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Salient. An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria College, Wellington, N.Z. Vol. 20, No. 7. 30th May, 1957

[Introduction]

The N.Z.U.S.P.C. (New Zealand University Students Press Council) is a clearing house of ideas for college editors. As such it can produce few concrete results, but the achievements are nevertheless there. The field in which it has expanded—publishing supplements on N.Z.U.S.A., and this year. Congress, have shown what worthwhile activities it can undertake.

They have, it is felt, succeeded in fostering a national students' consciousness on some level other than sport. The latest Supplement is enclosed in this issue.

The Council began its history in 1952, when a N.Z.U.S. Newspapers Association was formed under the influence of then Salient Editor Trevor Hill. Its early activities were not remarkable, but by August of 1953, it was firmly established, though still debating its aims and constitution. It has since met at the time of each Tournament. In 1950 it changed its name to the N.Z.U.S.P.C. (the N.Z.U.S.N.A. was too likely to be confused with that august body, N.Z.U.S.A.), and launched into Supplements.

Its aims are:—
(1)To publish and distribute Council reports and commentaries upon the New Zealand University Students' Association, Congress, Tournament, etc.
(2)To raise by mutual discussion and criticism the standard of journalism within the University colleges.
(3)To encourage mutual assistance among member newspapers, and with overseas universities' newspapers; and to increase the facilities available to each newspaper.
(4)To maintain satisfactory relations with the commercial press.

It has further adopted the practice of having a Dinner at each meeting (with all necessary luxuries, though at the participant's expense) attended by N.Z.U.S.A. officers, at which the editor of a commercial paper offers criticism and advice.

This Easter Mr. Hutton-Potts, well-known editor of Southland Daily News, gave a provocative address on "Fiction and Half-Truths."

This meeting the Council was hampered by lack of time for various reasons, and mostly only routine matters were discussed. Hut treat results are expected from an Extral ordinary Meeting to be held at Wellington during Queen's Birthday Weekend.

There was, however, one matter on which concrete advance could be made. The Council took advantage of the presence of the Australian Students' President at Tournament, to attempt through his willing offices to rectify present poor co-operation between our papers and those of Australia. It is hoped that by individual paper contacts and through our respective Public Relations Officers news will henceforth be exchanged frequently and in detail. (The P.R.O. is a well-established portfolio in Australia. The Officer issues bulletins on various topics to the student press, and convenes their annual conference.)

Press Council Officers for 1957 are: President, D. J. Stone (for a second term), past editor of A.U.C. paper Craccum, and now on Salient staff, and Secretary-Treasurer, Warwick Armstrong, 1957 Co-editor of Craccum.