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The most outstanding; single event that we at Victoria have known for a long time took place on the first Saturday evening of the recent vacation. It isn't possible for me to convey adequately the impact that all those present felt: this report, written some time after the event, may be a little distorted by personal notions.
The Rev. Canon C. E. Raven, D.D., D.Sc., F.B.A., Regius Professor of Divinity, Master of Christs College and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge, addressed a meeting convened by the SCM. He knew. I suppose, that we in N.Z. gather every now and again to hear some person of reputed fame, and sometimes are disappointed. He said, anyway, that he had not come from the other side of the world just to talk platitudes—he was as good as his word. We must forgive him, he said, if he sounded dogmatic; time was short and we could ask questions afterwards.
He knew that we were aware of the troubles of the times—a world rushing to destruction it seems. He brought it home to us that we, members of the so-called great democracies had given atom bombs to-youths and had them obliterate two great cities. Platitudes unclothed became naked fact. You can't avoid this issue. Least of all can a Christian avoid it. Civilisation has about five years at the most left to decide whether it wilt continue. Because he could look all this in the face, because he knew what he was talking about, and because now, at 65, he is young, he convinced us in vigorous contrast to the Hamlet that irks our souls, that now is a great time to be alive.
Yes, he said, concluding his introduction—the terrible likelihood of yet another war surpassing all in devastation provides the best test case of just what our Christianity is. He did not protagonise his point of view upon us (his attitude is Christian and Pacifist). What he did show us was that we have an inescapable duty to face this issue with sustained effort and study.
We were confronted with the mass mess of our civilisation; civilisation does not depend on material prosperity. The destruction of Hiroshima, though this is terrible enough, does not matter so much as the wrong human relationships which cause, eventually, such destruction. Seeking, in consequence, to understand such a situation, he would offer four main fundamental problems.
Raven referred to the changed position of women in our society which has come about in the last few decades. Women are more and more taking an equal part with men—rightly so—and this is being recognised. A further factor is the relaxing of the restraint of the old Victorian society and its morality. The old patterns of behaviour for man and woman are no longer adequate for our society. A new pattern of home life, and youth life, suited to the full contributions of the dual roles, must be built up. And built up by us. The reason why you cannot have an improving society when sex morality is declining is that, if you are the sort of person who takes sex lightly, it will mean that you are the sort of person who regards other people as existing solely for your own enjoyment. People must be valued for their own sake, not for what we can get out of them—sexual pleasure or anything else. This did not imply a need to reinstate Victorian prudery and ignorance. Yet the essence of whether society is good or bad lies in the tenor of human relationships, near and far.
This is closely related to the first It is perhaps not such a problem in New Zealand, but we have only to cast our eyes on South Africa and America to see something of what we mean. Raven was amazed to hear Australians talking of "white Australia," a policy never moral, and now not even practical.
There are two aspects of this problem. As to the genetic aspect, it is high time the geneticists came out in the open and said, as Raven thinks they can, that there are no innate inferiorities in people due to their being members of mixed blood. The psychological aspect is more important. For instance, many of us feel some revulsion in regard to members of other races. We must learn how to overcome this, or at least to adjust to it. It is up to us to give all the effort we can to the problems of ways and means in improving race relationships. The N.Z. situation gives us a unique opportunity to give some lead here.
At the root of the divisions among mankind is the lack of agreement on matters that happen to be basically philosophic or religious. One of the major ways in which this shows up on the surface is the conflict between popular notions of science and popular notions of religion. ( I think Canon Raven went further here and also referred to the incompatibility of and inadequacy of views based on mind as the only reality or matter as the only reality.) Not so long ago, religion and science used to be carefully departmentalised. Teachers in each sphere kept within their own ground. This attitude which was a strong factor in the production of "ivory tower" attitudes has crashed: it is seem that it just will not work. The kind of view of religion and science which it took is inadequate. Some of the top men in science are now throwing over their faith in weight and measurement as the key to reality. Heisenberg said in Raven's drawing room at Cambridge that any physicist who wishes to give the fullest account of the realm of physics today must accept incompatible hypotheses. Raven emphasised how it is that we must take into account what the poets and musicians are saying as well as what the scientists are saying. We see through a glass darkly—if we do not use all the light available we may not be able to move at all. A deeper, more open-minded and yet more inclusive (that is, a proper) view of religion could give us the best possible life view.
Many scientist are worried by the way in which science la being utilised. A group of them asked Raven to approach Temple when he was alive in the hope that Temple would be able to give them a total and basic view which, they could see, could not come from science alone. University scientists are worried by the "gadget-mangers" they are producing. In consequence, Cambridge is likely to insist on a background of philosophy and history to science study. Raven also wanted to mention the amazing popularity of the Saturday morning school of theology open to all students at Cambridge (as an instance of these lectures see Hodges H. A.: "Christianity and the World View.")
One of the most significant things in our day is the fact that the churches are coming together more and more. There still exists, of course, the division between the Roman and Protestant churches. None of us who have received a liberal education could believe that human beings measure up to the standard of infallibility. Otherwise, however, there is much growing co-operation between the Roman Catholic and the Protestant churches. Apart from the Roman Catholic church, sectarian divisions now existing are anachronisms—the main issues which called them into being no longer exist and the extant differences are mainly in forms of government. The great differences which are to be found among Christians are (I suppose he was referring to differing attitudes to sex, war, fundamentalism, etc) cut across the barriers of denominations. A tremendous amount of saintliness is to be found in all sections of the Churches. The maintenance of such barriers as remain is causing grave damage to Christianity. It is for us to devise ways and means of reducing and removing these barriers. Is not N.Z. eminently suited in many ways to give a lead in this?
Discussion was slow in starting, evidence that he had taken our breath away somewhat. What about the "menace of Communism?" The first thing, said Raven, is to rid our minds of the bogy and to counteract the lamentably prevalent tendencies to hysteria. Though not as fundamental as the issues to which he had referred it was yet a serious question.
We should recognise the considerable good achieved within Russia and elsewhere: but we cannot shut our eyes to its defects. We must try to understand Communism, and also not forget that the peoples of the East are people. He suggested that our best means of contact was through China. He thought Communism was not the main force working for war at the present time.
As to food shortage and world population, a great problem but not necessarily so immediate, obviously we must consider proper and equitable distribution of food. Christianity and the rationing of population are compatible.
The problem of evil and pain was related to God's creation of freely responding persons, and an alternative where no-one could come to any harm seemed to be a sort of padded cell life. The apparent cruelty of nature seemed almost to indicate an all pervading law of sacrifice. Yet God was in it all: God did not stand and watch and say sometimes "Oh, well played, sir!" But Raven was acutely conscious of the difficulty of this problem.
Other points included that democracy is rather a question of social relationship than merely government by committee. The question of a university is to fit people for the fullness of life, not merely to impart technical skills.
Throughout the evening, one could not help but be profoundly impressed with the encompassment of his mind and the depth of his insights. The fundamental issues he raised were crucial, and that he could meticulously show their relevance in the short time was amazing. The unclothed platitudes stood as naked fact, and we were confronted—involved.
Canon Raven must have made his remarks about us (VUC) in the Listener on inadequate evidence. He saw us only in the vacation, and his was the rushed visit of the busy man—we at VU can forgive him.
"
."demand the withdrawal of all US troops from Korea and the rescinding of the illegal decision of the Security CouncilWe
This is a quotation from a resolution which was passed without dissent and with a very small number of abstentions on the second day of the Second World Student Congress in Prague.
Congress has now been sitting over a week. Delegates and observers from 71 countries number over 800, and the whole of Prague seems to have been reorganised around the Congress. Flags and decorations, messages of welcome and slogans of peace and friendship are seen on almost every building. On Saturday, August 12, the radio announced that there would be festivities that evening in Wenceslaus Square. This "square" is really a wide boulevard half a mile long, and it was packed with people—not only students of Prague and delegates, but thousands of ordinary citizens, singing and dancing for four hours. Even policemen joined in the dancing. Nothing was prepared beforehand; it was simply a matter of going there and joining in the fun. That evening was typical of the way Congress had been received here. Everywhere we were welcome, asked to sign autographs, invited into homes. Food and drink is pressed on us, and everyone wants to show us the sights of this wonderful city. We are quite free to go where we choose, and of course we do this in different ways. Some go to small pubs like the Slavia where the opponents of the regime are to be found, while others visit friends who are just bursting to tell us about the achievements of the Czech people.
New Zealand is represented by four, people—Bruce Miller for N.Z.U.S.A., of which he is vice-president, while ' Keith and Jackie Matthews and I observe for V.U.C. and the New Zealand Student Labour Federation. I should like to report briefly on the central theme of the Congress discussions.
On the issue of peace, most national unions have strongly sup-ported the Stockholm appeal for the banning of the atomic bomb, and their representatives have, little patience with other delegates who say that their peace campaigns can not include signing the appeal, especially now that the Defenders of Peace have now broadened the appeal to including banning all weapons of mass destruction.
We have received many accounts of the appalling conditions obtaining in colonial and semi-colonial countries, including Malaya, Nigeria, South Africa, Cuba, Greece and many others which present a uniform picture of violent repression, extreme poverty of educational opportunities and denial of the most elementary rights to the large majority of the population. Students of all these countries are quite sure they Can obtain educational opportunities only when they are fully independent. Theirs is a political struggle similar to that being carried on by the students of Korea and Viet-Nam. Whose delegates received tumultuous applause from the Congress.
In the face of the evidence of the students of, these countries, the appeals of the National Unions of Great Britain, Scotland, Denmark, Finland, U.S.A., Australia, and New Zealand for the restriction of the political work of I.U.S. to the needs of students as such have been received very coldly. To the spokesmen of these Unions, the delegates of Puerto Rico, Nigeria and many others have asked: what is your Union doing about national independence for colonial peoples? The only answers, that have been made are that the British N.U.S. has sent books to Malaya and that the N.S.A. of America passed a resolution deploring the outbreak of violence in the University of Puerto Rico.
New Zealand students might do well to study the report of the French N.U.S. which is conducting vigorous campaigns against the French colonial war in Viet-Nam and is demanding for all students at least the salary paid to people in factories who are the same age. This Union is, in fact, working for the aims of I.U.S. It is only in such cases that it is reasonable to criticise the work of I.U.S. because otherwise the question: what are you doing at home? is unanswerable.
Those who claim to support the Constitution of I.U.S. but, who oppose most of its work because they say it goes beyond the needs of students as such, are ignoring two' sentences of the Constitution which they claim to support. I quote—
"(f) To give support to all governments and social organisations which strive for peace and security." "(k) To assist the students of colonial and dependent countries to attain their full social economic and educational development: to this end, to render to the students and peoples of these countries all possible assistance in their struggle for freedom and independence."
Can anyone claim that they support these claims without also supporting the Stockholm Appeal, and the liberation movements of Asia, Africa and Central America?
Possibly the commonest criticism of the "Russian Way of Life" made by the ordinary man (quoting his newspaper) is that "these Reds will stop at nothing—any means are held to be justified by the ends thev desire." This vicious doctrine, he thinks, is alien to the sweetness and gentleness of Western thought.
He may be right, but recent events—a whole series of them—make one think that the opponents of Communism, too, are prepared to use any and every means to achieve their ends. The shortsightedness of this policy can only be seen when we take a long look at the means; inevitably we must conclude that they are very likely to corrupt the high-chosen ends of "preserving democracy." Or can one preserve democracy, perhaps, by upholding in other countries forms of government which are totally alien to democracy, by spreading in our own countries practices which make nonsense of our protestations of "freedom v. subjection"?
Quoting only from American sources, we may see the pattern of foreign policy which is prepared to countenance any form of government, however anti-democratic, however corrupt and inefficient, just so long as it is also anti-Communist. "Time" says of the present Bao Dal regime in Indo China (our "front" against Viet-Nam) that it is perhaps "the last and worst example of white man's armed imperialism in Asia." The government is, "Times" says, corrupt and inefficient. It has alienated sympathy from the people. In the same issue, the government of the Phillipines is summed up as "corrupt and inefficient" too. Not even "Time" has ever dared to contest the fact of the corruptness of the kuomintang regime. Another issue of "Time" states quite clearly that South Korean intelligence officers are using torture as a routine method of getting information: only a day or so ago, Reuter's correspondent in Korea proved—and American officers "Justify"—the use of the" press gang to recruit men in South Korea who are unwilling to "defend democracy." The Greek Government has been palpably weak and corrupt, sustained in its place largely by the grace of American aid. The "Evening Post," talking of the new ruler of Persia, says that he may (though they seem to doubt it) end the reign of corruption which has been rampant there; the British refuse to back this man yet.
The pattern everywhere is the same. And it has the same faults as an answer to this "Communist aggression." First that the obvious viciousness of almost every Government which is being used as a front against Communism is the best possible argument in the hands of any Communist: why, he will say, you talk democracy, but look as your results! There need be no invention in their arguments. The second fault is yet more serious. In the effort to hold the bulwarks, as some statesman or other puts it every week, we are likely to foster revolution, not to stop it.
We might well suspect that, since American upholding of the Chiang-Kai-Shek inefficiency was the force which persuaded the Chinese of the need for a new Government, and since every day people are—in these countries-—persuaded of the Tightness of Communism by the corruptness of its opponents, that in fact all the chief policy makers of America are disguised Communists who are trying to drive the world left.
It was inevitable that some of the overseas University men who came here would make comment on the University set-up in New Zealand Those who made the comments were not without honour in their own Universities, and it was to be expected that what they said would be worth considering.
One comment.—while otago had that settled air which made it almost a University, it was certain that Victoria hadn't: in one opinion, it wasn't even a University at all since it had so many part-timers.
Maidment of Auckland, answered this one. Said he: it is easy to see that the standards of work in the University of N.Z. are not all they could be. No-one is better aware of this than the University administrators of N.Z. But it is another thing to blame this lowered standard on the existence of the part-timers in large numbers. In fact there is little to support the view that the standard of work done by part-timers is any worse than that of full timers.
Another comment was that, while our specialist schools—like Otago—were up to standard, all the colleges seemed to lack the standard of -work in general courses on arts, particularly. Attention was paid to the specialist standards, but the philosophy of the general cultural course—if it could be so called without being either vague or priggish—was rather nebulous.
This comment is also worth considering. It needs to be considered separately from that of part-timers, because, as Maidment said, it is not proper to assume that the faults of the University can be visited on the part-timers.
To a large extent, the truth of the statement must be admitted. Our medical courses in New Zealand would seem to be of fairly high standard, by all accounts. No-one has suggested that the lawyers of New Zealand are any worse equipped than those of overseas countries: and the financial wizards of New Zealand have in the past been as well or as badly trained as their overseas counterparts.
But our art courses have certainly been pretty nebulous, and these criticisms come aptly.
It is possible—or it has been—to get a BA with three stages of Latin. Two of French, maybe a couple of English, and enough other languages to fill up the five subjects. It has been possible for a student to go through and get a general cultural degree without looking at English, or without even opening a history book: without knowing the first thing about philosophy and without even the mention of a laboratory.
The new course, which is based around the same idea as the core curriculum of the secondary school, would seem to remedy some of these faults. It should no longer be possible to go through University without getting a broad picture of the fields of thought, it should no longer be possible for a student to finish knowing nothing of a balanced view of human knowledge.
But it cannot be entirely separated from the question of part-timers.
The learning which goes on in a true university" must be largely in-formal—the by-product of a large amount of community life and feeling. Between the narrow hands of a clock, or existing precariously in the gaps between lectures, the easy informality of thought and discussion can barely find room to breathe.
What perhaps these visitors to our University did not see was the advantage of the part-timing system. The student who is not detached from the cares of life to give his mind a chance to roam, is nevertheless in close contact with the everyday feeling of his community. Older, more mature, he is likely to bring to his work a clarity of thought and a sense of realism which may be harder for the student in the peaceful closes of the university cloister.
Our visitors may have missed this aspect of our Universities altogether.
We have seen no comments on their attitude to extra-mural students—we can imagine that they would have been unimpressed.
An open letter to the students of New Zealand from the New Zealand Student Labour Federation, meeting at its Winter Conference in Dunedin, August, 1950.
To the Students of N.Z.:—
When the United Nations was set up in
Only five years later, talk of new world war has become sickeningly familiar. Already in Malaya, Viet Nam and Korea, the guns are booming. The United States authorities boast of their accumulation of atomic weapons. To the normal fears of insecurity in our society, is added the terrible fear of death raining from the skies.
In "He saw there about 20 men and they were all in the same nightmarish state their faces were wholly burned, their eye-sockets hollow, the fluid of their melted eyes had run down their cheeks, their mouths were mere swollen, pus-covered wounds. . . . He reached down and took a woman by the hands, but her skin slipped off in huge glove-like pieces. . . . Now not many people walked in the streets, but a great number sat on the pavement, vomited, waited for death, and died. . . . A hundred thousand people were killed by one atomic bomb."
This weapon is not a weapon of war, but of mass extermination. Another world war would be a mass extermination. Actions which have tended to split the United Nations—the signing of the Atlantic Pact, the boycotting of new China, the American action in Korea—are helping to drive the world towards such a mass extermination, and conditioning people's minds to the idea that it is inevitable.
We do not believe that it is inevitable. We believe that the vast and overwhelming majority of the people of New Zealand, and of every other country, desire an effective and a lasting peace. We believe that the people, by making a mass expression of their feelings in words and deeds, can force peace on those who fancy they would make some petty gain out of slaughter. We believe that the students of New Zealand, being an informed and conscious section of the people, have a responsibility to the people to help lead them in this struggle.
Accordingly, we wholeheartedly endorse the call of the International Union of Students to the students of New Zealand to sign the Stockholm Appeal of the World Peace Congress for the prohibition of the Atomic Weapon, and pledge ourselves to co-operate with the New Zealand Peace Council in the organisation and strengthening of the peace movement among the students.
Already 300 million people have signed the appeal. They come from all walks of life, and from all countries. Among them are some of the most outstanding world figures. We quote a few of these:
"Scientists must not be accomplices of those who, because of a bad social system, are able to exploit the achievements of scientific research for selfish and evil ends. . . . Scientists and technicians, like all other citizens in the great community of workers, must all fight together to ensure the full use of science for peace and the well-being of the human race."Professor Frederic Jollot-Curie (famous atomic scientist of France, co-discoverer of neutrons)—
"The banning of the atom bomb would be the first step towards general disarmament, without which peace will always be in danger."Oswaido Aranha (former Brazilian Foreign Minister and President of UNO)—
"I brand as murder the wholesale mass production, streamlined roasting and "killing of non-combatants contemplated by the advocates of the use of A and H bombs. I brand them as lunatics who must be controlled in the interest and welfare of humanity. . . I will go on speaking and working for peace, no matter what the warmongers and their dupes may say about me. I remember the words of Christ—'Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God'."Rev. Father Clarence Duffy (New York welfare worker)—
"I have signed the petition and given my support to the Peace Council: not because I am a Communist, or because I am 'gullible' or 'naive,' but because, as a Christian, I feel that it is the proper thing to do."Very Rev. C. W. Chandler (Dean of Hamilton, New Zealand)—
"At the time of the Nuremberg trial, one of the accused said: 'We could not foresee that it would end precisely in this way. . .' The people who drenched Europe in blood did not foresee that they would land in the dock. Perhaps it will be in order for us to warn those who want to destroy culture, life and the future, by means of the atomic bomb, that they will most surely meet their end sitting in the dock, and not on the throne of world rulers."Ilya Ehrenburg (Russian writer, author of "The Fall of Paris" and "The Storm").
"I believe that we English should take a brave and independent step—say definitely that we consider the use of atomic bombs wicked and un-Christian. International talk is good, but good action is better."Dame Sybil Thorndyke (famous British actress)—
"The bomb? It's horrible. It is quite unimaginable that people should think of using it. I don't know much about politics, but I think that the United States and Russia should 'be able to come to an agreement. Instead of getting ready for war, they should be discussing, learning to understand one another. It is essential for peace."Duke Ellington (modern American composer and bandleader)—
"The Russians want peace, and to them, as it should be to us, Stalingrad is a symbol of the destructiveness of war as well as a symbol of the reconstruction that the whole world wants."Professor H. Winston Rhodes (associate Professor of English at Canterbury University College, New Zealand, writing last month from Stalingrad)—
"Almost five years have elapsed since our land was burned out by the atom bomb. The flames and the smoke caused by the explosion have disappeared, but in our hearts remains a growing hatred for the bomb which in an instant killed or burned our parents, our brothers and our sisters. . . . "Young men and women of the world, a great responsibility rests upon your shoulders in safeguarding the future of humanity. Hear our call, hear the call of those who went through the horrors of the atom bomb themselves, and sign, by hundreds of millions, the Stockholm Appeal, the Appeal of Peace, the Appeal of Life."Hiroshima Students' Federation and seven other youth organisations of Hiroshima and Nagasaki—
Our own Rutherford gave his genius to the birth of atomic science. For the honour of his name, and of New Zealand's, the students of New Zealand must see to it that atomic energy is used to build the world in peace, not destroy it in mass carnage.
Please ring 56-077 (business hours) or write to 61 Hutt Rd., Petone, stating price.
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.demand the absolute banning of the atom weapon, arm of terror and mass extermination of populationsWe"
We demand the establishment of strict international control to ensure the implementation of this banning measure."
We consider that any government which would be the first to use the atom weapon against any country whatsoever, would be committing a crime against humanity, and should be dealt with as a war criminal."
We call on all men of good will throughout the world to sign this appeal."
—"Copies of the Following:
Youth Sings!"
Songs of every country of that world, with music. Published by the International Union of Students . . . . . . Only l/6
—" Whither Education In U.S.A."
The details of the great American witch-hunt, "cold war on the campus." how the payer of the piper calls the tune of university syllabases . . . . . . 6d
—" This is the I.U.S."
The aims, activities, structure of the International Union of Students from which NZUSA disaffiliated last year, but to whose last Congress they sent an observer . . . . . . 9d
—" The Activities Of W.F.D.Y."
Still a burning issue . . . . . . 9d
—" Studies in Anti-Soviet Propaganda"
Do the Russians share their wives, exploit slave labour, eat babies? . . . . . . 1/-
Write the Club Secretary, Mrs. L. B. Piper, 5 Halswell St., N.1.
Things were certainly looking up for Victoria in the opening days of Winter Tournament 1950. Your reporter arrived in Dunedin on Tuesday afternoon (August 22). and was greeted by other student press representatives with unaccustomed congratulations: The (bloodstained?) shield of ICI had gone unmistakably to VUC's shooting, team—won by 0.06 points, Brian Perry scoring 198 out of a possible 200. Our total, with Fletcher, Hogg, Mackay and Martin-Smith in the firing line, was 777.40, Otago being on our talls with 777.34.
Men's hockey, too, gave grounds for hope at the end of the first day. Although CUC beat us 1-0. we beat Massey 5-4. However, AUC, CUC and OU were already making heavier scores. We lost our first two soccer games, won our first round in men's basketball, and in Fencing Peter Hampton and Win Stevens were leading to a certain victory.
We won one of the first May's women's hockey matches—beating AUC 2-0.
The second day had sent our peckers right up. "Salient" found evidence of some rather heavy Victorian celebration, but we make no implication that it may have been in any way responsible for later inability to maintain our lead.
Wednesday continued to add leaves to our laurel crown. The previous night had won VUC Drama team first prize with "A Long' Christmas Dinner," for which congratulations to a competent cast and production staff. Phillipps and Weston did well in golf, though not well enough to lead us to first place—in any case this game does not yet count towards Tournament Shield. Our harriers tied with Massey in second place to Auckland for the Dixon Trophy. AUC also bore off the Shackleford Cup.
Our men's hockey team lost to OU 1-4.
Our men's basketball team beat AUC 55-40, but already Canterbury was doing better. Our Collins and Smith did well in table tennis, beating an AUC pair in doubles. Women's hockey brought us a loss to Canterbury 2-4, but women's fencing placed the Misses Burrell first and second.
Thursday brought a reverse in fortunes, with Otago jumping into the lead with 35 points. Even CUC passed us, gaining 23½ to our 23. Otago won the women's hockey, their A team being unbeaten. AUC, took the Table Tennis Shield, with OU second. OU men's basketball A team was also unbeaten, and won the cup. VUC being licked by CUC for second place.
In shooting we were still doing well. The North Island team beat Otago Province, with our Fletcher scoring a possible. In men's hockey, the Seddon Stick went to CUC for 14 wins and a draw.
Yes, We ended up with the last place strain, and that usefull culinary instrument that goes With that honour. But only just, mind you. And there is always the none and faith that we will do better next time. Our teams or most of them—are to be slapped heartily on the back for a fine performance. The black trophy's rearrival to take its old resting place is not after all, such an unforgivable blot on our good name. To damn with faint praise, we can say it was a good effort, and repeat: "Next time . . ."
Heartiest congratulation, must go to our Blues winners, especially Win Stevens and Peter Hampton, who fenced for us so honourably, and Brian Perry, our straightest shooter.
Also greetings to the victors of Otago, and thanks to them for a warm hospitality. "Salient" feels certain that, had he stayed longer in the deep south, he might have been overloaded with it.
With valiant heart and sturdy optimism a small band of last ditch supporters journeyed into Kelburn Park in hopes of seeing VUC's senior A football squad pull off a meritorious win against WCOB, and thus retain honourably their place in the top grade.
However, the resulting scramble which at bests rose to mediocre primary school level did little to gladden the tired old eyes of the valiant few. From the outset VUC's back-line-ably served by hooker Shannon and a band of energetic if somewhat haphazard forwards—seemed unable to do more than plan a series of brilliant retreats from possible attacking positions. Lissome red haired speedster Meagher on the right wing did make several piercing dashes down the sideline but the defence of the Collegians combined with the capacity of his in-sides to crowd him proved somewhat frustrating. Hipango playing "somewhere in the five eight line" showed glimpses of the form that gained him selection for the "B" reps. but did not we feel emerge from the game with quite the same glow of satisfaction as his play in other games has merited. His handling was somewhat erratic but on occasions he made some neat penetrations. At full-back VUC was ably served and the excellent line kicking of this newcomer to the position played a large part in keeping the WCOB score down to eight points.
On the same day Tatta ran Onslow very close at Rugby H.Q. and were it not fur the superior pace of the Onslow back-line VUC would needs muster large quantities of hope, optimism and pure luck in the relegation match with Tawa.
However freshers may breathe freely and may continue knitting the green socks for their heroes as VUC are assured of a place in
In a season which Varsity started with a victory over Petone at Petone the Senior's struck a bad patch largely due to the loss of severals good men through injury and transfer, but the success of several of the lower grades two of which won their respective competitions should mean that next year's Seniors will be able to present a more stable picture to the football public.
Forward freshers, fresherettes and tired old mudlarks, to next season and a resurgence of green and gold supremacy in the Wellington football world.—Yours in hope.
On September 1 and 2 a Wellington Youth for Peace Conference was held in the Wellington Trades Hall. Victoria College was very well represented in that not only were the official Association representatives, Paul Cotten and Lance Robinson present, but several other societies as well. The Charta Society was represented by Frank Curtin and Clive Cresswell, and their old rivals the Socialist Club by George God-dard and Carmen Clee. The Student Christian Movement and Salient also sent voting delegates. It is impossible at this stage to give an account of the complete proceedings but a report on the whole conference will be given in the next issue of Salient.
A Group of three. Miss Audrey Cooke (Women's vice-president), Messrs. R. E. Blazey and C. F. Vance, has been appointed by the VUCSA Executive to act as liaison between the students, their Executive and the United Nations Association of New Zealand.
VUCSA. is affiliated to UNA and students are therefore entitled to an allocation of printed matter and other 'services free of charge. A number of publications are on hand at the moment. Anyone interested may obtain them or any other available information concerning UN and its activities by application to:—
Published for the Victoria University Students' Association and printed by the Standard Press, 25a Marion St., Wellington.