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The numbers in the Vietnam march to Parliament last week have been hailed as increased anti New Zealand participation feeling on Campus. At a recent meeting the University National Party Club disassociated itself from several Government statements on Vietnam.
It has been estimated 800 placard carrying lecturers and students marched to Parliament protesting against further military involvment in the Vietnam war.
The march was organised by the recently-formed University Vietnam Peace Committee, which is largely run by University lecturers. Key figures are;
Although the daily coverage was generally accurate figures on numbers taking part in the demonstration were somewhat at variance.
The Evening Post managed to claim 5000 and 1800 demonstrators in one report. The Dominion said 700 yet managed to print a photograph of the demonstration which suggested the figure was excessively conservative.
Salient estimated up to 2000 people took part in the demonstration.
A committee meeting of the VUW National Party Club last week passed the following motions disagreeing with the Government.
That one member of the Committee join the Committee on Vietnam deputation which may be received by the Prime Minister as a result of Tuesday's demonstration.
That the Committee direct its delegate to inform the Prime Minister that the Committee disassociates itself from the attack made by the Prime Minister on Colonel Low as reported in the Evening Post 29/7/67 and from the Prime Minister's statement quoted in the Evening Post 2/8/67 that "those who trumpet loudest that the United States is pulling the strings in Vietnam are themselves in danger of dancing to the tune of Communist North Vietnam and Communist China" and urges Mr. Holyoake to answer critics of his Vietnam policy with rational argument rather than with personally directed invective.
This is not the first time the Club has deviated from National Party policy. In 1966 the Club released statements condemning both the News Media Ownership and the Narcotics Bills.
Victoria has a new Student Counsellor. She is Miss
Miss Swatland has had considerable experience in the various branches of counselling—in a family counselling agency, a residential treatment centre, for emotionally disturbed children, as consultant for a residential centre for delinquent girls, group psychotherapy with disturbed adolescent girls, and on the Faculty of the School of Social Work with the University of Manitoba.
She came to New Zealand 18 months ago. and worked first as the senior social worker at Greenlane Hospital in Auckland. She has been at Victoria for a term now. working with the Student Health and Counselling Service in Waiteata Road.
"I am glad that students come freely for help." she told Salient"and I hope they will come before their problems get too acute." She said that as a result of the tremendous pressures under which students live, there is a trend in universities everywhere for increased counselling services
Salient has found that Sweet and Maxwell have purchased property across the road from the University in Kelburn Parade.
Sweet and Maxwell operate a bookshop which sells a wide range of University books near the bottom of the Terrace.
It is not known for what purpose the firm intends using the property. Apparently the land transfer went through very recently.
Salient Reporter
A Special General Meeting over two days last week approved a new constitution for the Students' Association.
The new constitution which will take effect as from next year underwent some marked changes at the hands of the SGM. Election of Sports and Cultural Affairs Officers were taken out of the respective Councils hands and will be by direct vote of students.
The meeting also rejected preferential voting and in future elections will be run on the first past the post principle.
At the SGM a new position called National Officer was created. This officer will concern himself with New Zealand matters which fall outside Education, Accommodation and Public Relations Committees. This position complements NZUSA's National Officer.
There are now 15 positions on Executive.
The new constitution was drawn up over the past year mainly in recognition of the fact that the old one was full of internal contradictions.
The general trend is to divide student administration up into specialised areas.
Major features are:
• Executives will run from January until December instead of June to June as at present.
Elections to be held early in the third term this year for next year's Executive.
• There will be a Publications Board to replace the existing Committee.
The Board will be responsible for all publications and will administer the 10/- student levy to Salient.
• Sports Council and Cultural Clubs Council have greater autonomy.
It is exepected each will receive a fixed portion of the Students Association fee to administer as they see fit.
A student writes on homosexuality ... 2
Cartoon ... 3
Baxter report ... 4
Burmese student riots 5
Editorials ... 6
McGrath writes on Russia ... 7
Gibson reviews sex book ... 8
Dr. Ruddock review ... 9
Sports ... 12
Mr. Holyoake has been trying hard recently to maintain one of his pet myths.
Although it is generally accepted General Maxwell Taylor came out here to ask for more troops, Mr. Holyoake still talks in terms of a request from the Saigon Government.
Either the Prime Minister is extremely misinformed about just who is running the war or wishes to shield our "Welfare State Weaklings" from the ghastly truth.
Not a very convincing performance though when even the New Zealand press has discovered some of the facts.
* * *
Foreign affairs reminds one of that revealing speech made by the Honourable
The Minister of Defence said in the past New Zealand has been a "puppet of Britain."
Claiming he did not mean this in a derogatory sense, he said we were now becoming independent in our foreign policy.
Seems one can only admit to have been a puppet after one has cut the strings, so to speak.
It just wouldn't do to say we were a puppet of the United States at the moment, would it?
Perhaps it is our fools paradise, or as one Labour parliamentarian put it recently—"a paradise run by fools." —which permits the notion we have an independent foreign policy to cheerfully pass by.
* * *
This Year is the first since 1964 the VUW National Club has not had a delegate at the National Party's annual Dominion Conference.
Club President David Williams was selected earlier this year but decided a couple of weeks or so before the event he was too busy to attend.
No, he didn't see if he could be replaced by another member. He rang the Divisional office of the National Party and just told them he could no longer attend and left it up to them to find a replacement.
Come, on David, is this really Edmund Burkes theory of conservatism in action?
* * *
My word, the Labour Party is marching solidly forward. Every opportunity to make a gain they seize and make the most of it.
Just look at their skill in petting the best people into Parliament.
They recently had an oppor-tunity to replace a Maori member who died.
What did they do—select a good solid waterside worker.
* * *
Some people really do need, convincing.
Apparently certain members of the University Council and the administration are not frightfully concerned about the idea of a bookshop on campus.
They think students really don't mind the usual annual shambles.
What do these people want— a demonstration every day or perhaps a sit-in in the Administration building?
—Cynic
The two articles in recent issues of Salient on the problems posed by homosexuality seem to me to have a common theme; they both ask that the homosexual should be tolerated by other, more fortunate, members of society.
John Murray in his article
Dr. Taylor in his article states: "Society has a right to endorse heterosexuality, but not at the expense of making scapegoats of the substantial minority of its members who by the nature of their upbringing are unable to share the heterosexual ideal."
Both writers in their articles see the homosexual as an unfortunate individual unable to share in the normal life of society and ask that such a person should be allowed to live his life freely, inside the law, and without rejection by society.
To me it would seem that this is the desirable attitude to take towards the homo-sexual but. at a time when reform of the law is being widely advocated I feel that it should be asked whether or not law reform will ease the homosexual's lot and engender this desired attitude in society.
To examine this question I think it is necessary first to examine the homosexual's lot now. and then to ask what differences reform of the law can be expected to make.
The current issue of University Focus carries an article on homosexual law reform. The author refers to an essay in Time Magazine on homosexuality and quotes what he considers to be the essay's sensible conclusion; that homosexuality "is a pathetic little second-rate substitute for reality, a pitiable flight from life." The quotation goes on to say that homosexuality deserves fairness, etc.. but it is this initial statement that intrigues me.
It is my contention that for that substantial minority homosexuality is an absolute reality. While it is reasonable to say it is not the sexual inclination of the majority. I feel that for that minority homosexuality is not an alternative or an escape but a very real sexual and emotional preference.
I saw recently a letter in which one man expressed his love for another. I have no reason to doubt its sincerity. It was a genuine attempt by one human being to tell an-other of his love for him. I mention it as an example of the fact that men can feel as strongly for one another as can a man for a woman.
The emotion is the same, the desire is the same, society reacts differently. And because society reacts differently the homosexual has to make three adjustments not asked of the heterosexual.
Firstly he has to adjust to the fact that he can never live within society with a per-son he loves as can a hetero-sexual.
Secondly, he has to adjust to the fact that when he "falls in love" with someone and wishes to express this physically, or when he is physically attracted to someone, then any manifestation of this is illegal.
Thirdly, he has to accept himself as a homosexual—a person who is "different," "queer," "camp."
The heterosexual has to make none of these adjustments.
I believe that the homosexual's greatest problem is having to accept himself as different from his associates, his parents, his brothers. Difficulties in acceptance of one's homosexuality appear to be many; basically I think they stem from the society and from the person's upbringing. Old taboos have to be broken, family expectations may have to be disappointed—they all point to the notice "I'm different."
I think inability to accept himself is what often turns the homosexual into the caricature society has created for him—because he cannot accept himself his homosexuality is magnified out of all proportion and it becomes the centre of his life. He becomes, in effect, dominated by his sex organs and all his energy is directed towards the sexual part of his life—which I do not think of great importance.
The fact that he is so involved with his sexuality is a possible reason why many homosexuals seem to me to be unsuccessful in their careers, or to have second-rate careers from a social standpoint.
The energy which another man may put into his career is channelled away by the demands of his sexuality. The successful homosexual seems to me to be the man who can say: "Well. Ok. I'm a homosexual, there's nothing I can do about it. it's nothing to be ashamed of or proud of. it is a fact." Having said that he can proceed with the rest of his life as does a heterosexual and he only differs in bed.
During the past few issues Salient has presented various views on the question of homosexuality.
This article is printed to present the view- of a sometime homosexual.
The writer argues the practice should be accepted as an alternative to heterosexuality and not as a perversion.
I think a man needs to be involved in something larger than himself in order to truly realise his capabilities—he needs some aim (for many heterosexuals the successful rearing of a family is enough —there is no corresponding activity for the homosexual), Sex is simply not in this category—it is not important enough. In addition to this I think it is only in the realisation, or partial realisation of a person's capabilities that any measure of happiness can be found.
Presuming the homosexual makes the personal adjustment he then has to cope with society and with the law. The necessity for the legal adjustment, which I hope will shortly disappear, seems so ridiculous to me that I think it hardly bears mentioning except that it makes the homosexual's life harder than the heterosexual's.
The social adjustment is also extremely difficult. Recently a homosexual friend of mine was with a girl at a dance hall in town. He was beaten up to the extent of a broken nose and two black eyes by a person older and stronger than himself on the grounds that a "homosexual should not go out with girls."
Most of us have observed incidents which although not as violent as the one cited above, carry the same prejudice. It is easy to say that such a prejudice is irrational but not so easy to cultivate tolerance in the beholder.
To return to the specific problem of homosexual law reform, one does of course advocate it (that such reform should ever have to take place is indicative of an irrational society) but in advocation it must be realised that it will not solve many of the homosexual's problems.
The homosexual's adjustment to life, after his personal adjustment, is simplified by the removal of the fact that he is acting outside the law when he expresses his sexual-emotional desires. The knowledge that he is acting legally should make the personal adjustment easier and perhaps also make him feel that there is nothing insidious about his feelings of affection for others.
But this "perhaps" result of law reform may be hampered by society itself, for I do not think that law reform will alter greatly the feelings of the people.
While many people will say that the homosexual should be allowed to live freely, they will say it in very broad terms —and their tolerance is not the result of rationality (not to say it is a pose) but rather for them the problem exists on a hypothetical level and when the problem becomes closer their reaction may be very different. (I once heard a conversation which I think is analogous: "I'm sure there must be some nice Jews, but . . .")
The conversation of a "liberal" person with regard to homosexuality may become: "I'm sure a lot of homosexuals must be good people and I think they should be allowed to do as they like—somewhere else."
To conclude, as I see it the law with regard to the homosexual should be reformed— to enable him to lead a more enjoyable and useful life; but before this more enjoyable and useful life can be realised society will have to do more than allow the repealing of an archaic law.
Sirs,—Press and TV reports on the demonstrations against Taylor vary considerably in their account of facts, but were unable to disguise the principal fact that demonstrations took place. It is actual happenings which are news. Press. TV and radio, here seem to consider that it is statements of opinion, from the conservative side of course, which are news. These are varying statements of fact, as processed in the normal way. by Wellington news media.
TV 730 newscast August 1 reported 450 Victoria students marched to Parliament becoming part of a crowd numbering 2000. The Evening Post August 1. reports in its first paragraph, " a crowd of about 6000" (figure poorly printed, difficult to know what first symbol was). Then in its third paragraph—'The crowd num-tiered 1800." As to the student participation, the tenth paragraph states "A march of nearly 1200 university students, plus a few lecturers."
The same TV report described six pro-war demonstrators. The Evening Post report discovered ten of same. Do they mean six ten-year-olds or ten six-year-olds? One of them at any rate who had escaped from the Wizard of Id comic strip, carried a placard proclaiming "Every Communist is a Fink." He, of course, got pride of place in the only Evening Post photograph of the Student March.
The next morning the Dominion assessed the number of demonstrators at 700. On the night of the demon strations, the 11pm BBC World Service drawing upon what sources of Information one cannot guess but obviously not the NZBC services, also placed the number at 700.
On comparatively simple matters of fact such as these, the news media do not seem to know whether it is Christmas or New Year. These events occurred in Wellington. How accurate is the coverage of events so far away as Saigon which are subject to US military as well as local editorial censorship.
On what real basis then can they determine editorial policy. How do the policy makers decide whether in fact the Vietnamese war is one for national independence as described by U Thant, or a big hearted defence of Vietnamese Asians 6000 miles from America against so-called aggression from their own countrymen?
They really do not care, do they? Whatever they are supporting is right, whatever their motives and regardless of the facts.
Sirs,—For the first time I am in almost complete disagreement with a Salient review.
"The Lady from the Sea" was one of the Drama Club's best productions. It is true that the actors, apart from
I certainly do not suggest that good intentions are any substitute for good acting; here, we had good intentions realised in good acting.
Good, because the acting was a vehicle for an intelligent interpretation rather than something obstrusive in itself.
Each character probed his or her own potential area of development in a play which, among other things, embodies a sensitive exploration of the relationship between personal freedom and prsonal commitment.
The meanlnglessness of a choice made under pressure is obvious: but the absence of pressure in a complex situation is almost impossible to achieve.
This was beautifully illustrated by
Ellida's related dilemma was resolved in a very moving scene. My one point of agreement with your reviewer, P. Stevens, is the suspicion that Miss Sacklin did not completely understand this role. She gave a consistent interpretation, but one which was perhaps a little too docile. too pathetic, for a woman torn by duty and a lust for the sea and all it represented in the play. But her relationship with her husband, Wangel developed very effectively.
Here, Miss Stevens's speculations on Tony Lenart's posture are at variance with her requirement that a character should be realised in manners as well as in mind. I could find no fault with Tony Lenart's presentation of a humble, bewildered man, benevolent yet not without faults.
The supporting characters were not dull; they were not unoriginal; they worked out their variations on the theme with a concern for the personal as well as for the unifying generality which Ibsen sets forth. Ken Laraman's Lyngstrand was engagingly selfish and naive, avoiding sentimentality and providing a delicate mixture of sadness and nonchalance.
But I don't wish to praise individual actors so much as to appreciate the whole, which I feel your reviewer failed to do. A production relies on the relationship between actors, producer, and play, and it was this relationship which was so satisfying in "The Lady from the Sea.
Finally, may I suggest to
Sirs,—We wish to dissociate ourselves from Mr. W. J. Hall's attacks on the new Asian Studies policy, and on pro-iessor Brookes. Having participated in the discussions which led to the drafting of the new policy, we can confirm that Professor Brookes' statements (which Mr. Hall calls "inventions") are correct. We wish to emphasise that the new policy was framed not by Professor Brookes but by ourselves, together with other staff (including Mr. Hall) who are teaching about Asia; Professor Brookes' role was that of an impartial chairman, and the main features of the new policy were not his ideas but emerged from group discussion.
We find it odd that Mr. Hall should be criticising the new policy, since it supplies so much of what he says he wants: interdisciplinary study (in the new Honours programme), graduate research in Asia for our advanced students, and the introduction of teaching in Asian languages. Indeed, we are at a loss to understand why he should so misrepresent the nature of the new policy. We question whether such intemperate attacks are likely to foster the development of Asian studies in this university.
During the National Party Conference in Christchurch, some students decided to make their views apparent by the Age old techniques of the demonstration.
Glancing out the window at the hordes, with an air of suitable shock, one delegate remarked. "I wouldn't let my students do that." Further investigation revealed the maternal speaker to be
Some of this legal aura does become a bit farcical. One court (in America of course) has had to admit to happily, swearing-in witnesses, and all, that, on the hallowed con-tents of leather bound ready, reckoner. It went on for 30 years. Nobody bothered to read it. or even flick the cover.
A Team of newcomers will be defending the horn for Vic at Winter Tourney. It seems that no former competitors are available. Still, Vic drinking depth should prove cap-able of again notching that, most prized trophy of all.
The president, secretary, and one committee member of the National Party Club were among the marchers to Parliament when the United States "goodwill" visitors were here. General Maxwell Taylor was unavailable for comment on insubordination among the ranks.
Owen Gager really enjoys his pops, and takes them so seriously. He sat right down and wrote himself a letter. As an applicant for a position in student publishing next year, he wrote to himself as Publications Officer this year. Wonder what it's all about?
It Was quite a shocking experience. Toro had a birthday recently, and he kept it quiet.
Asked why he didn't shout the boys, he explained the most suitable place for that sort of thing was at the pub, but he was a little shy to go there at the time as his goatie had not fully grown.
That's right, he's growing it again—says it adds to his sex attraction.
A Prominent member of the Committee on Vietnam predicted there would be 4000 at the Parliament demonstration to greet General Maxwell Tayior. This prediction came 24 hours before the demonstration was due to begin. Not bad going, only an over calculation of about 60 per cent.
First Again in enterprise, Victoria University used its final Winter Term Lecture to launch a new product on the art consumers' market: All Improved. New Formula
It was made clear at the launching that any partly-used containers of Baxter the. Contraversialist with secret ingredient Sarcasm would be refunded in full.
The old label "Iconoclasticdilute before use," has been done away with, as has that which used to read "Mind your Heads. Low Humour Ahead."
The new label reads "Tested and Approved."
This revolutionary product was demonstrated on a sample topic—"Poetry in New Zealand"—and its new properties became apparent.
Describing the position of the early poet in New Zealand. Mr. Baxter said. "A puritan society may inhibit its writers and even throttle them." He attributed this puritanical attitude in New Zealand in part to the belief in the myth of colonial inferi-ority—the belief that the early settlers' emigration was likened to the fall of man. leaving England with its "Eden-like" qualities.
He saw as a result of "the conquest of the puritan dilemma" and the growing rejection of the motherland myth the development of ribaldry and casual wit, of "anti-romantic romanticism." a "strong streak of New Zealand identity" and what he called "conscious New Zealandism."
Quoting from a publication, of his own authorship, Mr. Baxter read poems and parts of poems by New Zealand authors, using them as examples to show what he saw as the trends in New Zealand poetry which he enumerated: a change from the prophetic to the therapeutic view of art; closer examination of structure and techniques; a deepening and enlargement of the themes used by women poets; a shift from regional to social emphasis; development of the erotic; increasing use of Maori themes and development of the metaphysical and pastoral idiom.
It was perhaps a pity that he used none of his own work to illustrate these trends.
It would seem from this free sample introductory offer that the new improved
One of the biggest student clubs at Canterbury University is the Pooh Society. On the tenth of July the Society celebrated that momentous event — Eeyore's Birthday Party.
The main business of the birthday party was the presentation of an address by Mr.
"Winnie the Pooh not only ranks with the Bible and Shakespeare as a great work of fiction." said Mr. Brooks, "but it is clearly also the Great New Zealand Novel of political satire. Mr. Milne, writing 40 years ago and 12,000 miles away, is to be congratulated."
The forest was obviously the political jungle, continued Mr. Brooks. The theme of the novels is the character assassination, political in-fighting, and Fuhrer principle of New Zealand politics.
Pooh is the stock politician of the National Party He has "little brain"; he is avaricious, stupid, obsessed with his: honey hoard. In Chapter 6, faced with a problem, he looks to the right before the left.
Piglet is. of course, Muldoon. He is the hatchet man; a nasty piece of work, with flattery and machination his weapons. For example, his attempt to usurp Pooh's birthday present for Eeyore.
Rabbit is the Junior Nat in a hurry. "Hello, everyone." he says, "and a special hello for the little ones." He ignores Eeyore. seeing in him no easy advantages. All his friends and relations are. in the end, no help to him—he ends up as a messenger boy.
Tigger is the mysterious outsider, boastful, bouncing, and ineffectual. "Who else," asked Mr. Brooks, "than Cracknell?"
Tigger becomes great friends with little Roo. Roo is taken for a ride, up a forest tree—"A gum tree, of course." said Mr. Brooks— where Tipper drops him and is himself left out on a limb. "One feels sorry for Roo in the story and sorrier still for the Voting Public in real life."
"Roo, always falling into things and being left behind. has his only protector and source of information in Karma, in whose pocket Roo is kept, and by whom Roo is daily forcibly spoon fed. Symbolically, this is the press and the NZBC; personalised, Kanga is Austin Mitchell.
Eeyore, cynical critical, grumpy and clinging to his rags of pathetic dignity, is Sir
Mr. Brooks finished in a storm of applause, and over supper and more beer ably defended his arguments.
Men use thought only to justify their wrongdoings, and speech only to conceal their thoughts.—Voltaire.
The only way to get rid of temptation is to yield to it.— Wilde.
Noddy's Party
(An allegory so monumentally awesome in its terrifying meaningfulness that it has moved the National Film Unit to produce a five-minute documentary entitled "Beautiful Porirua").
One day little Noddy was playing with his puppets in his little stone House "Ho, Ho, Ho," he chizzed to his pathetic little wooden playthings, "today we will all be happy and glad for today me and my friend Big Mouth will be having a party."
At this good news forty pairs of tiny wooden hands began to clap so hard that Noddy's bell danced and jingled with delight. "You have been such good little wooden men that I have invited Maxie and His Magic Dollar Taxi to come as well! Now if you all go and rest your hands for a while I'll go and count my toy soldiers."
So Noddy went off to his secret toy cupboard to count his soldiers. He was so excited that the counting didn't seem to last as long as usual. Suddenly little Noddy realised why. He hadn't any more tin soldiers! He had swapped them all for a ride in the Magic Dollar Taxi and a vague promise of lollies galore from Uncle
Soon the Pig. little Noddy and Big Mouth were busily melting the first batch of plastic puppets. They were talking merrily about the Pig's latest achievement of splitting all the lollies in the Village into two parts so that the plastic puppets would think that they had twice as many as before. Noddy was cooing and chizzing and passing out lollies sent to him by some Swiss puppets when he heard the familiar heavy tones of Mr. Plod the Village engine driver. "Watt's going on here eh?" he intoned, wishing he was a policeman.
Before Big Mouth had a chance to put his foot in it Maxie's Magic Dollar Taxi pulled up outside the little stone House. Mr. Plod was very nearly trampled on in the rush for ballpoint pens but already Maxie was having none of it. Kicking the little wooden puppets aside he strode straight to Noddy and gave him some funny-looking lollies and told him to swallow them.
Although his face turned a bilious turquoise Noddy would not say what the lollies were even when thousands of plastic puppets knocked on his door and asked him.
All the time Maxie just sat and glared and muttered about having no more tin soldiers either and about how his plastic soldiers spent their time melting each other down. At this Noddy made a brave attempt to cheer him up by singing the Village Anthem—"Puppet on a String." This only served to anger Maxie who made a rude remark about General Wastmoremen and left.
When he had gone Mr. Plod asked Noddy whether Maxie wanted the Village cheese any more. Noddy broke down and cried and whimpered "Only till they get to the Moon." And that was the end of little Noddy's dream of staying in the little stone House for ever and ever.
ASPB
Rangoon: "If you cannot accept our policy, go back to Red China" shouted thousands of Burmese students gathered in front of a Chinese school here to protest the wearing of Mao badges by students of Chinese origin (there are about one million Chinese in Burma; total Burmese population: 25 million).
This simple peaceful demon-stration on the morning of June 26 soon spread to other cities and culminated in the wrecking of windows, burning of cars and the death of scores of Chinese. Burmese and Indians Radio Peking gave a figure of 50: New China News Agency pruned it to 18) including an employee of the Chinese Embassy.
The trouble started from the small village of Myitkyina in Northern Burma, about 50 kilometers from the border with China. There the Chinese started distributing badges bearing the head of Mao Tsetung to students and young people.
The "movement" soon travelled south and finally erupted in Rangoon, where the Chinese diplomats were noticed distributing these badges and Chinese students started flashing them. Burmese students reacted very strongly to this exhibition of "extra territorial loyality" on the part of the Chinese students and soon the Government banned the use of all badges—including Mao's —in the schools and colleges.
Some Chinese students be-longing to two schools in Rangoon organised a sit-in as early as June 22 to protest the Government order and went to the extent of assaulting two press photographers who were taking pictures of the demonstration. The Government closed both the schools indefinitely fearing further trouble.
The Chinese students re-fused to accept the Government order, continued to wear the Maobadges and waved the little red book of Mao's thoughts at the protesting Burmese students. In fact the Chinese students told their teachers on June 24 that there would be "trouble" if they were not permitted to wear the badges.
What infuriated the Burmese students most was the defiance of the national flag by the Chinese who, according to Rangoon's Guardian, "urinated and trampled on it."
They are reported to have smashed the portraits of Burma's revered national leader, the late
The Chinese students are also reported to have raped and killed two Burmese women teachers, locked up their head-masters and continued to distribute Mao badges under the supervision of Chinese diplomats and a reporter of New China News Agency.
The angry Burmese students retaliated by creating havoc in the city's Chinatown: in all 100 persons got injured; around 40-50 were killed; 50 cais and 1.000 houses and shops were reduced to ashes; a Chinese embassy employee was stabbed to death and the windows and doors of Chinese schools were smashed.
The riots which continued for three days in Rangoon (June 26-28) also spread to other major towns like Mandalay, Magwe, Moulmein, Pyinmana. Bassein, Yenangyaung and Taunggyi.
In Mandalay a big procession of undergrads hit the streets shouting "Down with Maoism."
Alarmed over the deteriorating situation, the Burmese Head of State General Ne Win imposed a one month ban on demonstrations, arrested 112 students, used tear gas shells to disperse the crowd, closed all colleges and schools and interned indisciplined Chinese students. Rangoon was also clamped down under curfew and later martial law was proclaimed.
One peculiar feature of the three-day riot in Rangoon was that in spite of heavy damage to Chinese property and personnel, there was no looting or stealing. Even gold and cash, found in considerable quanti-ties in Chinese establishments, was thrown into bonfires without any second thoughts. A good deal of expensive textiles, cement etc were found burnt.
Chinese Government quickly lodged a "most urgent and strong" protest and accused the Burmese Government, particularly General Ne Win. of "instigating and engineering" the anti-Chinese riots. Peking also demanded "immediate compliance of five demands" including release of interned Chinese students.
Radio Peking went one step further and threatened avenge by "Chinese nationals armed (With the thought of Mao Tsetung."
Burma's Mirror politely replied that "Burma's 25 million people were only armed with love and sincerity."
While these protests were being traded between the two Governments. Peking's
China also recalled its ambassador and Burma became the third nonaligned country in Asia to have only Charge de Affiairs relations with China, the other two being India and Indonesia.
The Government, which had interned 530 Chinese students at a special camp, offered to send them home with their parents, but, they refused to go and demanded interviews with Chinese diplomats. The student leaders locked all the students in the camp and asked their parents to go home, They assaulted two mothers, who come to fetch their sons.
Burma's outlawed pro-Peking faction (White Flags) of the Communist Party echoed Peking's line and asked people "to overthrow General Ne Win's Government" which was "fawning on American imperialists, consorting with Soviet revisionists and join-ing hands with Chiang Kai-Shek."
Malaysia's leading daily newspaper The Straits Times summed up the situation aptly. In its editorial entitled "Burma's Turn," it asked "What went wrong" and the gave a five word reply—"the Great Proletariat Cultural Revolution."
" I Think The Communist Chinese have got a purer form of democracy than we have/' said Mr. Frank Thorn, President of the New Zealand Freezing Workers Union.
Speaking to a meeting sponsored by VUW Labour Party Club about his recent trip to China, Mr. Thorn said of their way of life, "I believe that their concept is what we are pleased to call a Christian concept in this country.
"The people there now do not have private thoughts, Their thoughts are public, Everything they do is design-ed to benefit others. They are trying to lift the standard of living of the Chinese people and of the country as a whole," he said
"Their living standard is definitely not up to ours in this country, but it is a fair-standard.
"The Chinese worker can walk with his face te the sun." he said. "He is not being pushed around and told what to do. but he is an integral part of the country and he knows it.
"These people have come out of the pit of despair and are now ordering their own lives. The Chinese workers are a thousand times better off than they were in 1938 when I was last there, and they'll die fighting before they go down."
Of the agricultural communes he saw. Mr. Thorn said, "They are the most efficient form of big-time farming I have ever seen and they will soon produce a food surplus. So far they are only about 40-50 per cent mechanised but the workers are not unhappy because they know that very soon they will get everything they want.
"In a number of the factories I visited I saw the factory director working down on the floor, maybe at a lathe," he said. He described a freezing works near Harbin where he met the director working on the chain, which he does one week every month.
"I was dumbfounded to read some of the newspaper reports in this country when I got back," he said in reference to articles on the Cultural Revolution which described mass demonstrations and "lopping off of heads" in cities which he was visiting at the time of reported disturbances. "I saw no sigh of unrest, and no sign of anyone being pushed around."
Asked if he thought that popular feeling towards Mao Tes Tung could be compared to the mass following of Hitler, Mr, Thorn said. "The adulation for Mao is not like that for Hitler. It is greater. Certainly his aims are much greater.
"Had I been a Chinese worker in 1938 and lived to the present day I would look up to that gentleman too."
He went on to describe China's attitude to America as one of apprehension at the prospect of being invaded.
"I want to see China left in peace." he said, "And I want to see trade with them. As far as I can see they haven't got any aims to go reiding anybody else."
August 8, 1967
Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of VUWSA.
The recent setbacks for dairy exports to the United States may convince the most rabid supporters of its foreign policy that unlimited backing by New Zealand doesn't necessarily mean better trading prospects.
In fact the time is long overdue for an official re-examination of our foreign policy goals and consideration of the means we are using to attain them.
As the Cold War developed in the late 40s and New Zealand began to feel its independence from Britain the Government adopted the foreign policy of the United States, believing it to be a good insurance policy.
When the then Prime Minister, Sir
The question of foreign policy has produced a curious alliance between many New Zealand academics and the politicians. The academics argue a non-aligned policy is not practicable because it would necessitate greatly increased defence expenditure.
However, these arguments are derived from theories based mainly on European experience and are largely irrelevant to New Zealand.
They make inadequate allowance for the fact that New Zealand is not in a strategic position. It is a little island near the bottom of the Pacific—not well known throughout the world.
Thus the chances of an aggressor nation are somewhat remote. On its own, New Zealand is just not worth taking over. However, although we are not of immediate strategic concern neither power bloc would stand by and see us absorbed by the other.
In other words, the United States, with or without a request, would come to our "aid" if we were threatened by a Communist takeover. Treaties are unnecessary.
The commercial implications of our foreign policy are not clear. It would appear, as Australia has found from experience, The Peoples Republic of China is willing to trade with anyone, as is the Soviet Union. In the case of the latter, special efforts have been made in recent months to induce the New Zealand Government to increase trade.
The only thing that is clear is that nothing can be expected from either Australia or the United States in the way of trade concessions. Perhaps if our foreign policy were independent, these nations would make some attempt to gain our favour on certain questions.
At the moment we are a useful weapon Washington can employ on any of its Asian adventures. Politically, we have little to lose and, commercially, possibly some gains to make by adopting an independent stand on international questions.
And, most important, New Zealand could acquire that dignity which is so difficult while our politicians are mere pawns in Cold War politics.
Vietnam is the most complicated issue in current world politics, and it is the issue that so many pretend to be the simplest. Both hawks and doves are guilty of clouding the issue beyond assessment.
If it could be proved that China's interest in the war were aggressive and expansionist, our commitment would be justified—we have a right to protect our freedom and the freedom of our fellows.
China's diplomatic efforts in Africa involving much expense and talent (both badly needed at home), her diversion of resources into nuclear weaponry instead of to a thirsty economy, and her ideological aims, do suggest expansionist interests.
For the hawks these are sufficient proof. "We ignored Mein Kampf for too long, we can't accord Mao's Thoughts the same foolery."
But the issue is far from this simple. Despite China's assistance to Ho Chi Minh, there is much to suggest the North's struggles to be nationalist in character. So nationalist in fact that China could not hope to dominate her southern neighbour.
The Vietnamese civilisation extends for some thousand years. The two-Vietnams situation is a minute time fraction when seen against this background. It is understandable for there to be an impassioned desire for unity.
Ho did not pander to the Japanese in 1945, he did not allow French domination in the years following, and he is not allowing American domination at the present time. It is most unlikely that he would meekly succumb to Chinese domination in the future.
Now the doves are satisfied. "Let the country unite in terms of its historical identity—as provided for in the Geneva Treaty of 1954."
Such is our present confusion. Some argue in present world politics there are two forces polarised in opposition — communism and free enterprise.
A festering economic gap which promotes so much militarism is neglected and shrugged off as a side issue.
Then there are those who say it's all a matter of nationalism, the imperialist nationalism of America seeks to dominate the nationalism of Asia born of economic necessity.
So many who argue in this vein profess a love of mankind yet maintain the ability to hate the next-door neighbour because he happens to be in the RSA, or the Prime Minister, or anyone who disagrees.
To be intellectually honest we can only conclude there is no clarity. It would be comforting to flee into either camp and pretend there is no confusion. But our personal comfort is no basis on which to determine war or no war.
If we are to be committed to war the issue should be clear.
General Taylor, Sir, we don't want to help you because we can find no clear reason why we should.
Of The National Party conferences I've attended since 1963 this year's was the most interesting and controversial. It was also the most right-wing and conservative. It represented a swing away from what "liberalism" the National Party may have retained, to a heavy anti-socialist conservatism reminiscent of the formative days of the National Party in
All of these were adopted by the conference, one or two slightly amended, and the deportation of criminals remit was only withdrawn after pressure.
Because of the economic situation, unemployment, the imminent visit of General Maxwell-Taylor to ask for more troops, the poor prospects for wool, and the American cut-back on imports of dairy produce, the conference was held at an important period. Delegates felt that perhaps the Government was in a quandary about what action to take, over the economy, trade and Vietnam, and that they were there to guide the Party. They felt the Government's "playing it by ear" policies had failed. They felt the Government had no co-ordinated overall plan for the future. They would like to think that the future was rosy, but realised it wasn't. There was an impatience with the Government for failing to act incisively and rapidly. On the whole there was loyalty to the Party, as a Party, but at this conference the leadership, specially Mr. Holyoake, lost ground and prestige.
One of the over-riding issues throughout the whole conference was a pre-occupation with what delegates thought was a rising crime rate. All remits dealing with criminals, police offences, even Rhodesia, somehow managed to provoke a number of speeches about the rape of young girls, and recent murders. Another predominant theme was unemployment. Mr. Holt the Party President, led off well with a speech which was only interesting for his now-famous statement that it would do "louts, beatniks and other lazy people" good not to have a job. This statement was acclaimed by the conference. Mr. Holyoake also thought it would do a lot of good to a number of people to have some sense knocked into them by not being employed. Only Mr. Shand took the unemployment seriously.
The leadership was straining to get the Party behind it once more. They were worried about the credibility gap. Mr. Holyoake was particularly concerned to clear his reputation and that of the Government. He spent at least half an hour of his main speech saying that it wasn't his fault the wool prices had fallen, and asking why, if others had known prices were going to fall, they hadn't told him. He apparently didn't read the Wool Board report on declining wool prices, presented in August, nor the recommendations of the monetary and Economic Council, nor the figures of the Institute of Economic Research on our overseas trade balance.
If Mr. Holyoake was trying to lessen the credibility gap, he in fact widened it in his speech. It was superficial, and full of half-statements. He said for instance that New Zealand was supporting international agencies, for example, "for three years we have contributed a Police contingent to the United Nations force in Cyprus."
To the listener it would appear that we were still contributing this, but Mr. Holyoake forgot to mention that this force had been withdrawn a month previously. His speech was full of similar omissions. Nothing in it was new, and it was obviously intended to be a general review of National Government policies. The future was bright, there was nothing to worry about. In saying this the Prime Minister cut his own throat, for the Party knew better.
Throughout the conference the Prime Minister and Mr. Marshall sat on the platform, in front of the delegates. If it was meant to help their image it didn't, because throughout Mr. Holyoake was a very unhappy man. He smiled rarely and acknowledged speakers even less. It was obvious he disliked the recurring attacks on his Government's policies.
On one notable occasion, when a remit calling for the abolition of the land tax was passed almost unanimously by the conference, the Party President turned to Mr. Holyoake and said jokingly "There's your answer Mr. Prime Minister." Mr. Holyoake only scowled at the meeting.
Ministers were placed in a rather embarrassing position in the remit committees of the conference. At previous conferences Ministers have spoken quite frequently at the remit committees, usually when called upon by the meeting, to explain Government policy or give information. However. this year Ministers often got to their feet and spoke without invitation. This was accepted by the meeting, but often what they had to say wasn't.
At Remit Committee One Mr. Shand, the Minister of Labour, spoke on three successive remits— dealing with grocery hours, Saturday trading and industrial stoppages. In each case he explained Government policy and informed the meeting that the Government was "making progress" on these matters. Every time, even though Mr. Shand argued plausibly and strongly, he was voted down by 75 per cent of the committee.
In remit Committee three Mr. Muldoon, the "doyen" of the Conference till that time, was voted down twice. The only Minister to come well out of the Remit Committees was the Minister of Health Mr. McKay. He argued against increasing the allowable earnings for widows. The Remit Committee agreed with him and voted the Remit down. But when it got to full conference, and Mr. McKay didn't speak, the Remit Committee decision was reversed.
This, I think, makes the point that in Remit Committees the conference delegates were prepared to take Ministers on. There was less respect for them than in previous years. The delegates had specific (usually parochial) projects in mind, and they were determined to pass them, whether the Minister agreed or not.
When Ministers made set speeches from the floor one got the feeling that delegates weren't quite as "behind" the Cabinet or Government as they had been at previous conferences. There wasn't the same aura of admiration.
The only Minister who received a spontaneous standing ovation was Mr. Muldoon. Mr. Marshall didn't. Mr. Shand didn't and even after the Prime Minister finished his main speech on Saturday night, the meeting declined to stand. It wasn't until the vote of thanks and the prompting by Party President Holt that the meeting reluctantly got to its feet.
Set speeches were given to the conference by Mr. Muldoon—on our economic situation, by Mr. Marshall on our export trade, by the Prime Minlster—a general review of everything, and Mr. Shand on labour and unemployment.
Of the four only Mr. Shand was realistic and down-to-earth. The
others
The
while
The
People at the beginning of the conference who thought there was no possibility of a leadership change within the next year had changed their minds by the end. It is not now a question of "Will Mr. Holyoake go?" but rather "When will it be, and who will replace him?"
Mr. Holyoake is a very tired politician. His recent statements indicate that he isn't fully in control of the situation, internally or externally. He even gets upset when people quote his contradictory statements. The Parliamentary Press Gallery is increasingly concerned about the "credibility gap" between Government (especially the Prime Minister), the press and the public.
At General Maxwell Taylor's press conference Mr. Holyoake gave a good example when he was asked, "Was the contribution (of troops) New Zealand could make discussed in any detail?" Mr. Holyoake answered: "Do you mean the aetual shape of any further contribution New Zealand might give? This was not discussed in any way whatever—or in any detail."
If Mr. Holyoake can't improve his image and eliminate the credibility gap, then the National Party may find a quick and neat way of getting rid of him. There's a ready successor being created in the form of Mr. Muldoon. People admire him for his courageous acts (for which, incidentally, he had no responsibility).
National Party feeling seems to be against Mr. Marshall, for no apparent reason. They may have started to suspect that his paternal image is not all it seems to be.
In the case of a leadership change within the next year or so. next year's Party Conference should be interesting-either to see the decline and fall of Mr. Holyoake or the rise of a new leader. This conference was notable because it tried to assert some kind of control over the politicians. This move failed quite naturally because the Government has greater knowledge than the conference delegates and have had time to entrench their authority.
The conference move to re-establish some sort of control over politicians was quite probably unconscious. Not many people there believed that they had any power— and those who did were naive.
Some remits were withdrawn after it had been pointed out that the Government had already acted. Mr. Marshall knocked the conference very neatly when, after it had passed a remit on tariff protection for industries, he stood up and said that the Government had already implemented the proposal the conference wanted.
Not one of the delegates knew, and Mr. Marshall had let them discuss the issue for 30 minutes and vote before informing them.
Delegates realised that these were knock-backs and didn't like them.
The conference was successful organisationally. But as a conference to obtain unanimity and consensus it wasn't. There were large divisions of opinion over all the major remits. Delegates were confused with the rapidity with which the motion on capital punishment was passed. This, followed by the motion supporting the Government in any increase in troops to Vietnam, was a shock to many people.
The younger delegates were not so much concerned with the content of these resolutions, but what such cursory treatment meant for the National Party's public image. They noted the trend was towards the right, and therefore some of the younger delegates spoke out strongly against the motion calling for change in the Government's policies of sanctions against Rhodesia.
The motion on Rhodesia was probably the one which caused the largest split, especially between the older and younger generations. The older delegates used the "anti-Communism" spiel about Rhodesia and backed the resolution almost unanimously. The younger delegates on the whole were against this approach and supported the "rule of law." They voted against the resolution.
It was interesting that these younger delegates were the ones who promoted the Vietnam remit— one that gave rise to noticeable questioning of Government's policies. There was doubt over whether New Zealand should be involved. The value of military aid as opposed to economic aid was questioned. On the voices, about 25 or 30 people opposed the Vietnam remit.
On many other remits there were splits. Most of the rural-sectional remits were voted against by urban delegates, and there was little understanding of the issues on either side. This conference seemed to indicate a larger split between urban-rural voting trends than previous conferences, but this may have been because most of the remits were sectional.
With a possible leadership change, developing conservatism within the party and a Government not prepared to act decisively, the National Party could well swing further to the right. This year's conference was the start, and It was a very good start. It will be interesting to see whether the trend continues next year and what remits will be supported.
Of course, a party conference trend doesn't determine Government policy, but it will be interesting to see whether the Government is willing or prepared to try to resist mounting pressure from interests within the party for reform and for adherence to remits passed continuously at party conferences. In the past National Governments and caucus have neglected conference, but if they want full support in the future, they may not be able to do so.
MoscowOrt, and the militia examind assport and spoke to the young on his left. He was Viadimir
The Dr
I stopped to photograph the plainest grave of all, The only one without a statue and the people near me thought it amusing to see a foreigner so recording the grave of
But back to that first day and our walk into the Kremlin and around the parks, museums, theatres and, of course. Government buildings, that are inside it. As always, I was looking at the people —heavy and pale in facial features and complexion and wearing warm heavy coats and fur caps.
In the Kremlin stands the Palace of Congresses built by Khrushchev for the 1961 Communist Party Congress. There I saw the Bolshoi Company's glorious ballet "Swan Lake." I also saw the Museums, which show that an outstanding feature of the Revolution has been the preservation of the art of the Soviet peoples.
Both in Moscow and in the ancient religious cities of Vladimir and Sonzdal, (about 100 miles away) I saw the icons, tapestries and carvings of biblical events carefully restored. Also on display was the gold throne of the last Czar and several richly decorated coaches.
Serge told me that Lenin had ordered that what was good in the old order must be retained and what had been good in the years before the Revolution was the art of the peoples of Russia.
Back by train to Moscow, which I saw as an architectural bore. The many dull apartment blocks crowd out any buildings of more attractive lines. I was driven past an experimental area where an attempt was being made at a more aesthetic approach to building—for general use if successful.
The Moscow University lies almost entirely within one huge building complex. Its tower rises 33 storeys and 250 metres above the ground and the building not only holds nearly all faculties, but also has a fully equipped gymnasium and Olympic pool and still manages to provide accommodation for 7500 of a total roll of 35,000 students.
I was interested in the structure of its Students Association and found it very weak, with most activity lying with the Faculty clubs and the University Trade Union of students and teaching staff. The activities of this union range from arranging financial assistance for needy students to the organisation of student holiday camps.
I suppose student attitudes are international and in Moscow I soon forgot any suspicion of criticism of the country's rulers being discouraged. I learnt that the youth organisation Komsomol had forced the resignation of a Minister through its sharp criticisms, and in the arguments I had with many students I encountered a wide divergence in political thought.
Although I met few university students. I had a long discussion with a group from a teachers training college. To teach at a primary school these students took a course lasting four or five years with a foreign language being compulsory.
I asked about the difficulties of recruiting teachers for remote areas, but the Principal of the "Institute" blandly informed me that this was no problem and that his graduates (70 per cent of whom were women) were happy to go all over the Soviet Union. The students were very keen on sport and knew of and inquired after New Zealand's
But my most interesting experience was at the Palace of Pioneers, on Lenin Hills, in Moscow. The Pioneers are boys and girls in the nine to 13 years of age group. Almost all children in the Soviet Union join and the present membership is 24 million.
Their Moscow palace was a dream Student Union Building. In it for the education and recreation of the pioneers is a planetarium and an observatory with a 5in telescope, a space display and Museum, classes in cooking, sculpture, aero-modelling, photography (including cinematography), drama and science, while facilities include a small athletic stadium, a swimming pool and two theatres.
But the most significant sphere was the International Department. Its motto: "Peace and Happiness through the Friendship of all the children in the World"—and its function: The installation of propaganda into the Soviet children.
A piece of metal was on display, it could have been anything, but our guide, a girl of 11. told me that it was part of an American plane shot down by students over North Vietnam. We went on to two large photos—and I was told they were French "pioneers" who were "murdered by Fascist security forces in 1961." The palace was dedicated to the memory of the two young Communists. I left with the feeling that such systematic teaching of hate at such a young age was sickening.
The International Club asked me about New Zealand "Pioneers" and asked if I could get them to write to their Russian equivalents. I said I would but do not intend to. There would be little thanks in New Zealand for starting a correspondence between "Brownies" and the Pioneers.
Quickly my week went by. I visited the factories, saw the famous Moscow circus, and heard a renowed classical guitarist. On the final day Serge and I went to Red Square for the last time. I went through the Lenin Museum and could well understand why a British author once remarked that it was the world's greatest practical demonstration of how to run a revolution.
It was the 97th Anniversary of Lenin's birthday. My last memory of Moscow is the thousands of red . flags fluttering from every building in the city.
Private Case — Public Scandal: Secrets of the British Museum.
In the past few weeks, and with rising momentum, the puritan vigilantes have raised their ugly heads. The Sunday News featured in a recent issue books they considered unsuitable for New Zealanders to read. They also approved of the activities of various organisations who have appointed themselves into a position where they can force booksellers to remove from their shops books considered "indecent" and "offensive." In the forefront of these new guardians of public morals are the Catholic Women's League. A report in the Evening Post (July 31st) described a meeting organised in the East Coast Bays (Auckland) at which speakers inveighed against what was called "smut," "dirt" and "dregs of literature," at the same time "extracts" were read because "it was necessary in order that those at the meeting should know what kind of material was involved." Call it hypocrisy if you like, or "prurient prudery" as Swinburne did, but their actions are far from farcical.
They are, unfortunately, to be taken seriously, for their opinions seem to be having real effect in the echelons of the arbiters of taste, the Indecent Publications Tribunal. Two recent decisions have banned Francis Polling's Glover (Four Square paperback) and restricted the "Sammy" books to persons over sixteen. I have seen copies of these books on bookstalls since the beginning of the year. Yet the Tribunal did pass the two Tropic novels by
The real issue here is the question of whether publishers are willing to submit their books to the Tribunal. The present is a most unsatisfactory system, for publishers have shown themselves to be singularly un-venturesome. However. Panther Books have submitted to the Tribunal Krafft-Ebing's classic study Pcychopathia Sexualis, and one hopes that if this is cleared then more paperbacks, which have been available for some time in England, will also be submitted so that the backlog I have written about in previous issues will eventually be reduced. This plea, of course, relates equally to hardbacks, although it seems that paperbacks are discriminated against because of the availability — for certainly these days cost is almost irrelevant.
The vigilantes will use both availability and lack of quality in their search for material to further their cause. The question of quality can only be related to individual books, and certainly some in the Luxor Press range (these books were specifically singled out by the Sunday News) are of low quality (e.g. Secret Techniques of Erotic Delight) On the other hand some are the best in their field (Lesbian Love), and it is these quality books which are the first to suffer in any purge.
Fryer was to some extent successful, and he describes all his actions and the attitude of BM officials in readable detail. The main content of this fairly short book, however, is concerned with describing the contents of the Case, thus giving people an idea of what they are deprived of for leisure reading. Only the academics can experience the wealth of erotica at the present time, and Fryer certainly isn't to blame for this state of affairs. In fact, he is lucky to have got as far as he did when one reads how entrenched the officials were at first, yet trying to compromise this with the BM's liberality of access to all other books on its shelves.
But the prime objects of interest remain the books themselves. Fryer quotes, with obvious delight, many of the more succulent items from the Case. One example in this review will suffice, and can be found in The Present State of Bettyland (1684) attributed to the Staffordshire poet
"The Country of Bettyland is a Continent adjoining the Isle of Man, having the Isle of Man wholly under its Jurisdiction . . . For Tillage the Soyl is so proper, . . . that. . . men take the greatest pleasure in the world to plow it and sow it, nay there are some men that take it for so great a pastime, that they will give some a thousand some two thousand pounds a year for a little spot in that Country, not so big as the palm of your hand." And so in similar vein for another 181 pages.
But it is the longer quotations which are more rewarding, enabling one to appreciate some of the atmosphere and style from such classics of erotica as My Secret Life (Brussels? (The Other Victorians) called him "Pornographer Royal" because he owned one of the largest collections of pornography and erotica in England. Under the psuedonym of Pisanus Fraxi he published in 1885 the most comprehensive bibliographical study (at that time) of the "Curious and Uncommon Books." My Secret Life is a monumental eleven volume autobiography of a nineteenth century English gentleman in which he describes his sex life, from childhood to middle age, in copious detail and with the utmost frankness. From what Fryer says about the book and its erotic and social detail, we can only look forward to his promised abridgment.
Private Case — Public Scandal is not intended as a learned or academic book, as was the same author's Mrs. Grundy (Corgi paperback), but it does contain a wealth of interesting information about many of the books in the Case. There is no separate index or bibliography, which is disappointing, but I understand that Fryer intends to publish full bibliographical details of all the books and pamphlets in a future volume. So far we have only consumed the appetiser the full meal comes later.
Six Months Ago the Pooh Club sought the use of the Taj Mahal for cultural purposes. No sympathy for this project was obtained from the City Council. Now the Pooh Club and the Banana Club have staged a display of artwork by University and Polytech students in the Activities Room, which makes it clear that the City Council was mistaken in their attitude. The display has been well-received, a stream of quiet students being appreciative and amused by the work.
Erice Fairbrother's painting has a vivid intensity. The work of
A number of commercial posters and pictures from the 1930s and earlier supply a contrast to the work of the students. The greater part of this work is from students who attend Polytech. it includes etchings, lithographs and cloth prints. These display a high technical competence, but possibly an absence of formal imagination. Four masks by Polytech students, however, possess this quality and have been much admired.
A number or panel cartoons by Brockie introduces a light note, which is supported by the Madonna with Caesar and an object which is, in fact, a patented bedframe.
In view of the interest and popularity of the display it is to be hoped that the City Council will reconsider its attitude to the use of the Taj Mahal by students.
The First Masochist—A life of Count Leopold von Sacher-Masoch. Published by Antony Blond Ltd. New Zealand Distributers Whitcombe & Tombs Ltd. Price, $4.30.
To correct a possible first impression, this is a biography, not a textbook. Sorry about that, chaps.
The name is, of course, a bit of a misnomer—Count Leopold von 8acher-Masoch was the "first" masochist only in the sense that his name was coined by Krnfft-Ebing as an alternative to the more scientific term algolagnia. After all. to quote Lecky, it was a few hundred years AD that the "highest model of a Christian saint"—St. Simeon—stood for a year on one leg, the other being covered with hideous ulcers, while his biographer was commissioned to stand by his side, to pick up the worms that fell from his body and to replace them in the sores, the saint saying to the worm: "Eat what God has given you." The Count Is, by comparison, rather mild.
Count Leopold was known by his contemporaries mainly as a litterateur, with his unusual erotic tastes adding spice or causing deprecation as the case may be. His first book, written while he was Lecturer in History at the Karl Franz University of Graz (a position to which he was appointed at 20), was a substantial work on "The Rebellion in Ghent under the Emperor
He therefore turned from scholarly writing to that of the imagination, and continued for the rest of his career to write of persons and characters rather than of ideas. His "Hungary's Decline and Maria of Austria" was an historical study, being largely an account of the life of Ludwig II and his wife Maria; and "The Last Days of Peter the Great" was an historical romance of a similar type.
At the same time he was a prolific writer of shorter sketches-"Imitation Ermine," for example, the title of a collection of 25 short stories of theatrical life, was still being reprinted 10 years after it first appeared.
But of his more than 80 published titles it is probably "Venus In Furs." by which he is best known today. It is in this book that the deviation he gave his name was made most explicit—his ideal woman is a dominating individual who delights in making her lover an abject slave; who delights in flagellating him physically with a whip or emotionally with another man. And—here is the significance of the title—she wears furs, preferably over nothing. A thought. unlike some of his other tastes, I find rather attractive.
But his ideal woman came to light only in his fiction, in spite of his attempts to find her in the flesh. Certainly there was no shortage of candidates; no shortage, indeed, of fans writing to him to suggest their essential soul-matiness. The age was one in which a "handsome, rich, energetic young man" could advertise in the daily paper that he would like to meet a "pretty. elegant young woman, admirer of the works of Leopold von Sacher-Masoch preferred," and in which a woman could write to the Count saying how she had been "moved in a peculiarly intimate manner by the general trend of the works of Leopold von Sacher-Masoch: and would like them further explained to her.
It was thus, in fact, that he met his first wife. The 12-year liaison, his longest, began with "a dream of composing a wild and poignant poetry." and died under the strain of Sacher-Masochs demands to be tormented by a woman who found little pleasure in doing so. In particular did he want his wife to take a lover, that he might feel the exquisite agonies of the cuckold. She, on the other hand, while not completely averse to the scheme, was not impressed by the quality of the majority of the men offering, and did not feel secure enough to give the Count grounds for divorce. An interesting case for a marriage counsellor, one suspects.
And there were other women. But the book is not a succession of scurrilous tales —it is a serious biography of an interesting and apparently brilliant man, whose aberrations made his life, and that of his Intimates, difficult. They also made it interesting—my ideal woman is not that of the Count, but I can feel a sympathy for him which is more difficult to feel for his converse, the Marquis de Sade.
For the psychologist, or the just curious, there Is included a bibliography both of Leopold's works and works on himself and on masochism, and an index.
It was stated in one of the Winter Term Lectures that, of the four main centres in New Zealand, Wellington came a poor third as regards New Zealand painting. It would appear to me that the speaker, a Wellington domiciled art enthusiast, is either blinded by the Auckland International Brilliance or visits exhibition with his eyes shut.
This is not intended to be a personal slur, but a general criticism of the lack of enthusiasm by the Wellington enthusiasts for the contemporary painting which is taking place around them—painting that is as good, if not better, than any in New Zealand. This was adequately proved by the Group A' 1967 Exhibition, held in the Centre Gallery from July 18 to 28. This year's group consisted of six painters—four women and two men. Thirty-two works were on show, mainly oils but also a few prints and etchings.
Vera Jamieson's aim is to "abstract essential forms from landscape, figure and still life, and to present in clay a strong, simple statement of its reality as she sees it." Prom five shown works she has achieved this remarkably well. There is nothing pretentious in her work nor is there evident any attempts to imitate or follow conventional trends. She has developed a unique style, trademarked by her recurring themes —distant serenity and the mysterious unknown.
In this exhibition the two-smallest works. Equinox I and Equinox II, are her simplest. In these she has retained most of her earlier period characteristics with one work in the blocked blue, black and white forms and the other in orange, gold and black.
Her three other works were much larger and introduced more complicated forms The Known and the Unknown was a large canvas with red brown, red and gold forms haloed in white on a deep and distant blue. This same quality in her use of blue appears in both Venusian Landscape—Night and Venusian Landscape—Day but she has introduced further colours and her crescent motif. All five works with their strong simplicity have successfully achieved the artist's aim.
On the opposite wall were four paintings by Fairy Tale, Eurydice.
Also in the upper gallery were six oil landscapes by
Most sophisticated of all the works displayed are three oils all entitled Bush Forms by
Bush Forms No. 1 with a brown central form impastoed on a grey and white background was the most impressive of her works which were all reminiscent of the German painter Hartung.
Figures in Ocre Landscape and Figure in Purple Landscape were excellent studies of reclining nudes and Wellington Landscape with its houses perched on the hill side symbolised their aesthetic interdependence and was extremely successful.
Last but not least were the works of Thru' a Glass Darkly, is most successful. In her typical, thickly-applied browns and blacks she has captured well the spirit of her subject.
Although in reviewing last year's Group 'A' Exhibition I referred to it as "the best yet." some of the painters in this exhibition have achieved yet higher standards. This is evident especially in the works by
The Paramount Theatre deserves all the support it can get if it is to maintain its independence from the two major companies, but despite a number of worthy programmes attendances have been poor. The latest news is that Eisenstein's Ivan The Terrible (both parts) will feature there in the near future. This is something of a scoop, for part 2 has been available only as a 16mm print and I don't think part I has ever been screened in this country. These classics will just about be compulsory viewing for those interested in films as cinema, art. entertainment or whatever.
Other good films at the Paramount have been Naked Among Wolves from East Germany. Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf? and the Russian Hamlet. Kozintsev's film, a vital and stirring interpretation, is the best Shakespearean effort I have seen, perhaps less cerebral than some would hope for. but certainly capturing the spirit if not the letter of the play. I find this film as both cinema and drama streets ahead of Olivier's 1948 version, although purists may think otherwise. Innokenti Smoktunovsky gives a thrilling performance as Hamlet a was reminded of Brando in Julius Caesar, alternately subdued and raving), and the music by Shostakovich adds its own crashing splendour. Speaking of Shakespeare, one hopes for an early release of Chimes At Midnight by Othello. The vagaries of distribution in New Zealand make this hope a vain one.
" Dr. Ruddock Takes A Trip"— reviewed by
When I was about seven I was given to the care of my paternal grandmother for a period of several months. Basically a kindly woman, brought up in genteel fashion in another country, she always managed to convey the impression that this New Zealand was populated with coarse people of dubious taste, morality and social status.
She would tell me stories of life in a far-off world populated by people who might have stepped straight from the pages of some Victorian novel, and she would issue stern and frightening warnings as to my fate if I succumbed to the wicked ways of New Zealanders.
Fortunately, or otherwise. I was a little too young (or perhaps a little backward) to appreciate the exact nature of the sins that I was to guard against—otherwise I may have explored them earlier. But I was given a taste of what
However, I have no doubt that my grandmother did lecture me in earnest and in all sincerity, and really did believe that if I indulged in the activities she most vigorously condemned then I would go prematurely bald and become knock-kneed, and on top of this spend eternity surrounded by murderers and thieves in something like a volcano.
Listening the other night to Dr. Ruddock (alias Vitalogy at Downstage I saw no reason to deny the Doctor's integrity and sincerity as he issued warnings and offered cures along much the same lines.
I wondered, in fact I began to realise, that people once believed these incredible, illogical and irrational remedies for complaints both moral and physical.
True Dr. Ruddock does have some charm and some fascination—his language and his style are both delightfully convoluted and quaint. He is not from the same English stock as my grandmother but comes from south of the Mason-Dickson line where possibly the turn of the century morality was even stranger.
Dr. Ruddock offers cures for impotence —both herbal and personal—the latter suggesting the male refrains from attempting intercourse for a period of from two weeks to two months. He warns that the practice of masturbation (which he euphemistically refers to as self-pollution) among young men and women will lead to untold physical damage as well as to the possible moral collapse of nations.
He tells how to choose a wife and how to care for ourselves as we enter the golden twilight years of this life.
His advice we laugh at and we disregard it as nonsense. It almost seems impossible to believe that our parent's parents (and perhaps even our parents) believed in such dictums and were prepared to let such irrational ideas form the basis of their morality.
The thought occurs that perhaps in two generations' time many of the ideals we hold dear now will seem equally as ludicrous.
The book from which Mr. Eliott has composed his one man plus one show was produced by the dear Dr. Ruddock about 1900.
The success of what is a humorous and entertaining show stems from three sources:
• The ludicrous nature of Dr. Ruddock's writings.
• The correlation between the writings, the sound effects, and the illustrating slides —which often tend to undermine the Doctor's intentions and to underline what we see as his folly. 'For example, the scrawny figure of Twiggy is used as an illustration of a poor woman physically suffering for moving from the straight and narrow.)
• Mr. Eliott's appearance as Dr. Ruddock —with remarkable subtlety and a very slight accent he manages to convey all the pomposity, irrationality and sincerity of that venerable gentleman.
The non-verbal support Mr. Eliott receives from
The fluorescent set fascinates and the lighting and sound reinforce what is quite an Event.
The next show at Downstage is to be Green Julia. It is being directed by
Sirs,—While appreciating praise of a place which is very dose to my heart, I do not feel that Mr. Saunders's article in issue nine of Salient gives a very accurate or even helpful picture of Levin Hospital and Training School.
I have worked at Levin during two summer vacations as a member of the Training Staff, and have. in fact, visited and been associated with the institution for tour years now.
However, I do not want to discredit Mr. Saunders's article but rather, firstly, to point out some of his comments which I feel are too general and misleading and, secondly, to bring out those aspects which be has not mentioned and which I feel are basic to a real understanding of the aim and function of the Hospital and Training School.
First of all, his repeated emphasis on the clean facilities and clothes, the supply of wholesome food, the well-laid-out grounds and the high standard of physical care is misleading and unfortunately tends to give the impression more of a well-run zoo than a home for children.
It is not true that "the patients do not have sufficient intelligence to appreciate fancy meals." After all, we give our two and three-year-olds "fancy meals" as an expression of love and from a concern that they should have the best and do not stop because it is thrown on the floor and generally "not appreciated."
Closely related to this point is his assertion that "few patients have sufficient intelligence to appreciate a so-called 'separate identity.'" This is a vicious circle for if people are dressed in old-fashioned "non-distinctive" clothes how can they care. I'm sure that anyone seeing many of the older children getting ready for socials or outings, or even the care some of them took every day over their clothes, could not have made such a sweeping comment.
We dress our babies and toddlers in beautiful, carefully chosen or made individual clothes, although they dribble and roll in the mud. This is surely a way of creating a sense of identity.
The statement that "all patients are extremely happy" is, I feel, a particularly unrealistic one. I do not believe that this can ever be said of any institution or group of people.
Associated with this is the idea that "the children receive a high degree of love and affection from the staff." It is true that some of the staff become fond of certain children but many are badly neglected in this respect and if some of the treatment of children by staff which I have seen is the way to treat "normal human beings" then I fear for the future of our world.
A large institution such as this can never really replace the love and close relationships of a home and although realising that some of the children are perhaps happier here than they were in their own homes, we should never regard an institution as a more desirable alternative.
Finally, the comment that any fighting is "usually be-tween the relatively more intelligent patients" has in-teresting implications for us as university students.
In this second section I want to make those points about Levin Hospital and Training School which Mr. Saunders overlooked. As he says, these "patients" are "human beings' (although I would query his term "normal") but I do not feel that he has really written about them as such.
After all, we should not be surprised that they are well cared for physically—we do as much for our animals—this is a right, not a privilege, which every human being has. It is more important to ask what is being done for them as people and this involves far more than preventing bedsores and cleaning their teeth after the main meal.
No mention at all was made in the article of the extensive Training Programme in which all children who may be able to benefit participate (there are very few bed-patients as described by Mr. Saunders).
To give Just a brief idea of the range of this programme, I have listed the facilities without commenting on the facilities involved. There is a kindergarten, playroom, training block, pre-school, school (run by the Education Department), an industries block (box-factory and other work), laundry, woodwork shops, gym, occupational therapy as well as gardening and domestic duties for some of the older patients as mentioned in the article.
There are also many other extra activities—such as swimming and sports, weekly "club nights" for different groups, visits to or from other hospitals, to Wellington or the beach, weekly film screenings and summer camps. A genuine attempt is made to develop each child to his full potential and where possible to help the child return to society as a responsible member.
Much more is being done and is yet to be done in this rapidly developing field but space does not permit further comment and there is really no substitute for a personal visit.
I hope that this letter has in some way corrected the inaccurate impression which I feel Mr. Saunders gave of Levin Hospital and Training School, for while sharing his feelings of enjoyment and optimism, I am convinced that we must be realistic about such a place to be at all constructive there.
If I have managed to replace the picture of a rather "rosy hospital where all the patients and staff live happily ever after" with the idea of a hospital and training school Where there is still room for a great deal of improvement, especially in staff-patient relationships, but where much is being done for the children in helping them de-velop as people, becoming more fully involved in a personal way in the life of the institution and perhaps for some to ultimately take their, place in society, then I will be satisfied.
Sirs,—Insulting an eminent scholar is, to my mind, one of the greatest of academic sins. This sin was committed during Dean Griswold's recent visit. As a jurist and as an American he is not only well known but also well respected.
At his lecture on the American Approach to Taxation some six members of the law faculty staff and a mere 17 law students were present. Four others and eight officers of the Inland Revenue Departmerit brought the total of those present to a sparse 35.
Where was his interesting lecture given? In Hunter 145 (the old AI), one of the shabbiest and most noisy rooms in the University. Furthermore, a cackling crowd of students indicated that they wanted to use the room and the Dean's lecture was foreshortened and his hearers were unable to question him.
I was ashamed to be a law student and was embarrassed at the treatment given to the Dean, Lectures by important academics should be well publicised: this was not. Such lectures should be well attended: this was not. Visitors should only be asked to lecture in a presentable room;
Will the next such visitor be similarly maltreated?
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Once Again, time for all conscientious sports editors to make their predictions. This is considerably easier to do for Winter Tournaments than Easter.
At least that seems to have been the pattern in the past. The story has been to predict success for Vic in August and attempt to disguise her wooden spoon destiny at Easter. But what of this year?
In Wellington this Easter, Victorian sportsmen surprised all. Progress reports snowed Victoria to be consistently near to the front—if not in front. However, she was headed off on the final count by the "grand old master" of Easter Tournaments. Otago again took the honours.
Now once again Victoria finds itself chasing Otago. This time it's because Otago holds the venue—but we hope not the upper hand.
Now for the predictions. The least that can be hoped is for wins in four of the sports: Badminton. Fencing. Squash and Association Football.
That leaves nine unknown quantities. Would it be rash, or just plain hopeful, to commit Golf, Harriers, Table Tennis, Smallbore Rifles and Men's Hockey to first or second placings.
With the introduction of a new grading system, the Judo team travel south as the prophets' nightmare. Hesitation is also felt in going beyond fourth placing for the Indoor Basketball teams.
I must join coach Bogle in wishing the Women's Hockey to make a good job of ridding themselves of that wooden spoon.
So there we have it. An overall tournament win for Victoria? Well, if not quite that perhaps a return to the glory of earlier tournament home comings with an im-provement on last year's fourth at Auckland.
The following are the tournament prospects as seen by the clubs themselves.
With Ten regular first-team members in the side Victoria has high hopes of bringing home the Tournament Soccer Shield that they were co-holders of in 1965.
Five games in three days, however, places as heavy a strain on the reserve players as it does on the first line-up. Here the selectors have chosen a mixture of youth and experience. Two promising young players in
Perhaps the team's strongest point is its fine defence. With R, Bustard in consistently tremendous form in goal and
nzu team to play Otago and a successful tournament could well see
The team is:
The Badminton team is practising for Tournament in, a mood of cautious optimism. It expects to meet strong op-position from Otago. but is hoping that the more balanced team which is playing this year may be able to repeat the tournament winning performance of the 1965 team.
The men's team consists of Lim El Chiat,
The girls are
For the first time in several years Vic Cross Country runners go to Winter Tournament with the prospect of making a better than mediocre showing.
Brightest prospect is third-year science student Tony Woolhouse, who romped home 7th at the Wellington Centre Champs two weeks ago. He is very likely to finish with the first six at tournament.
Former almost sub four minute miler Dave ("Dish") Bullock is quite fast over longer distances like the 7 1/2-mile tournament course. Unlike some Vic runners he believes that a little training doesn't do one any harm and consequently he is fit enough to make his going to Dunedin worthwhile.
Others in the team are
While there is no obvious individual winner running for Vic, there is a possibility we could win the cross-country team's race. Each university's first six home count for points.
Reports from the Midland reveal the drinking team is now undergoing concentrated training. There are many new mouths in this year's team, occasioned by the retirement of old names and TV stars.
Prospects do not look bright as the judges will this. year be peering through an "Otago haze."
The Auckland team looks strong, with three of last year's NZU team—all men-still eligible. The Victoria team, although not at full strength, does not intend to let Auckland have it all their own way.
The women are hardest hit by unavailability, with
Of the three events contested by the men, the foil appears to be where our greatest strength lies. For the sabre event the team seems to be of a very even and quite good standard. But the epee team looks to be the weakest.
The best prospect for a blue among the men could be team captain Davies, with his experience in all three weapons, although a good performance from Hayman or Loh could see either or both of them sporting the green blazer with the gold edging.
In brief, then, a prediction: Auckland first, with a determined Victoria team not far away in second place.
Victoria's chances in the golf are not excellent, although the team is fairly strong. The Balmacewan course at Dunedin, on which the golf is to be played, requires a fair amount of local knowledge, and the home Otago team must, therefore, be given an excellent show of winning.
The Victoria team consists of
Barltrop must go out favourite to repeat nis last year's success. Not since the days when
Although there have been a number of changes from last year's Tournament team that performed so well at Auckland, this year's team should be a good one.
Last year the Victoria team finished second to Canterbury which again appears the team to beat. Auckland is also expected to have a strong side and the Victoria team will have to overcome some good opposition there.
The team's strength lies mainly in its defence. The regular competition's half line of
The pairing on the right side will probably be
It is hoped that Victoria will be at least in the top three of the final placlngs.
Victoria's record in Tournament has not been particularly good recently (though two years ago it managed second equal), but last year the team gained the distinction of carrying off the wooden spoon! with the inclusion of five new players it is expected that the team will come through this Tournament with a better record than last year.
The recent match against Massey gives an indication of the improvement in the side. Vic held a strong Massey team to a 3-3 draw.
The Australian Universities team, which is competing to the Tournament after a short South Island tour, should provide added incentive to Tournament competition.
The climax will be the NZU v. Australian Universities match to be held on the Thursday (August 17) Last year Victoria managed two representatives in the NZU team and one of these players,
This year's VUW Men's Indoor Basketball team cannot be expected to improve on Its fourth placing at Tournament last year.
The team's strength lies in its big forwards, who can probably hold their own with other teams both in scoring and rebounding on both attacking and defensive backboards. Pivotman John Hall is 6ft 4in tall and the average height of the three first line forwards is 6ft 2in. which is quite tall by New Zealand standards, although Otago fields a 6ft 7in centre.
Backing up the three first-line forwards is the speedy Malaysian student,
The major weakness in the team is a shortage of fast mid-court men with good ball control and passing ability, This has meant that the accurate shooter
There are weaknesses but Vic may be able to surprise at Dunedin. The team is:
Women's Indoor Basketball approach Tournament with mixed feelings of confidence, This year's team is probably the most experienced for some time.
However, they have been without a coach for most of the season, and injuries have caused setbacks in practices, and so, consequently, hopes are not as high as they could be.
Lorraine Le Petit,
Two first-year students.
A Major change has occurred in University Judo this year with the introduction of weight limits for the Winter Tournament. Previously, competition was organised on a team basis with two teams of different grades.
The NZUJC felt that this system could be improved and clubs voted to bring in a system of individual competition restricted by weight and not by grade. The weight grades decided on are: Lightweight, less than 11 stone; Middleweight, 11-12 1/2 stone; Heavyweight, over 12 1/2 stone.
There will also be an open competition for the best in each weight grade. This new system will provide more competition for younger and less experienced Judoka and in this way should raise the standard of Judo in New Zealand Universities.
The Vic team this year is
Our chances will be best in the Lightweight where Ian should get a place without much difficulty and may well win. All members of this team are keen and have been training consistently.
Rugby League is to be played as a tournament sport for the first time at Otago this August.
The tournament committee have invited teams from Auckland and Canterbury Universities to play in a series of matches over tournament.
Our team is inexperienced but quite capable of results.
Last, but not least,
Strong opposition is expected from Canterbury with Vic only having a slim chance of winning.
Judging from last year's Tournament where Victoria finished second to a very strong Auckland side after winning the earlier rounds in a most convincing manner, the team should perform reasonably well.
The biggest factor for this year's team to overcome is the loss of last year's top player, Harrison Waterhouse, the NZU champion and New Zealand representative. His brilliance was the main factor in the team's success last year and he will be sorely missed.
Two members of last year's team,
In the Women's section
All players chosen for the team are keen and have been practising hard and it is to be hoped that this year's team will equal or better last year's performance, although a lot will depend upon the composition of the other teams participating.