unlikely before the 1968 United States presidential elections, it is regrettable the Government should feel it necessary to commit New Zealand further into a war from which there is little to gain and so much to lose.
B.G.S.
What was Mr. Wilson up to in Europe? The tactics of last month's Cook's Tour of the capitals—was this to build a ritualistic, institutional aura around Britain's new try for a place in Europe? Thereupon, having so befuddled the obstinate old General, Mr. Wilson can be relied upon to slide Britain into the Market when next the Presidential back is turned.
Rather unlikely. Mr. Wilson, ambushed by his own innocence, went to the Elysee on the first "delicate probe" searching for an abstract guarantee of no political objections. Had he selected, instead, to seize the lightning initiative of a pre-emptive strike right to the heart of the Market in Brussels, having pared Britain's case to the bone to prevent gratuitous concessions. Mr. Wilson might even now be calling the tune.
President de Gaulle would have been confronted with an unequivocal yes-no choice, possibly even prior to this month's cliff-hanger French elections. Admittedly, and here's the rub. Britain might be licking wounds and preparing for a third try on the ashes, of the second. But any British initiative collapsed when Paris gave the unequivocal "perhaps" and now her one choice is that of the long slow siege of the Market.
This, presumably, will climax in mid-1968, as the virtuoso French negotiators buy time as in 1961 as a prelude to returning all players to square one.
The real problem in all this is that, while all Britain's long-term plans assume Market involvement, none of the short-term ones give any inkling how this will come about. Assuming a British commitment, what problems are entailed in the coming siege?
The obvious ones are economic. Entry won't substantially iron out her bottlenecks of inefficiency and slow growth; these need domestic reconstruction of the sort which is conceivably now occurring. What the Market does offer members is a substantial pool of markets, resources and capital.
The modern technological industries of the kind on which Britain's industrial future depends require for optimum turnover a much wider free-trading area than she now enjoys. In graphic terms the difference lies between Britain's 53 million people and EEC's 280 million, her £30 thousand million GNP and the Market's potential £125 thousand million.
In this half-century the biggest challenge Europe is likely to face is the second science-based industrial revolution now emanating from America and, less-so, Russia. To compete with these big-leaguers all Europe's little-leaguers have to come together, cross-fertilize their industrial technologies, and get in step. Britain is the area's most technologically-advanced country—especially in atomic power, aircraft and electronics. This is the ace card Britain holds.
The first of the four economic problems a Market-bound Britain faces is the Market's economically irrational agricultural system which would, in effect, destroy her present cheap-food policies and hit the farmer hard. Given suitable social security arrangements for the food-producers, this is a transient matter.
The "special problems" involved with the perpetuation of commonwealth preference are more serious. No-one has defined all peculiar intricacies of this in any depth. Wherever producers agitate collectively—New Zealand farmers. Jamaican sugar farmers. North African cocoa growers—the problem exists. Would Mr. Wilson forsake these special interests in a concerted bid for entry? Almost certainly, he would: but he won't be saying so, partly to retain a bargaining point for peripheral issues, partly to retain political dignity if things come to the crunch.
Thirdly, integrated community planning would intrude upon Britain's cherished ideas of national sovereignty. The
The most central economic problem, (and the only one which interests de Gaulle, who has a notorious disregard of economies), concerns Britain's role as short term banker to the world. In the Market situation of equal prices and free movement for industrial products, any country which gets out of step in levels of production can suffer serious balance-of-payments fluctutions. Free-floating capital acts in a counter-cyclical fashion by gravitating to those countries where a boom situation, and hence a deficit, exists.
Britain's situation is quite the reverse of this. A current deficit at home causes capital to go abroad, and, even assuming a remarkable strengthening of sterling in future, a Britain acting as a world banker cannot hope to block sterling outflows in lean years. As a disruptive element within the Market, Britain would be like the tail that wags the dog.
These measures are all worthwhile for their own sake, in or out of the Market. Where the dialogue will bog down is in that sticky area where differing notions of national destiny and world roles meet. The General always commendably resisted the obsessive anti-communist crusade which so distorted post-war American statesmanship. France is only the extreme example of the prevailing national attitude inclining to assert European independence of the cold war attitudes.
As the Nassau Anglo-American agreement of 1961 was Suite sufficient to torpedo the first entry bid, the Labour Government's desire to be, at times, more catholic than the Pope in its support of America's Asian adventure, could have the same culminatory effect upon the talks this time. So long as Britain persists, in Gallic eyes, In looking for all the world like an American wooden horse at the Market gates, the horse will remain out in the cold. Hence the need for a strong assertion that Britain is a free agent in foreign policy. Her Kiplingesque military adventure is not only extraordinarily expensive; it alienates the Europeans.
Given that Maoism, not Western imperialism, is the major motive force in contemporary Asia. Britain's allies will go on wanting her aid into the 1970's in support of their counter - imperialist policies. But this involvement has all the properties of an irritant in the European system.
Assuming at least some of these imponderables come to pass, the Market without France would probably be inclined to accept Britain on reasonable terms. Would de Gaulle? This depends more than anything on whether he will pursue In his few remaining years his grand design for French leadership of a continental coalition from the Atlantic to the Urals, and if so, whether he sees his course to this to be via Common Market or through Franco-Soviet co-operation.
A Britain in a modified, predominantly economic, free-trade area would not appear to him an insuperable challenge for French hegemony within Europe. Will Britain choose to enter? The problems of going in pale into utter insignificance when matched with those of staving out.
New Zealand City and County Councils represented at the Municipal Conference in Dunedin last month rejected a proposal that they should come under the Ombudsman's jurisdiction.
The Ombudsman. Sir
"If the Government agreed, it would merely require an increase in the size of my staff," he said.
At present the Ombudsman is empowered to investigate the decisions and actions of Government departments and agencies. He has no jurisdiction, however, over the New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation, the National Airways Corporation, the armed forces, the Crown Law Office, or local and ad hoc bodies.
The office of Ombudsman was established in 1962 to protect the individual citizen from administrative errors and injustices. It was generally conceded that existing; machinery for such protection was cumbersome and Ineffective.
A constituent is free to contact his local Member of Parliament about an administrative abuse, he will in turn contact the appropriate Minister, who will contact the head of his department, who will contact the official
Ombudsman
Ombudsman has
This success augurs for an extension of the Ombudsman's jurisdiction.
His primary function of protecting the citizen from encroaching bureaucracy is as vital at the local authority level as at the departmental level.
Local bodies are bureaucracies in miniature, and affect secrecy as one of the chief means of perpetuating their control.
They tend to believe they alone have the expert knowledge and claim that concealment of proceedings is in the public interest.
Decisions of local bodies are usually more difficult to circumvent than those of larger organisations where approaches can be made to a greater number of people or through a different department.
Members of local authorities have few senior assistants who can be consulted as "built-in" checks, and are very often local businessmen involved in local affairs.
Local authorities also tend to be loyal to their administrative staff, and may support them in an unfair decision.
The Government has promised to consider extending the Ombudsman's powers, but has given no indication when this would be done, nor has it said which bodies would come under any enlarged jurisdiction. The Attorney-General, Mr. Hanan, said ill Invercargill last October the extension would be "to certain classes of local authorities."
The President of the Constitutional Society recently advocated enlargement of the Ombudsman's authority to cover educational and hospital boards which derive all their funds from the Government.
Sir
"It is distinctly a question of local option," he said.
Norman Kingsbury, Registrar of the University of Waikato, called last year for an extension of authority to all forms of local and ad hoc bodies, boards, and even universities. He said the fact that an organisation operated on public funds was sufficient justification to include it within the Ombudsman's scope. It did not matter whether their money was drawn from the Government or from local citizens.
A public report from the Ombudsman should be sufficient incentive for a regional body to correct an error. This would not undermine the principles of local authority.
In the universities. Mr. Kingsbury believes, the Ombudsman should be able to deal with regulation complaints. This means dealing with the university administration. He did not believe the Ombudsman should Investigate academic problems such as examination failures.
Statements from public spokesmen and a substantial number of appeals to the Constitutional Society indicate that some enlargement of the Ombudsman's powers is called for although the extent of this enlargement is arguable.
The words of HWR Wade are relevant to local administration: "In order to carry out so many schemes of social service and control, powerful engines of authority have to be set in motion. To prevent them running amok there must be constant control, both political and legal."
Gerard Curry
Sub Niton:
Education Reverter:
Executive Reporter:
NZUSA Reporter:
Sports Editor:
Political Editor:
Book Reviews:
Features Editor:
Senior Reporters:
Reporters:
Barrie Saunders
Reviews: Don Hewitson
Clubs Reporter: Janet
Manager: Bob Gunn
Sir,—I would suggest that the writer of your column, "Insight," adopt a more suitable pseudonym. The first part of the column showed an amazing idealism about Grand Establishment. GE can be considered a noble, charitable organisation; equally feasibly it appears as a boozing club, or a formalised power clique—it depends on now you look at it.
In actual fact I suspect it is a mixture of self-contradictory aspects. And with such a multi - schizoid organisation, the only way of judging it is by its results.
Well, so far. GE has run a boozy—sorry, licensed—dance which has probably permanently alienated the Montmartre and the student body. A net profit of £20 was made, £10 of which was given to the Strongman Mine Disaster Fund; the other £10 was "ploughed back" in the words of Mr. Lawrence. GE secretary.
Nearly all of this year's Capping Committee are reputed to be in GE: most commendable, although I believe that Capping Committee was in existence before GE was founded. GE's snide attempt to undermine the VUW Film Society can hardly be described as aiding student vitality and activity.
Finally, membership in GE appears to be based on who you know, not on ability; this is directly contrary to the principles of the Students' Association.
Incidentally, I suspect Miss Markham is even more fascinated than I am at being described as a courageous little man.
As for the other parts of the column: Cynic's comments on the sad plight of Auckland University are remarkably pompous, and his valedictory for Ken Cresswell, while well-deserved, is cheapened by being in such a poorly-done column. Where are the Pettipoints of yesteryear?
Your columnist has mistaken sarcasm for cynicism; I suggest he be renamed "Priggy."
Geoff Rashbrooke.
Sir — Hooray! Congratulations, sir, upon at last driving from your elegantly news-endowed pages the scourge of the scurrilous Petitpoint.
Greater scurr hath no man than this, and
Cynics have no place at the shore of Propontis, but alas irrepressibly they burst splatteringly into print, messing everybody's best shirts.
At last, sir, we, the serious-minded and concerned youth of the day can feel safe from the ignorant jibes of the Greater Scunge, and from the imprecations hurled, indiscriminantly sundering upon our shells of wisdom.
It is time, sir, to be earnest, good, sincere, and wise.
The world expects it of us, you and me together both.
Let us therefore nevermore be woebegone, but set out firmly treading to make the world an honest, plain, nice world for our children, and our children's children, and assuming the reproduction goes well, their manifold progeny after them.
The world is our oyst.
" Prices of all kinds keep rising, and these include residence and dining-hall charges." This extract from an article, "What's worrying the Students" in the New Statesman of the February 17 issue illustrates that students at English Universities are faced with similar problems to ours.
Our problems have been greatly aggravated by the Government's recent economic measures. The withdrawal of subsidies will have a telling effect on the pocket of most students.
Let's examine the effect of the increase in the price of bread first. Using the last consumer price index, the student could be expected to spend at least 2/- a week on bread at the old prices. With the removal of subsidies, to buy the same amount of bread he will spend at least 4/6. This represents an additional cost of £4/10/- per university year.
With a weekly consumption of butter of a pound and a half per week, the student will now pay 1/3 extra a week or £2/4/- extra per university year. The increase in the cost of flour will probably cost the student £1 a year extra, but it is indirect effects which are more important.
There has also been an increase of a penny a piece in fish and chips, which on the basis of 2/- worth a week is an increase of 15/- per year.
If the student comes from outside Wellington he will have to pay something in the nature of £1/10/- extra in toll charges and, if he shares a flat with two others, one third of the £5/4/- the Post Office is now demanding of us for telephone rental. If the student sends parcels home this will probably cost him a pound more this year.
Because of their bread content sausages and saveloys are already 2d more per pound. Knowing the student's dependence on this kind of meat, this will cost about £1/10/- during the year.
These are the estimated direct effects. What about indirect effects? Ice cream because of its butter content will probably increase by about 4d a 2/- pack—cost to the students of 10/- extra a year. If biscuits rose 4d a packet, this would cost the student another 10/- during the year. Because the student is often forced to eat out, he becomes, the victim of the more unscrupulous manufacturer who is busy exploiting the removal of subsidies as an excuse to advance his own profits.
I surmise the increase in state house rentals may have some effect on rents for houses within the Wellington area, but the effect will be difficult to trace. In the same way the increase in interest rates on State Advances Loans will probably push urban rents up.
The whole purpose of these measures is to cut down the spending power of the population. The measures are a type of modern salt tax, in which the man on about £900 a year loses over six per cent of his income and a man on £3000 loses less than one per cent. How much worse off than the man on £000 is the student?
Orbit Of China. Harrison Salisbury (Seeker and Warburg, UK Price 30/-), reviewed by
MR. Salisbury believes he has a very important message for his fellow Americans.
Crudely, it is this.
China has too many people and too little food.
This problem will get worse: Already if provides the "inner mechanism" which directs China policy.
Even now "engaged in full-scale preparation for war," the Chinese leaders are forced to look beyond their own borders for relief from these appalling pressures.
Mr. Salisbury is the veteran New York Times correspondent who recently wrote such interesting dispatches from North Vietnam. He gathered the material for this book on a 30,000-mile journey around the periphery of China, but could not get into China itself. Such an operation has its dangers.
It is like walking around a volcano, talking to the villagers who live on its slopes, and once or twice even peering into the crater; a day in the study of a vulcanologist would probably be more profitable if you really want to know how the volcano works.
Mr. Salisbury asked a Russian in eastern Siberia what was going on across the frontier.
"The only thing I think is that they must be crazy," was the answer. Not very helpful.
The book falls between two stools. The description of Sikkim. Mongolia and Burma are very interesting and there is a good section on Japan's equivocal relations with China and Russia and the importance of her investment in Siberia. Here one senses an imaginative grasp of the future.
But the chapters on China are much too short, and by bad luck, somewhat overtaken by the latest events. There is no proper analysis of China's foreign and nuclear policy nor of her legitimate foreign interests. One just ends up with the impression of a new Mongol horde about to spread across the world, riding missiles instead of horses.
But if some of Mr. Salisbury's observations on China are questionable his conclusion seems unchallengeable: America must work for some sort of eventual understanding with China and be ready to help her with her problems.
"The Drama Club's production of Cross Purpose emphasises words and ideas rather than mise en scene. Camus "diagnoses humanity's plight as purposeless in an existence out of harmony with its surrounding."
The plot does show dramatic possibilities. A son, long absent, returns to mother and sister, who mistaking him for a rich traveller, plan to kill him for his money.
The play began well and suspense was created and maintained throughout the first act. (A minor point—but in spite of continual references to the cold and dark country of the play, sunshine poured through the windows.) But lack of action and a series of long philosophical discourses caused the attention to flag in the second act, and from then on the play disintegrated.
The actors did not know quite what to do with themselves while they delivered their long speeches, and either became puppet-like or vacillated pointlessly about the stage, Only Martha (
Good actors are hampered by a play that is drawn out, and finishes on an unsatisfactory and gimmicky note.
M.H.
One of the strange aberrations about book censorship in New Zealand is the practice of "invisible" censorship which operates from the publishing and distributing houses of Great Britain. This practice usually goes unnoticed, but was given publicity last year when the New Zealand edition of NOVA was published with about 10 pages missing. The subject matter, it was explained by the publishers, would be unacceptable in New Zealand.
This system of pre-censorship is more widespread, however, when we come to examine paperback lists of English publishers and then try to think whether this book or that is available here. Until last year this list was considerable, but it seems that following the decisions of the Indecent Publications Tribunal publishers and distributors have felt more adventurous in the selection of books made available in our bookshops.
It is now possible, for instance, for us to freely buy many books, mostly concerning sex, that have been published several years ago in England. This includes the entire Luxor Press catalogue of which the best are von Sacher-Masoch's Venus In Furs, Davenport's Aphrodisiacs And Love Stimulants and Straparola's Most Delectable Nights, all long unavailable classics. Luxor have also published two books on Lesbianism, R. Leighton Hasselrodt's Twilight Women Around The World and Walter Braun's Lesbian Love Old And New, both of which provide an intelligent survey of a sexual phenomenon long neglected since Queen Victoria's famous decree on homosexuality.
It is obvious that these books would have remained unavailable if it were not for the Tribunal's decision on The Perfumed Garden (now published in two paperback editions). Paperback editions of the Kama Sutra, the Koka Shastra, the
But apart from these there have been many titles in the popular Corgi and Panther lists that have only been made available recently. These include Fernando Henriques's massive trilogy on sexual behaviour, which surpasses most other similar books for readability, information, and an intelligent non-puritan approach.
Recommended for all serious readers, the titles are: Love In Action, previously published as The Sociology Of Sex; The Pretence Of Love and The Immortal Tradition, previously published as Volumes I and II of Prostitution And Society (Panther Books, NZ Price 11/- each). All the books have small reproductions of the illustrations in the original hardback edition and if read carefully their thickness will not detract from their value; nor will they fall apart if you look at more than the pictures.
Another important book just released in paperback by Corgi (first published in 1963, paperback 1965, NZ February 1967, NZ Price 11/-) is Peter Fryer's Mrs. Grundy, subtitled "Studies In English Prudery," which is a very full survey of the various manifestations of puritanism that have permeated and coerced British society since the end of the medieval period. Fryer, with academic precision and satirical lightheartedness, gives us the whole gamut of puritanism as it has affected language, Sunday, drinking, clothes, births, dancing, nudity and entertainments like the strip-tease.
For addicts of the obscure fact to be read aloud to others within earshot while you are reading it is lull of delightful examples. For instance, in the seventeenth century male obstetricians had to deliver births either blindfolded or with blankets totally covering the mother and performed solely by groping beneath the bedcovers. And for those who desire new words for old, Fryer lists with encyclopaedic ease over 90 pages of "plain Words, prude words and rude words."
Since Mrs. Grundy, Fryer has had a long hard fight with the authorities of the British Museum to gain access to the world's largest collection of erotic and pornographic books and manuscripts. His experiences, plus condensations of many of the books in the collection, especially the "private case" collection, are contained in his latest book, Private Case—Public Scandal (Seeker and Warburg. English Price 21/-), which, to my knowledge, is unavailable in New Zealand as yet and has been banned in Australia.
Despite listing the 5000-odd items in the "private case," Fryer was unable to gain access to the secret unlisted "special shelf" collection. This book will be essential reference for all those who wish to go further than mere titillation in their quest for erotica. Of related interest, but of a more puritan stance, is Steven Marcus's study of Victorian pornography, The Other Victorians (Weidenfeld and Nicolson, English Price £3/3/-), bringing the more sober mind of the academic literary critic to the literature of an underground culture.
To come back to those books which are given belated release, presumably in order to placate New Zealand grundyism, it is worth mentioning that Sartre's first (and only) collection of short stories. Intimacy, was first published in English in 1949, In a Panther paperback in 1960 and is finally on sale in New Zealand in 1967 (NZ price. 6/6). Rough treatment is also meted out to the Marquis de Sade; the only freely available paperback is Geoffrey Gorer's Life And Ideas (Panther, first published 1964, New Zealand release 1966. NZ Price 4/6). In England a Corgi edition was published of Justine several years ago and Panther also have published a selection. Henry Miller's two Tropic books are published in Panther editions, but then Miller has not been submitted to the Tribunal. Some enterprising person should send some English postal notes to 108 Brompton Road. London, SW3, and see what happens. Not banned in hardback is John Rechy's City Of Light, but we still await Panther's paperback. We have also still to come: Genet's Our Lady Of The Flowers (Panther) and the non-fiction studies of Ivan Bloch (Sexual Life In England), Edwards and Beyfus (Lady Behave) and Kaufman and Borgeson (Man And Sex), all published by Corgi.
Apart from these books there are several others, some genuinely delayed because of late release of hardback edition (this could be the situation with Genet), but most are Inexcusable. Serious readers of both fiction and non-fiction that is thought to offend the sensibilities of our public morality have a difficult time in reading the books they wish within a reasonable time of its notice in the English book reviewing weeklies. We are at the mercy of either the distributors in England or our own importers. The books of avant-garde publishers such as Calder and Boyars can only be found in certain bookshops who import direct and even then they must be careful for fear of the eager eyes of the Customs Department. Booklovers have much to thank the Indecent Publications Tribunal for, but there remains still the problem of free and liberal access to the books we can only read about and never see.
Note: In the above review article I have deliberately omitted any reference to American publications. This is because, although Grove Press and other publishers books are available, the world market for many American titles is limited to outside of the British Commonwealth because of copyright. University texts, needless to say, are exempt from this but in general it is correct to say that New Zealand does lose by not having access to free importation from the larger American publishing industry. Once again, our only hope is the bookshop, which imports direct from the publisher.
Nevil Gibson
It is a shame that Denmark's favourite son,
Within the last year there has been a slight but significant increase in the number of new recordings. It is heartening to notice that Leonard Bernstein is becoming a champion of the composer—in May. 1965, he went to Denmark for the Nielsen Centenary celebrations and recorded Symphony No. 3 (The Espansiva) with the
There were also two new versions of No. 4 (The Inextinguishable) released, one by
HMV have issued on their cut-price Ace of Clubs label The Espansiva (with Tuxen) and No. 5 (with Jensen).
I recommend a Decca release (SXLM 6210 Stereo) to those people who think that Rossini's entire musical output consists of The Barber Of Seville and overtures to The Silken Ladder. Cinderella, The Thieving Magpie and William Tell. The disc consists of highlights of I'Italiana In Algeri—an early work of the composer (1813). The selections have been taken from the complete recording (which has not been released here) and Decca have been successful in choosing a series of episodes which effectively link the rather complicated plot.
Mustafa, Bey of Algiers, tires of his wife Elvira and plans to marry her off to Lindoro, an Italian slave. The Bey desires an Italian girl and his pirate chief brings Isabella back from Italy for him, but she happens to be in love with Lindoro, who is to marry Elvira, who is the Bey's wife, who is . . . oh, never mind!
The music is charming and
It seems rather irrelevant to begin a record review with comments on the design of the jacket, however, when artists such as Peter, Paul and Mary release a number of lps, all with superb covers and sleeves, comment does become appropriate.
Mary's husband, See What Tomorrow Brings (Warner Bros. WBS 1615 Stereo) and Peter, Paul and Mary in Concert (Warner Bros. WBS 1555 Sterio) and Push Pin Studios have done all the jacket design. The latest Fenstein Push Pin effort on Album (Warner Bros. WBS 1648 Stereo) is right up to standard with a hilarious spoof of an ancient family photo on the front (Mary in long skirl and huge, frilly bonnet) and a sleeve which consists of nine assorted photos.
The musical performances differ from other PP&M albums. The main change is In the instrumental backing—the trio has gone the way of other "folkies" and use everything from cor anglais and bass flute to piano, drums and organ. For entertainment value the three are unbeatable—Paul's hilarious Norman Normal, with his imitations of everything from a crowd to a "Fuzz" bass and lead guitar, is a far cry from their attractive version of Kisses Sweeter Than Wine which immediately precedes it. However, the material all fits together extremely well and provides a most enjoyable trip.
I have often found that the relative musical ability of various popular Rhythm and Blues groups is inversely proportional to their degree of loudness—for example, the ear-piercing, sloppy playing of the
This doesn't apply to the Yardbirds, who would possibly be the loudest of all—in their recent Town Hall performance even columnists who are avid pop fans couldn't stand the noise as lead guitarist
On their latest record. The Yardbirds (Columbia MSX 60063 Mono) they demonstrate their noise level, but also show that they are a group of most accomplished R. & B. musicians.
The sleeve note, written by drummer Turn Into Earth and Farewell is a pounding up-tempo tune played In the characteristic Yardbirds manner, which has become so much a part of them that they won't change it. Best tracks are Over, Under, Sideways, Down; The Nazz Are Blue; I Can't Make Your Way: Rack My Mind; and He's Always There.
All in all, one of the best pop records I have heard for some time.
NZSPA Reporter
Wellington — The new bursary examination is generally agreed to have achieved its main purpose—to give upper sixth-formers an incentive to work—in spite of criticisms that the delay in posting results until the first week of February may have inconvenienced intending university students.
Last year 3007 pupils sat the exam—many of them in the lower-sixth, sitting it instead of UE—and a 50 per cent pass gave candidates £50 annually, a 40 per cent pass £30, on top of the fees and allowance payments.
In many schools headmasters reported that all upper sixth-formers sat either burs or Scholarship, instead of many frittering the year away.
Complaints about the holdup in marking were brushed aside by the University Entrance Board secretary (Mr.
"After all, they have all qualified previously for fees and allowances," he said.
The Students Association executive has decided to invest £10,000 in the current Wellington City Council loan," the president Salient.
"This money has come from reserves built up by a portion of students' association fees since 1964 to provide for the expansion of the Student Union Building.
"The executive feels that the future of the university and its students is closely aligned with that of Wellington and has for this reason chosen to make its investment in the city," he said.
A Folk Concert will be held on Saturday. March 18, by the Wellington Folk Music Club.
Performers from Hamilton, Napier, Christchurch and Wellington will be featured.
The better known of these are:
It will be held at the Savage Club Hall. 4 Kent Terrace, starting at 8pm. A concession is being offered to VUW Folk Music Club members.
On my last night in San Francisco I asked my friends to take me to the theatre; I had seen hardly any professional theatre during my seven months stay in the United States, mainly because there was very little to see.
As far as I know, there is at the moment no permanent professional theatre company in San Francisco, except the Committee. Consequently, that was where we went.
It's quite a small and insignificant - looking place, jammed incongruously between two topless nightclubs in North Beach, the centre of San Francisco's night life.
As soon as I entered the theatre I was struck with its resemblance to Downstage in Wellington. We first went into a large split-level foyer, where there was a bar and a lounge filled with people waiting to get in.
Every inch of the walls and ceiling was covered with a conglomeration of huge posters—scenes from war films with snide slogans inserted by members of the Committee, cartoon parodies of Uncle Sam, LBJ, Tim Leary ("high priest of LSD"), Stokely Carmichael, Mao Tse Tung," and other favourite personages; psychedelic paintings, revolving eyeballs, pictures of Great Beauties of the 1920's, pop-art collages made from advertisements, paper flowers and purple ostrich feathers, and bits and pieces from every junk store and antique shop in the city.
A Tynan-type word describing Communism covered most of the back wall.
The theatre itself is bigger than Downstage, but much barer—no carpet, nothing on the walls; above the stage the large wooden beams of the ceiling meet in a peak. The seating arrangement is even less comfortable than Down-stage, with seven or eight people squashed around each table; it was amazing to see the dexterity with which the culotte-suited waitresses manouvred between the tables with their trays and menus.
The food was more varied and palatable than at Down-stage; we did not have a meal there, but were able to order rum and cokes and cheesecake—at exorbitant prices, however.
The show is always divided into two halves. The first half is a series of skits, sketches, and parodies which the players devise themselves, changing the programme at two-weekly intervals. Then during the interval they ask the audience to suggest themes for improvisation, which they do impromptu in the second part of the show.
The first hall was excellent; the eight players, all extremely talented, changed costume and character with amazing rapidity, whizzing in and out of the three doors at the back of the stage, swinging from the rafters, and leaping into the audience like characters in an old silent movie.
Like Downstage, their material is geared towards a certain kind of audience. American people, politics and pastimes are ridiculed in a hilarious but hard-hitting way, which would probably be highly offensive to any clean-living, all-American patriot who happened to wander in unawares. LBJ and his various activities are the main target but movie stars, football players, business tycoons, state governors and hippies are treated in similar vein.
There were skits portraying SFL party (meaning the Sexual Freedom League, one of the biggest off-campus organisations of the University of California), an LSD trip, a religious radio broadcast, and an interview with
Considering that the Committee relies entirely on donations from its supporter as well as profits from the show, the quality of the performance, and the enthusiasm evident in the theatre itself and in the relationship between the Committee members and their audience, was very impressive. It had a professional flair and glib style which Downstage tries to but never quite achieves. However, their material is all comic—the Committee has never put on a serious or tragic play, as Downstage has; it has built its fame on satire, not on drama.
The Committee is packed every night, and prices for the show itself are cheap enough for it to be a constant hangout for university students, hippies, intellectuals, radicals and like-minded people from all over the Bay Area, whereas Downstage has become more exclusive, and now that the initial enthusiasm has worn off, lacks the professionalism essential to maintain its force as the centre of theatre in Wellington.
Lindy Mason tells of her experiences in an American professional theatre.
She compares it with Wellington's theatre-cafe — "Downstage"
Lindy recently spent seven months in the United States.
Plans for an overbridge across Salamanca Road have been dropped because the Students' Association Executive is satisfied with the existing crossings installed last year.
Negotiations for an overbridge were started between the University Council and the City Council and Traffic
Department last March before the student demonstrations which resulted in the placing of pedestrian crossings at the foot of Kelburn Parade and on Salamanca Road.
When the proposed review of the crossings took place last term, the Students' Association were satisfied except for the placing of one crossing which they wanted moved lower down Kelburn Parade. Mr. Anderson, the Traffic Superintendent, said the suggested position was not safe.
Dr. Culliford of Administration said the University Council had negotiated with the; City Council for the overbridge but no agreement was reached and the matter was dropped when the Students' Association continued to press for the instalment of two crossings.
Focus, the new NZUSA bi-monthly, is to appear in all New Zealand universities and training colleges after Easter.
Education Minister Kinsella is to be featured in issue one. The editors have dedicated an open letter to him expressing concern about the increasing problems the Universities have in retaining their quality. Prime Minister Holyoake graces the cover, followed by a story on his most recent broken promise.
Designed to cater for all tastes among students. Focus has comment and interpretation on trends in the Arts, University Affairs, Education, New Zealand and International, Politics, Sport and Science.
TV comes in for a close scrutiny with a special article sent by resigned Compass producer, Gordon Bick, from Sydney. He peeks behind the facade of the proposed Independent TV Tribunal, Mr.
. . . says Anthony R. Haas, associate editor of NZUSA'S replacement for
A new angle on Vietnam is opened, with a discussion of verse and drama as a vehicle for opposing the War in Vietnam. VUW English lecturer
From the VUW Law faculty
Trips for student athletes are described as well as notes from each of the country's seven universities which bring readers up to date on the activities of their contemporaries elsewhere.
As the biggest enterprise yet in student journalism, Focus has incisive and informed comment designed not only for a university, but an intelligent reading public as well.
Poetry in its various forms appears to be the main concern of the Literary Society.
Assorted unofficial readings at the Taj Mahal were held last year, the last one attracting an audience of 50. The venue has since been changed to Mount Street cemetery, near the Student Union Building—the time is still midnight.
Two publications are currently associated with the Society. "Argot" began some years ago, publishes mainly poetry, and consistently runs at a small profit. Contributions are now mainly from non-students. "Experiment," entirely a university project, is issued irregularly and last year contained only poems.
The Poetry Broadsheet is a recent arrival, printed fortnightly at the Wai-te-ata Press. It gives students an opportunity to see their attempts in print.
In lighter vein, the Pooh Club caters for those who dig
Salient Reporter
There are 160 students in Anthropology I. Expected enrolment in this new unit was 50.
To cope with this number the class will be split up into nine tutorials. Professor Pouer and Dr.
"Even so," said Dr. Metge. "It is a new department, and many details have yet to be decided. With such a large class it is hard to know it our methods of teaching will be as effective as they would have been otherwise. The ratio of students to staff is too great to enable us to concentrate as much on individual problems. We are overworked."
Dr. Metge told Salient she thought the large numbers of students enrolling in Anthropology rather than in Political Science, reflected an interest in racial relations, especially in Maori-Pakeha and Eastern-Western problems.
Sir,—I was arrested at midday on the day Air Vice-Marshal Ky arrived in Hamilton.
The night before, I had been invited around to a friend's house to plan a rather undemonstrative protest and to write a letter to the Waikato Times. About eight people attended this meeting and we decided to meet outside the Hotel Riverina (without having any drinks beforehand) the next day, with banners, and to stage a silent protest. The letter we wrote was subsequently published.
I arrived on the scene five minutes early. The place was lousy with police, they were decked out in white hats and were very conspicuous. Just as I reached the rather large crowd that had gathered, Ky's car came into sight. Everyone sighed and murmured, the police hustled the crowd back officiously.
A suave, young Asiatic sprang out of the car and gave a Pepsodent smile. The crowd's immediate reaction was to cheer. But I was shocked by the smooth sprightliness of a man who by his own words and actions admitted to be an admirer of Hitler. Almost instinctively I began shouting "Go home Ky. Go home Ky." Behind me someone else began shouting "Is Hitler in the car with you?" I thought it was my friends, but, alas, they had not turned up yet.
I had not shouted for more than a minute when a great arm descended upon me. I turned around to see a large, All Black type trying to pull me to the back of the crowd.
Naturally I resisted but was thrown to the ground. Three policemen waddled to the scene and concussed me. (I say concussed for I remember no more until I was bundled into the police car, but several friends have told me what happened next.) Apparently the three policemen threw me around until the tv cameraman trained himself upon us, then they picked me up and threw me in their car. The other man was arrested with me, his shirt had been torn from his back.
At the police station, I was searched, photographed and fingerprinted. Then I was put in a cell which already had about 10 people in it, including a convicted rapist and a suspected seducer of young boys. No charge was read to me. I was not told when I would be allowed out. I asked two policemen who came to feed us (without enough plates or cutlery) about this; one said I was in for six months, the other told me to shut up. After eight hours my father came to bail me out for £50. The other Ky protesters stayed there much longer.
About two days later I appeared in court, but because the sergeant who had arrested me was not there (he had been sent in from Rotorua to help quell the mob), my case was adjourned. However, it was one day's leave from work without pay. Then after five more days I appeared again. I pleaded not guilty. I had got a lawyer and had been told that I had been charged with pushing through the crowd and shouting"Fascist, Murderer—Go Home." Both were untrue, and I decided to tell the court so.
The Rotorua policeman read out his version of the story. It differed slightly, although significantly, from his former statement. This time he alleged that I had yelled, "Butcher — Go Home." Of course I had only said "Go Home." He also alleged that I had made a nuisance of myself by pushing women and children in front of me in my efforts to reach the forefront of the crowd.
Actually, as soon as people realised that Ky had arrived, they had rushed to the back and the whole crowd had swayed back and forward in the usual way. However, the magistrate preferred, as he was bound to do, the police's version to mine. He did not realise that their story was merely a justification of arrest and that the police had, naturally enough, been on their toes after the violent Auckland protests.
However, because of my "academic ability and future" I was let off with a year's remand.
Simon During.
The Student Travel Bureau lost money over the last year.
The expense of maintaining a
To cut expenditure the Bureau will no longer organise travel within New Zealand.
More overseas trips are planned. Trips to Australia and New Caledonia will be offered for the first time in May.
Intentions are to concentrate on Australia, South-east Asia and the Pacific area. But schemes to the United States and Europe are being planned. It is hoped the "cultural revolution" will subside sufficiently to permit another China trip this year.
The influence of students returning form abroad should intensify interest. Bureau travel is cheap and ideal for students free of family or career obligations.
NZSPA Reporter
Wellington. — The International Union of Students has extended, at the request of the New Zealand University Students' Association, an invitation for a New Zealand observer to attend the IUS Congress at Ulan Bator, Mongolia, from March 27 to April 5.
NZUSA is a member of the rival international organisation, the International Student Conference.
Prominent on the agenda, contained in a letter from IUS President Zbynek Vokrouhlicky, are reports on Vietnam and "the intensification of students' struggle against imperialism, colonialism, neocolonialism headed by United States imperialism, for national liberation and independence, democracy and social progress."
Other major topics include the unity of the world student movement and material cooperation programmes.
Meanwhile NZUSA President
Despite the invitation representation is unlikely because of travel costs involved.
Daysh Renouf & Co.
Members Wellington Stock Exchange
National Mutual Centre
Featherston Street. Phone 70-169.
Important!
Buy all your meat at
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254 Lambton Quay
A Business Card
Barry & Sargent Ltd.
Opticians
118 Willis St. Telephone 45-841
Eating Out
The Hob
178 Cuba Street
For Morning And Afternoon Teas Continental Cakes
Terrace Coffee Lounge
Take Away Foods Morning And Afternoon Teas Light Lunches A Speciality
15 Woodward Street Tel. 41-774
7.30 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Midland Hotel
where all the students meet
Light Lunches Served In The Bars Cool Red Band Beer Always On Tap
Phone 70-259 On The Quay
Barrett's Hotel
At The Bottom Of Plimmer Steps
Handy to the Varsity and Cable Car
Have Lunch in Our New Pacific Bar
Remember Our . . .
Free Delivery Service, Balls, Parties, Etc.
Chilled flagons and 4½ or 9-gallon kegs.
Hotel St. George
The "Seven Seas Bar" Best In New Zealand
• Nearest to the University.
• Modern comfortable surroundings.
• Cool, bright, fresh beer on tap always.
• Food available from our "Food Bar" 11.45 am to 2.30 p.m.
Entrees, cold buffet, vegetables, hot pies.
The Sports Depot
(Witcombe & Caldwell)
Half Way Along Willis Street
Long standing connection with University sport. Every one of Vic;s 24 sports catered for.
Calgary (Canada): An unidentified student at the Mount Royal Junior College at Calgary claims he had to skin and eat two eats because he had no money for food. University authorities are investigating the claim.
"I cooked it with vegetables and then ate it," he said. "It tasted like chicken."
A week later he bought a scrawny cat from a Calgary pet shop and cooked and ate that.
A Calgary bank heard of his plight and has lent him £200, repayable when he has finished his education.
"That will see me through the rest of the year without having cat on the menu," said John X.
But some Canadian students, it seems, have money to spend on luxuries.
At least on Saskatoon City, Saskatchewan police officer believes that university students are far more involved in prostitution than in drug trafficking. Raids made by the Morality Squad on known "bawdy" houses have resulted in arrests of university men.
One inspector commented; "I believe that the university men who visit these places are just too shy to approach the girls they know. It is simpler for them to let themselves be approached by a prostitute."
Volley Ball is included in Tournament this year for the first time on a competitive basis.
It has been given a three-year trial period.
In 1965 volley ball was included in Tournament as an invitation sport although last year it did not appear at Dunedin in Easter Tourney.
The sport was born in America and is now played extensively in Europe and Asia, being included in the last Olympics for the first time.
The game can be played well by both sexes. It requires only a medium standard of fitness and a good physique is not essential for the good volley ball player.
As shown by the Japanese in the Olympics the sport can be exhilarating from the spectator point of view and in winning the gold medal the Japanese thrilled the crowds.
Victoria is entering three teams in Tournament this Easter, two men's and one ladies'. Otago and Canterbury have each entered one men's and one ladies' team.
Victoria's teams seem to be the favourites. They had a clear win in 1965. But reports indicate that the other universities are training hard, so close competition can be expected.
Raised seating for spectators will be provided in the gymnasium for the volley ball competition.
On Easter Saturday the red robin competitions will be held (every team plays every other). On the Monday the championship games take place and on the Tuesday the New Zealand Universities team will play Wellington.
The support given to volley ball at this Tournament will be the crucial factor in determining the future of the game. If well supported it could be a major step towards national prominence, if unsupported it may well disappear from the Easter Tournament programme.
It is understood at the annual general meeting of the Association of University Teachers a motion advocating the restrictions in classes where there was an exceptional staff shortage was not passed.
As Salient was excluded we cannot publish details of the debate.
A New 20-booth language laboratory at the University is making possible further advances in the teaching of modem languages.
Experiments in oral tuition began here several years ago. As a result, some courses, particularly French I, have changed radically.
A lot of oral work, it is now thought, speeds learning of the written language as well.
This year, thanks to the new laboratory, French I students will hear and speak more French than ever before.
The language laboratory's chief advantages are that each student can receive individual help from the tutor without interrupting others and can also work privately at his own speed. In fact, different people can work on different taped courses at the same time.
The Financing of a world student body from suspect sources cannot be tolerated by the New Zealand University Students' Association, president
He was commenting on recent disclosures of massive financial assistance to the International Student Conference from the United States Central Intelligence Agency.
"ISC was born out of necessity to counter the apparently pro-Communist International Union of Students." This is heavily backed by Communist governments.
"Attitudes of ISC do not necessarily coincide with official United States policy." he said.
In spite of the serious charges levelled against it, past valuable work and undoubted potential of ISC should not be disregarded.
IUS will make political capital of the convincing allegations against ISC.
"The international student movement is very much in a state of flux," Mountain concluded.
Does your every comment! send your friends into paroxysms of hysterical laughter? Does the rapier-like thrust of your satire cause panic among officialdom? If so, then not only are you a liar, but also you can make money writing for Cappicade.
Can you draw? Could you write a strip cartoon? Do you know what a strip cartoon is? Do you have any amusing photos? (No Playmates of the Month, please.) Deadline for all your efforts is April 7. Address them in a plain, sealed envelope to "The Editor, Cappicade," and drop them into the Students' Association Office, preferably at night when you run less risk of being picked up on an obscenity through the mails rap.
This may be your last chance to see your name in print, i.e. on the contributors' page. Join the rush and contribute. You have a 90 per cent chance of your copy being censored.
Victoria's Strong contingent at Evans Bay will be spearheaded by
Highlight of tournament athletics will be the steeplechase event. In this, current national champion,
Auckland's Clarke, the junior national champion over 440 yards, will be a likely starter in the 440 yards at Easter. Should he start he will be racing against national finalists
Semi-finalists in the sprints at nationals and now competing again against one another at tournament are
The hurdles events should provide interest with Victoria's Murray and Stevenson challenging the strong Otago contingent which includes Angus Welsh and
Glamour in the one and three mile events will be provided by
NZU record holder over 100 and 200 vards with times of 10.8 and 24.4 seconds, the 220 yards national champion,
The 440 yards is expected to provide a close race with Victoria Blue, Pat Winslade fighting the finish out with the Tong sisters.
In the women's field events, Brenda Walker of Gisborne, studying at Otago, will have a decided advantage. Second in the women's discus at nationals this year she is unlikely to find anybody who can present a serious challenge to her at tournament.
Victorias 1967 Sportsman of the Year, New Zealand representative,
Also in line for selection are Todd and Gilbert, members of the Junior Eights National Champions.
The eights race is timed to start at 9am on Easter Saturday. Depending on the wind, it will be held at either Korokoro or Oriental Bay. Victoria were champions last tournament, and have every prospect of being champions again.
With a New Zealand Universities team to be chosen to shoot against a Wellington invitation team on Monday, the atmosphere at Trentham on Easter Saturday will be tense, Shooting depends to a great extent on the individual.
Accordingly, Victoria with N.Z.U. Blue,
The Victoria team, as yet unsuccessful at tournaments, has the advantage of familiarity with the vagaries of Trentham range and, in view of past experience, should do well this year.
Easter tournament this year clashes with the New Zealand trials at Dunedin.
But there are sufficient promising young players in the teams to provide bright and entertaining basketball. Victoria finished second equal last year behind Otago and again hopes to succeed.
Tournament highlights will be the North-South game on Monday and the NZU-Wellington game later that afternoon.
Current yachting champions, Victoria, will again provide tough competition this year.
A long testing, two-lap course will test all yachties. Starting dock is at Pt. Jerningham.
Victoria strength will lie with
Edwards (Otago) and Garrod (Canterbury) are among the Plunket Shield players to be seen at Kilbirnie Park this Easter. Team lists were unavailable at the time of going to press.
With a close win to the students in the staff-students match, the Victoria club must feel confident of acquitting itself well on its home pitch.
One member of Victoria's tournament - winning men's tennis team last year will be playing against Victoria at Easter for the team that may defeat it. He is
Vic's team, except for Ian, will be the same as last year's
There are fewer women tennis players this year at Victoria. But a strong team, with its backbone of
Sir,—The protest of "Cynic" in his "Insight" column of Salient, March 2, at the refusal of the student authorities to allow Grand Establishment to show films to the student body is unjustified. The VUW Film Society fully supports the Executive move, just as it supported a similar ban last year on NZUSA screenings, on the grounds that there is already in this university an active film society formed for the sole purpose of showing films to students and other film enthusiasts. It is not committed to a rigid programme of set films which cannot be altered, nor does it neglect to screen any available film of merit. Many special screenings were held last year (eg Alexander Nevsky and Adieu Phillpine) and a similar policy is to be followed this year.
And lest "Cynic" doubt the motives of the Film Society in taking this attitude, I must point out that the screening of all films by the Society allows a slight profit to be made which creates the opportunity to obtain further films. This cyclic process is essential for the continued showing of films of quality in the university, rather than recent films on the immediate commercial circuit, and is best conducted by one student society alone.
G. Walker.