Salient. An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria College, Wellington, N.Z. Vol 1, No. 12 June 22, 1938

Don't Wait Till November Wake Up and Vote—Now!

Don't Wait Till November Wake Up and Vote—Now!

In case anyone doesn't know, the Executive elections will be held on Wednesday. Thursday and Friday, the 22nd. 23rd and 24th of this month.

It is probable that at least half the students at V.U.C. are blissfully ignorant as to the activities and importance of the Students' Association, an autonomous body of which they are all members and the Executive of which vitnally affects every hour of their University life.

"Salient" is not going to give you the life histories of the candidates: we do not wish to put a premium on volubility or be in any way partial. Just because a man has been on the committee of the Evangelical Union, it doesn't eman to say he'll make a good Exec. President.

We have interviewed the candidates for the more important positions, asking them certain carefully chosen and searching questions.

The nominations are as follow:—
  • President: R. W. Edgley, J. B. Aimers.

    (One to be elected.)

  • Vice-President (Men's). R.S.C. Agar.

    (Elected unopposed.)

  • Vice-President (Women's): Geraldine Kean, Joan Bacon.

    (One to be elected.)

  • Secretary: R. W. Heine.

    (Elected unopposed.)

  • Treasurer: J. B. Bullock.

    (Elected unopposed.)

  • Committee (Men's): R. J. Corkill. N. A. Morrison, A. T. Fussell. R. L. Meedk.

    (Two to be elected.)

  • Committee (Women's ): Margaret Denton, Helen Maysmor. Joan Bacon, Geraldine Kean, Marie Fletcher, Joy Osborne.

    (Three to be elected.)

Questionnaire.

The questions we asked the candidates are as follow:—
(a) Why are you seeking this position on the Exec.?
(b) Do you think war is inevitable?
(c) What is your attitude towards, the maintenance of student rights and liberties?
(d) What do you think is the weakest feature of "Salient"?
(e) Have you any special "policy plants"?

The answers to these questions are printed below, verbatim and without comment.

R. W. Edgley.

(a) Because a number of persons have asked me to stand. Last year I took the thing on with a degree to complete, and now I have my degree I have a little more leisure. I want to finish off a number of matters that are now only. Half completed.
(b) I think there is hope of Britain staying out of a war, but not the rest of the world. Whether Britain is wise in doing so is another question.
(c) A certain amount of control must and always will be exercised by the Professorial Board. But on a matter of definite principle the students should be prepared to stand up for their rights.
(d) There is not enough college news in it. The whole tone of the paper has been lifted very high, but I don't think a lot of the political stuff appeals to the average student.
(e) The university should if possible act as part of the town and not as an aloof portion of it. We can benefit the town and ourselves, and the town will then become proud of the University. Also, I believe in the closer co-operation between the Clubs, with the Exec. As a communicating channel.

J.B. Aimers.

(a) Several people asked me to stand, and I think I have still enough interest and enthusiasm to take the job seriously.
(b) Most definitely not. If anyone wants to know my reasons. I shall be glad to let him have them.
(c) I think It's very valuable to maintain cordial relations with governing bodies, but if it came to a question of challenging any vital student rights of liberties, then the student body should not besitate to take a definite stand. At the same time I fully endorse the editorial in last year's "Spike" headed "Town and Gown." The students themselves can do much to create a better understanding between Town and Gown, thereby benefiting themselves and gaining more tolerance for their activities.
(d) In a college of a thousand the circulation should be a thousand instead of six hundred. Some of the editorials lose their point by being a little too long, but I think that the staff is doing very valuable work at V.U.C., and is fully justifying the action of the Exec. In re-organising the College paper.
(e) Present developments seem to indicate that the next few months will decide whether there will be a new Students Union Building within two years or fifty years. Students should use every endeavor to increase the fund, but I do not believe it should be allowed to interfere with student activities. The need of a new building is not only one of providing adequate facilities, but also to release money at present being paid into the fund for other purposes. I also believe that a full-time secretary should be appointed when the Association can afford it. The Exec. Should also be liberal in its treatment towards the Clubs, and generally work towards maintaining the present boom period at V.U.C.

R.S.C. Agar.

(a) Because I have been asked to stand by both candidates for the Presidency and because I consider that when anyone has had a year on the Executive, the Association is entitled to have he benefit of his experience if it so desires.
(b) No.
(c) I think that in their own meetings students should enjoy full freedom, but that they should be careful when appearing in public where there are many who are only too ready and willing to misconstrue and misrepresent them.
(d) Its low circulation.
(e) To endeavor to maintain the upward trend in the association's activities. To obtain as soon as possible a suitable Students' Building without interfering too much with the regular activities of the Association. To do everything possible to ensure the sending of a strong team to Otago next year to retain the Tournament Shield. To co-operate with N.Z.U.S.A.

Executive Elections June 22, 23, 24

Be Sure To Vote!

Students' Association Annual Meeting

You Must Be There!

Geraldine Kean.

(a) I think that everyone feels it an honor to be elected. I know it means a good deal of work, but it is well worth it.
(b) No, I certainly don't I [ unclear: a] refuse to believe that it's inevitable.
(c) I think there is a reasonable limit, and I believe in maintaining student rights as long as they do not pass the bounds of reasonableness and offend the public.
(d) It is an excellent paper, but I don't think it fulfills the standard required of a college paper, inclining as it does towards one type of contribution.
(e) I think that the position of women on the Exec should be relegated beyond the function of washers up. Women are not taken seriously on the Exec., and ought to take a more important part than they do.

Joan Bacon.

(a) Because I have found the work very interesting and because of the pleasure and fun you get out of it.
(b) I have been told that war is inevitable ever since 1930. And I'm now beginning to think that it might not be after all.
(c) I think we are treated fairly well, but there are still certain restrictions which could and should be removed. For instance, the tyranny of Mr. Brook.
(d) Well, I think it contains too many subjects which are dealt with in our ordinary newspapers, and I think it should print more local and personal news.
(e) No, I don't think so.

R.W. Heine.

(a) Edgley bullied me into it.
(b) Yes. I think it will probably be staved off for another decade or so, though.
(c) I think that students should control all their affairs and should be able to say what they like in their own sphere, though there is no need for them to noise their views abroad. The public doesn't care much for University opinion, and therefore it's useless airing one's views outside Varsity.
(d) Well, it's all pretty weak, isn't it?
(e) No. I think the old policy is good enough for us—"Muddlin Through."

J. B. Bullock.

(a) It gives one an interest in Varsity affairs to have a finger on everything that's going on round the place.
(b) According to present indications, yes. The only way the Fascist countries can maintain internal security is by making war.
(c) There should be some check; with these louts from Training College and children from the sixth form you've got to have some control over their newly-found liberty. Older chaps don't need such a curb of course but you can't differentiate them.
(d) There's too much outside stuff.
(e) The Building Fund. The athletic side of 'Varsity life should be stressed more.

There You Are!

Well, folks, there you are!

"Salient" has done its best for you. The rest is up to you.

We're sorry we haven't got the space to interview the candidates for the Committee. But you know them all pretty well, anyway, and anything we said probably wouldn't make much difference. We've done our best.

Yes, we know that three of the above interviews are with candidates who have been elected unopposed. But we hope you'll find them valuable just for the sake of comparison.

By the [ unclear: w] perhaps some of the candidates would like to revise their answers to question (d) after reading this issue of "Salient".

Well, we leave it to you. About half the population of V.U.C. roused themselves from their lethargic swot worm apathy last year to vote.

Everyone Must Vote This Year! You Must Vote!

Rollo.