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These articles are going to make you regret the biggest mistake you ever made. Yes you, you slob, because you never graced Little Congress No. 2 with your presence!
For a weekend of sheer unadulterated (sorry!) bliss, for life lived to its uninhibited full, for a startling revelation of what staff and students are really like, for the most congenial and unique company outside the pages of Cappicade, Little Congress remains unexcelled!
Not to say that we couldn't be serious sometimes. In fact we had three (in every way stimulating) talks with discussions following. And Saturday night saw some 60 students buried deep in intellectual (most of the time) discussions. For three hours yet! Nonstop! So read on, reader!
Over to our second reporter . . .
On Saturday morning Dr. Gupta presented a Socratic dialogue entitled "The decline of Radicalism." In his usual fashion he refused to define any terms, taking the well-known "I only ask questions, never answer them" line. Another quotable Gupta quote was "It's my work to talk, and I never work unless I'm paid. If you hadn't offered me a free weekend, I would never have come." Despite this avowed reluctance to speak we were given an interesting talk tracing the development of Radicalism from the 18th century humanist philosophers accenting practical politics and social sciences in place of airy philosophising and theology. He went on to show how Radicalism stagnated when its aims had been partially achieved in the
On the subject of the present generation the learned Doctor thought that we were the apathetic generation, caring nothing much about anything. We are a bunch of disillusioned cynics he claimed, although the freshers appeared to be more interested in Life than the senior students. He also said that the modern youth was more interested in Theology and Philosophy than past generations going right back to the playmates of Rousseau. His attacks on the social activity of the Christian Churches received a mixed reception, as did his theory that the children of Christian parents are Christians themselves. "Salient" would like to take this opportunity to ask the Doctor if he considers himself a Hindu? Or, does he think that if we take his theory to its illogical conclusions, we are all Pagan pantheists?
Dr. Gupta replied—neither born Hindu nor ever was one.
The Doctor's talk was the cause of much fruitful discussion amongst the Congressmen and so probably attained its aims.
"Salient" hopes that this article gives a fair report of the lecture, and wishes to inform the reading public that confirmation of facts and opinions contained in it proved impossible as the text of the talk was consigned to the fire as soon as it was over. Perhaps this wasn't such a bad idea after all.
On Saturday afternoon Prof. Aikman talked on New Zealand Foreign Policy. He was at a disadvantage in that few of his listeners were expert on the subject of New Zealand's foreign policy. Perhaps he accepted this fact. In any case much of the talk was devoted to an historical outline of our foreign policy. My general impression was that New Zealand never did particularly want independence. However, it became increasingly so from
Economically we are in an even more precarious position. All depends on how we sell our produce. Prof. Aikman pointed out the importance to us of England joining the E.E.C. In the discussion later the possibility of Asian markets was dwelt on.
Closer to home is New Zealand's interest in Samoa. New Zealand has been actively involved in Samoa's management and future for many years. (Professor Aikman himself is helping produce Samoa's new constitution).
Although the talk aroused less discussion than did the other two talks, in retrospect I found it most informative of the three. However, on to the third talk . . .
Prior to the nineteenth century one of the relaxations of the political scientist and philosopher was in depicting the future political system. Marx, however, made the un-pardonable error of adding a blue-print of political action to his Utopian ideal and since then what was once a pastime has become the ludicrous and lucrative occupation of the political philosopher, The secret is to describe a trend within present-day society, take it to its illogical conclusion, ignore the practicalities of attaining this conclusion, write a book and fame, a Ph.D. and fortune is yours.
The last of the talks presented at Little Congress was given by Mr Lloyd-Thomas on the "Rise of the Meritocracy," a book by the British sociologist Michael Young. Young "thinks (British) society will be deeply divided into two classes, the Meritocracy and the rest. The Meritocracy is the governing class, it has all effective power; its members are rich, well I educated, and very intelligent. The rest are the governed, they have no effective power, they are neither rich nor well educated . . . This deep class division is not based on family prestige, nor on wealth. It is based on merit and a person's merit is determined by his I.Q. plus the effort he is willing to expend."
The book was described as a political fantasy and despite the earnest presentation of Young's thesis and his own development and extension of it. Mr Lloyd-Thomas failed to convince some of his audience that his paper was not just an elaborate leg-pull. The paper provoked a lively, if limited discussion with the majority of students seizing the opportunity to sleep off the effects of their Saturday night revelries. This was a pity ac once the most vocal critics got over their indignation a worthwhile examination of the merits of Lloyd-Thomas's thesis took place.
In reply to questions Mr Lloyd-Thomas explained that those with merit gained power because it was seen that in order to obtain a continued increase in production merit would be given its due. This faith in the basic rationality of man is touching but somewhat questionable. Further because the meritocracy would find it easy to capture the reins of power. If we look at our present world leaders it would seem that political power is not of necessity wielded by those with intelligence.
The call to lunch cut short the discussion on what was a provocative. stimulating, limited and naive analysis of world trends.
On Saturday night we had a panel discussion. After each of the panel—Mrs Gay Maxwell, Miss Elizabeth Barnao, Mr Armour Mitchell and Mr Steve. O'Regan—had put forward their views the chairman, Mr Val Maxwell threw the discussion open for speakers from the floor.
First subject: "The consumption of alcohol is the basis of society's ills."
Mrs Maxwell said alcohol was I primarily a lubrication of human relationships; a form of release from aggressions.
Miss Frost declared that drinking methods are outdated and that we should be taught how to drink—how many glasses of what are likely to make you high.
Mr Flude spoke of a friend—"alcohol was the only thing that kept him going for 10 years."
Mr Torins argued against the subject but Mr Knight asserted that in New Zealand in 50 per cent, of all crimes alcohol was a contributing factor.
General opinion approved the consumption of alcohol but deplored its misuse.
The second topic was "that the present position in New Zealand regarding capital punishment is ethically wrong and an insult to national intelligence."
Mr O'Regan summarised public' opinion when he said that every individual has a right to life. By violating another's right he forfeits his own, but if it is wrong for him to kill it is equally wrong for others to kill him.
Mrs Maxwell deplored the vindictive nature of capital punishment, the blood lust and public pressure for revenge.
Mr Flude reminded us that innocent men had been hung.
The gathering decided to send a protest against capital punishment through N.Z.U.P.A.
"Is love or lust the basis of man-woman relationships?"
Mr O'Regan professed himself to be an idealist. Body and mind are complementary, he said, so it is love which is important. He claimed to be looking for the perfect woman, though admitted he was enjoying the search.
Mrs Maxwell declared that love I was overrated in our society and this "love theory" a mistake. (Mr Maxwell: "I agree with her.") Love, she said, is a warm close relationship for which lust is the basis. She didn't believe in a union of souls.
Mr Knight criticised the mass media of radio, films and advertising that has saturated our society with a misguided conception of love.
Miss Latham gave us a psychological definition of love consisting of a number of composite elements, Iust being but one of them.
Dr. Gupta said to equate lust with love does love a great wrong, and the company was so much in agreement mat we progressed to me next topic.
"Does the lecture system do anything to stimulate the intellect—an evaluation of our lecture system at Vic."
Most people, without much enthusiasm, agreed that the lecture system was a necessity.
Miss Benefield stated that the average student needs guidance.
Mr U'Regan said that in a lecture one is passive—you can absorb information but not evaluate it.
Dr. Gupta quoted: "There are lecturers and lectures, students and students, and bloody fools."
Miss Picton said that in an university education we get too many facts and no time to think.
The chairman added that students should have the right to "vote with their feet."
"Advertisement as an integral part of modern living."
Popular opinion seemed to agree that it was, and proceeded to defend it as informative or (majority) to attack it as an invasion of privacy.
Miss Frost wished to thank the advertising men for their contribution to contemporary music.
Mr Stone pointed out the advantages of advertising—it keeps the National Orchestra, the daily newspapers and cappicade going. He then waxed indignant about "Brand X" which "washes whiter." "Whiter than what? Banging the cloth with a piece of rock?"
Mr Knight described how advertising was an integral part of our economy. Advertising encourages people to buy which keeps money in circulation and prevents a depression.
The panel with the exception of Mrs Maxwell disliked advertising but believed it necessary. (Miss Barnao: "It's a rat race." Mr O'Regan: "I hate it.")
Mrs Maxwell advocated a social change eliminating advertising and the establishment of a less wasteful economy.
Other discussions followed on: "The significance of the Commonwealth to us" (unity, economic advantage, same ideology); "That there is a double standard of morality—one for men and one for women"-it was agreed that this exists and also that it is prejudiced, immoral and unfair. A discussion of "the moral and social problems of the widespread use of contraceptives" tended to become a religious controversy; while faculty loyalty prevented agreement on the argument "Have the humanities accepted the challenge of science?"
Everyone agreed that the even-inn had been a profitable one and adjourned in search of less (menially) exhausting occupations. Over to our social reporter . . .
Inside" Account of Little Congress No. 2
I've been asked to write about the "social aspects" of Little Congress—fortunately; since they so completely submerged me, that I didn't really notice any other aspect; at least, I believed there were some lectures (but you've got to sleep some time) and there was —well, food, I suppose you'd call it, and I believe beds wore provided—but I'm not really qualified to mention these (they were unmentionable anyway).
Fri., 7 p.m.: artic. truck scheduled to leave, so it left 7.45. Uneventful journey. Uneventful people went to bed (very few). Then ... Liz dug the garden. Party in Hut 24 began with a one man show by Tony K. weaving round trying unsuccessfully to locate his cutlery and volubly orating on world affairs. The "intellectuals" read poetry.
Sat., 9 a.m.: Everybody breakfasted in pyjamas and rugs. Plunket medal enthusiasts arrived late. Slept through some lectures and discussions and followed the crowd to the pub till six. That night after a spirited discussion 30-odd people packed into an 8ft. × 6ft. pink hut for a party with Dr. G. at one end and Hector at the other, quibbling over definition of terms; and the very "happy" trio, Mitch, Steve and Tony. (Hear no evil, speak no evil, see no evil?) Certain dissipated individuals spent the night in the kitchen drinking tea, interrupted by the hot-water bottle fiasco (several die-hards waited an hour or so for the water to boil then were told to "clear out of my cookhouse by an irate chef, who then tipped all the water down the sink) and by a rather doubtful ouija-board demonstration. Meanwhile in the social room, David L. valiantly accompanied a few feeble voices in a traditional Vic. song festival while Mitch and Jenny conspired to stop Steve going home.
Sun., 10 a.m.: Dr. G. drove the six R.C's to Mass (he "volunteered".) They tried the first two churches they came to but no luck. Dr. G.: "Too respectable for you? You're all clothed but nothing's hidden—is that what's worrying you?" (All six were female and clad perforce, in slacks. L.D.A. and Dr. G. ought to condole with each other).
a good Christian to give you a lift, ring a good Heathen and I'll came and get you. And when we meet in hell, I'll let you join my harem!" They thanked him profusely and assured him they'd pray for him. and after church, enlisted the aid of a young man called Kevin with a truck.
Sunday afternoon, Mel conducted a forum, "let's make it informal" for the few remaining crusaders. Later he announced that he'd found a face-cloth. Now Mel isn't used to face-cloths and couldn't envisage any possible use for it. So he tried in vain to sell it, raffle it, or donate it to some worthy cause (I could have suggested several!) Then he officially closed Little Congress by organising a ground-clearing squad. They laboured enthusiastically while he demolished the last flagon with a few stalwarts in Hut 19. Hut 19 and Hut 24 sure had their share that weekend.
Its 10 storeys (two below the level shown here) are primarily to house the library which is expected to have expanded to about half a million books in 40 years time. Expansion is provided for by six classrooms, one double classroom, nine seminar rooms, 140 staff studies. The Psychology department will have a floor of its own. and also half the fifth floor will be occupied by the Applied Mathematics Laboratory of the D.S.I.R. Dr. Culliford, speaking of the presence of the D.S.I.R., said that he anticipated that its presence would be of inestimable value to our own Maths Department.
It is in the library that the most significant changes will be made. Apart from the immense improvements in space—there are six reading rooms of various functions, together providing space for 1,000 students—several new features have been added, such as typing rooms, sound-proof cubicles equipped with gramophones for use in conjunction with a recreational record library, and a bag and coat check room.
The major reading rooms are on the lowest level shown here. Directly below are the Law reading rooms and some classrooms, and below that are the main stack rooms, surrounded by dozens of small carrels for individuals engaged in research or advanced study. On the roof terrace level is the periodicals room, and also a big staff common room and library staff rooms. Next one up is another, more specialised reading floor, and above that there are two floors of staff studies. Level five is for Mathematics, level six the Psychology Department (who won't know themselves in the luxury of having a reasonable amount of space at last), and right on top is another roof terrace and more staff studies.
The situation is, of course, superb: in case you haven't already identified it. it's to go in that big clay hole on the harbour side of Easterfield, and will rise to about the same height. The harbour view ought to be even better than the present one from Easterfield. although the staff have cunningly appropriated most of this for their studies, etc.
The building has been designed by an Auckland firm, Kingston. Reynolds and Thorn. The structure proposed incorporates the widespread use of pre-cast concrete elements, which should not only reduce the building time by about a year, but also, in combination with the techniques of prestressing, produce a structure which will comfortably carry the heavy load of book stacks. The total cost of the building alone is estimated at £650,700—or it was, last October.
The name of the building will be the Rankine-Brown Block, after the late Sir John Rankine-Brown, a foundation Professor of Classics who was known and respected by thousands of students until his death recently.
The views presented in " Salient" are not necessarily these of all members of "Salient" staff.
Monkeys, trained to operate controls at given signals, are being used to pilot American space ships! Newspapers show front-page photographs of the new astronauts, their apish chins thrust forward with Mussolini arrogance.
It's All Very Interesting—but What About the Social Effects of Such new Developments?
Human astronauts are too few and disorganised at the moment to insist on union membership. And if an Astronaut Union meeting was held to discuss the matter, it's likely that there would be more chimps there than men. The result could be a union dominated by chimpanzees.
Now everyone knows chimps are reactionary. They accept the truck system of payment, fully satisfied with a weekly wage of bananas.
They demand no danger money and can easily be bribed with a full-length cover story in "Life" magazine. What will happen when the characteristics of monkey labour are noticed by industrial employers?
Threat to Working Class
An English factory has already tried using chimps as labour. Mechanisation and mass production has reduced most factory jobs to a simple routine. The monkey could become a serious threat to the working class. Their food, clothing and shelter requirements are few; so are their notions of freedom. They could be farmed in colonies and cross-bred to produce strains suitable for all conditions.
Naturally they'd have to be kept happy but industrial psychlogy is already a science. How about a few rousings songs like "The British Chimpanzee, is the salt of our Count-err-ree."
Laws could be passed making it a capital offence to murder a chimp and a National Veterinary Service could be set up to make sure a sick chimp could go back to work as soon as possible. British law would have to be extended to cover the chimpanzee; he should be able to sue his master for the loss of five bananas at the cost of only a hundred bananas.
Religious and Moral Training
Religion would have to be adapted for him. As a reward for work, patience and obedience, he would look forward to a life after death in which he would be introduced to a Gorilla father image who presided over a banana plantation. He would learn modesty and cover his bottom up, read good book; and be prevented from reading bad books about his promiscuous ancestors.
None of these things is impossible with careful scientific breeding and conditioning and our modern age would be far better served by chimp workers. For it's becoming increasingly obvious that In our modern age human beings simply don't belong.
Jenny: unafraid to pit her naive under-grad. wisdom against the assured conceit of the intellectuals.
Mitch: with five women in one bunk. (I can produce 20 witnesses!)
John H.: asked what he did Sat. night: "Well, I don't remember much!"
Liz.: "Oh! is this one of those?" — holding up a contact-lens case.
Paul: acting queerly all weekend.
David: What did happen to his shoes?
Caroline: in difficulties? Surrounded by a dozen or so pseudo psychiatrists all eager to try out conflicting theories.
Tony K.: "I want to make a shpeech!"
Mel.: "Say for once in his life Stone behaved himself!" Sorry. Mel, but I can't help remembering the four unexplained girls' handkerchiefs found in Stone's hut Sunday morning
Cathy: "I know I'm right but I don't see why. Somebody's gone and mixed me up!"
Dr. G's diabolical attempts to corrupt the innocent frustrated!
C. & M.: (Two girls who spent Friday night in boys' Hut No. 19): "Honestly, it was purely platonic. We talked about why we write poetry, and whether God could be red and green all over!"
Cook: "I was in the Army and I know,"'(recommending rationing).
Elaine: We never knew Elaine spoke Russian before!
Anon. Male: imitating a notorious Mr Moon: "There comes a time in all good parties for someone to drop his tweeds!"
Tony P.: "Don't think I'm complaining because it's my bed, but if I could just lie underneath you!"
Steve: "O'Regan puts his brain into neutral and lets his tongue roll on!" (Quoting Liz—by the way, who stole the sign from the railway?)
Marietta: on Little Congress: "Now I know!"
John P.: venting his frustration on all that was available—a poor little innocent child's cot in Hut 24!
Fludie: feeling maudlin and surrounded by women whose mother love asserted itself. What a gimmick!
Caretaker: He actually swallowed the yarn that we only drank half a bottle a head!
John I.: "When you're playing table-tennis and you see three balls coming at you—hit the middle one!"
Gay: "The reason Val and I got married was because ..."
Val: "for those with dirty minds, we have as yet no children."
Finally, coming home in the arctic—the amoral types sang doubtful ditties to the moral types, who listened all agog, the "Aphabet" was recited right to the bitter end, the Cookie-Bird song was demonstrated and we finished up with the inevitable Extrav. Finale without which no social event would be complete!
And I thought "Hurray for Little Congresses!" and went into hibernation in the Common Common room, until Little Congress No. 3!
See you there, everyone.
All students interested in 14th Double Tenth Sports Tournament (sponsored by the Wellington Chinese Association Sports Committee,. 1961), please collect entry forms from the Editorial Room, Students' Union Building.
A delegation of three Russian students will make a goodwill visit to New Zealand in July.
The delegation comes at the request and as guests of the university students of New Zealand.
The delegation leader is Cherkezia Otar, a technical student and member of the Presidium of the U.S.S.R. Student Council; and he is accompanied by Astasyeva Elvira a post graduate of the Philological Department of Leningrad University and Lebedev who is an historian and specialist In international relations, also a member of the Presidium of U.S.S.R. Students' Council.
It is advised that two of the delegates speak fluent English.
The guests will arrive In Auckland on July 22 or 23 where they will be met by Mr D. B. Kenderdine (Vice-President of N.Z.U.S.A.) who will accompany them on their tour which will include visits to all university centres in New Zealand.
A comprehensive tour has been arranged and the Russian students will have every opportunity to meet the people and students of New Zealand.
Sir,—In replying to the article "Dwyer Cut Up" (much more appropriately "Dwyer on top") I would first refer to the premise that Miss Benefield is criticising i.e. "The very concept of Infinity is all-inclusive and absolutely exclusive." Assuming this, Mr Dwyer tried to show that if evil existed apart from God; He was no longer Infinite.
Miss Benefield attempts to prove the premise wrong and thus Mr Dwyer's conclusion as well. She concludes: "Thus beside the Infinite, there is the finite dependent on the Infinite God for its very existence." In other words, she maintains that something occurs outside Infinite God and (horror of horrors) she decides that this existence, while being separate, still "depends on God for its very existence."
Obviously Mr Dwyer has scored because after all her pseudo-reasoned orange peel Miss Benefield merely admits Mr Dwyer's insistence on the existence of orange juice i.e. that God is not Infinite.
What does Miss Benefield then do, but proceed to argue on the basis that God is Infinite, having apparently proved that He Isn't. She then goes on to state that Good emanates from God and evil "does not exist positively at all. It is an absence of Good." What is good? As Miss Benefield is chary of delineating It here I can only conclude that she is referring to the Christian code as manifested by the Church on earth. Can she deny that this Christian morality has varied in the past. One has only to look at attitudes of the clergy in the Middle Ages to see the familiarity with, and tendency towards physical violence that was prevalent in society as a whole and had a general reflection In the Christian morality of the time. Today Christians lay great emphasis on "turning the other cheek"—this emphasis has evolved since the Middle Ages and very probably a different emphasis will appear in the future. What would be the attitude of the Church In the case of war today? The categorical statement "Thou shalt not kill," will merely be passed over.
In her last paragraph Miss Benefield maintains the existence of a consistent Christian morality. She separates this from Its manifestation in the Christian Church on earth by its very consistence. How then does she define it? "A philosophic concept of God's laws regarding creation." Whose concept is this? There is no concept' which is at all generally accepted. There is a whole series of different Individual interpretations, even national interpretations.
How were these different interpretations produced anyway? Obviously the bible is the material from which they came. What is the bible?—Obviously a collection of human interpretations in itself.
To avoid the incorporation of doubtful material in her "philosophic concept" Miss B. would be able to use her bible only in fundamentals, ie. the Ten Commandments. These fundamentals will still have to be expanded before they can be applied to our continually developing way of life. Who is going to expand them? Not one common authority—but many, with the result of a plurality of interpretations.
And this moral code is supposed to delineate what is "good." Miss Benefield can find it to say; evil is merely the absence of good, "positive" good, but she does this allowing only an assumption that, by good, she means Christian morality—a variable and often vague thing which can only be ignored, even by Its exponents, if it comes into contradiction with fundamental national policies.
Simply, It appears that Miss B. only makes a case out for the real existence of evil, by claiming the real existence of good. According to the moral nature of good, it is merely a contrast to evil—on the same plane. Therefore Miss B's claim that evil "does not exist positively at all," is completely absurd. If it does not exist "positively" then neither can good—one could just as well say; good does not exist positively at all, it is an absence of evil.
Sir,—Glancing idly through the latest Issue of Salient I was amazed at the number of times the name Dwyer appeared.
Who is this head-line catcher? This stimulator or maybe leader of University mental thought. An investigation was set in motion and the facts unearthed.
Dwyer is or was an Irishman, and it appears, not a mad one, though experts from the psychology department and the Otago Medical School refused to comment directly. Oh these lawyer-trained quacks.
Like Joyce (a writer—to those who have not attempted English I) Dwyer roamed far from his native shore (otherwise how would he be here)—whether for the same reason as Joyce is not quite clear.
Like all sane Irishmen Dwyer has a philosophy, actually he studies it, and also like a true Irishman he believes those who can't be seen should be heard, and if they can't be heard they should be read.
Hence it appears Salient has and will continue to carry the thunderings of this second Irish prophet (St. Patrick being the first). Actually after 15 centuries it is about time the race produced another.
The moral to be gained from these top-secret disclosures (even the government doesn't know these facts, yet) is two-fold.
Firstly the notion that the Irish overlook little old New Zealand while spreading their gospel (or whatever Dwyer preaches) is obviously incorrect. Secondly the Immigration laws must be tightened up to Include the exclusion of Irishmen. Otherwise Walter N. and Mr Fintan Patrick Walsh might be exposed to sleepless nights and horrible nightmares as fiery word-consuming challengers from the Emerald Isle enter the sphere of labour as they have successfully done in Old Uncle Sam, and challenged these grand old warriors.
Sir,—In your report on the debate "Better Red than Dead?" you have summarised my words as 'He appealed for the West to be calm and to maintain peace until the intellectuals on the other side of the Iron Curtain could liberalise Communist thought." I should like to offer the following alternative summary which I think is closer to the meaning of what I said: "He appealed for the West to be calm and firm for the lifetime of one or two generations, and to maintain peace until the many-sided struggle of the intellectuals behind the Iron Curtain against the powers that he succeeded in liberalising conditions there."
Sir,—The new radiogram is fabulous but why have it in the Women's Common Room? Every time we play a record the habitual residents look positively agonized, and sooner or later some long-suffering square comes and whispers "Please could you turn it down?" And often: "Do you mind turning it off—we're trying to study!" Now we sympathise and all that—after all, we too occasionally study but why waste a perfectly beautiful radiogram. No one could complain if it were in the Common Common Room and the gift would really get the appreciation it deserves. It would be more logical too as music is stimulating and should be shared: for those who really love music, as we do, it is frustrating to be surrounded by understandably frigid hostility!
Sir,—So the statue was nearly exchanged with the officers of the Esmeralda for a Chilean flag. How very admirable and ingenious to take in a group of foreigners! And since then it has visited Ngaio Post Office, and returned minus half one foot. Better still.
To suggest that this is hardly the way to treat a gift is perhaps too elementary. There is, however, a more subtle consideration. Many students like the statue. Had this never occurred to those who employ themselves in getting rid of it? These people have taken upon themselves pseudo-representative powers in attempting to dispose of the statue. This energetic little group has been so busy with their self-imposed mission that they have never considered that it was perhaps selfish, childish and irresponsible. What may be amusing to them seems stupid and destructive to those who enjoy the statue.
Sir,—While Queen Victoria's reign produced some of the most hideous architectural and social structures ever erected, Roturies' statement that she was a tyrant is just hot air. I never knew Victoria and it is highly improbable that Roturies did. Consequently neither of us is in a position to say whether or not she was a tyrant.
Advocates of Wellington University are only a few of our bumbling councillors, not the businessmen; the businessmen in addition are the only people to whom our Exec, can crawl to for badly needed funds.
But his "Wu-Wu" makes my blood boll. After seeing the major cities of South Africa and Australia in addition to most of the British Isles, I am in a position to compare Wellington with them. I state, without any qualification, whatsoever, that Wellington is a hole. It's the most dirty and Inhospitable town that I have ever had the misfortune to know. It's a monstrosity, without even the saving grace of a fascination usually attendent on such objects. And in parts it stinks. Literally. Of filth.
I shudder at the thought that, some day, I may carry the stigma of having graduated at Wellington, if this terrible prospect should ever become a near certainty I shall promptly transfer to Auckland University where I may continue my studies in peace, albeit at. a lower standard.
Sir,—We wish to take strong exception to an item appearing on Page 1 of Vol. 24. No. 9, of
During the period when the site of the development of the University was undecided, the University authorities reversed their original decision and decided to carry out this development on the Princess Street site. This brought them into conflict with the City Council, and this conflict extended until the Town and Country Planning Appeals Board rejected the City Council's opposition last year, and cleared the way finally for this development.
During this controversy there was, after a public meeting called by a group of private citizens who included some City Councillors and which was addressed by the Mayor (Robinson) and concerning the inclusion of Government House site in the area, a period when student opinion of these people and their somewhat arrogant tactics was at an all-time low. However, since this time, relations have steadily Improved. Even at its most extreme period, however, this situation could not by any criterion be described as one of "mutual contempt."
Over the past few months the situation has improved constantly. At Executive Dinner, Mr Robinson made a plea for closer co-operation "between Town and Gown," the City Council have recently turned on social occasions for both the retiring Chancellor and for Colombo Plan Students, whilst last week the Mayor attended a concert presented by students of this University. I feel that the fact that he joined some church leaders in a condemnation of the standard of this year's Capping Book and Procesh does not invalidate my claim that relationships between the two bodies are now quite cordial and are showing steady improvement, as many of us were not satisfied ourselves with the standard of wit in either of these two activities this year.
Sir,—I wish that clubs in the University would advertise their activities more accurately. I am, of course, referring to the talk on 'World Bank." It was very convenient of the speaker to say that he did not know that the topic he was to have spoken on was "World Bank." It turned out to be Social Credit propaganda. I think that this is a dirty way of getting an audience to hear about something in which they have no particular interest. I wish to warn students who are ignorant of the traps they can fall into—for I wasted one whole hour listening to a talk that was not even rational.
Sir,—It was with amazement that I read Mr Richard Caughey on "Moral Rearmament." It is only too obvious that this gentleman who, on his own admission, worked for four years with this movement, has been so instilled with propaganda that it has clouded his judgment. Typical of his kind, he neglects to mention exactly what moral rearmament stands for, and who provides the money to run It.
It has become obvious that this movement is run by the men whose finance companies actually back the arms factories. This view inevitably follows, as long as Mr Caughey and his confederates continue to scream about the "Red bogey" and propose not moral rearmanent but further nuclear armaments. If readers will cast their memories back to the
Sir,—Mr R. Chapman appears to have all the characteristics of the past Executive which he criticised. I am puzzled to know why he was not a candidate in the recent elections—and proud of it.
[P.S.—On examining the records, it appears that there has not been one full-time student as President of the Association for at least the last 15 years.]
Sir.—.Jancist cannot hope to set my mind at rest (as she attempted to* in Salient 9) by avoiding the question "How did Jancist get a copy?" Did she go overseas as she attempts to infer? And to a country where Lolita was not banned?
Jancist defends the lavatorial humour on the grounds that any family anywhere keeps itself amused with dirty stories. This is a sweeping, general, and I feel, unjustified statement.
The final claim is that the book gets its humour by making the pervert ridiculous. It seems that it is Jancist rather than the judges that should have her sense of humour questioned. Finally, may I repeat my former comment, a legal proceeding is not to exercise the judges sense of humour but to decide whether the book came within the provisions of the indecent publications act.
[In reply to R.J.P.—I did go overseas—as R.J.P. well knows—now just shut up will you?
Let us agree to differ on our ideas of "family jokes." I think that if a survey was to be conducted throughout the world, on this subject, the result would be that there was a certain element of lavatorial humour in the majority of family circles, especially those with young children (heavens, it's essential!)
The exception does not prove the rule.
And just to conclude—maybe I have an unique sense of humour—and I'm proud of it!
Sir,—Is it youthful rejuvenation, or is Salient "in the red?" is It aesthetic appreciation or an Indication of Salient's dubious political associations? Did someone provide a free sample or is it Kinsey's asides that has made those boxes turn that colour?
Esmeralda.
Sir,—Jancist in her article on Contemporary Music considers that "modern" music presents us with a very insecure foundation upon which to base the art of musical composition. She believes It to be "revolutionary, transitory and experimental."
May I ask her how closely she has studied the works of the contemporary schools that she thus condemnes? I question her right and her ability to expound such an opinion How closely has she examined for example the works of Stravinsky, Bartok or Schonberg (to mention only three of a much larger group)? Perhaps in her haste to condemn them as being unable to teach us anything valuable she has overlooked such vital factors as Bartok's contrapuntal techniques, Stravinsky's fascinating orchestration and word-setting, or again, the exciting rhythmic conceptions of our age.
Can she really justify herself in calling these developments "revolutionary?" I suggest that this word implies far more than what is nothing more than a natural development in the growth of any art. Certainly 20th century composers have reacted violently against the Romantics, but in opening up seemingly new paths in composition. They have, nonetheless drawn from past styles and led quite naturally into the next stage in musical development.
"Transitory?" By no means! Let me point to only one of many examples — Stravinsky's "Symphony of Psalms"—which possesses elements that will be marvelled at for as long as anything by Beethoven, Mozart or Bach.
"Experimental?" Only in so far as any great artist—if he is truly great will experiment.
Far from being left on the shelf and ignored, therefore, I am certain that contemporary music must play a vital part in the education of music students. The course would be incomplete if it was omitted and it is for this reason that the Music Department wisely includes it in our earliest stages—and in our final year expects us to be writing in its idioms.
Sir.—I have heard around the city that grovels at our feet, that Judge Cunlewis's recent remarks, about free love and loose living at Sydney University, can also be applied to Vic. The other day I was asked which lecturer it is at Vic. that preaches free love.
Fellow—uh—students, we cannot allow such comments to ride freely around town.
Drinkers of the world unite—there is nowhere to go but get higher. Never let it be said that Vic. students need instruction in free love and loose living.
Sir,—I think your article in last "Salient" calls for comment, as it sacrifices accuracy and logic for emotion—like your other front-page articles this year! Must you use your front page like that?
Unfortunately, both sides of this controversy have been badly presented to the University and to the public. In favour of the change we have heard little but brevity and town-gown relationships. Both have some merit in spite of your curious claim that "Wellington University" would not be formally correct; all over the world there are universities bearing the names of the cities in which they are located, and that doesn't prevent them from serving a wider area. But it does let people know where they are! People outside New Zealand don't know (without research) where Victoria University is; their first guess is Australia, then British Columbia. For a third solution, see later. Letters sometimes reach us by strange routes. You claim that "Victoria" in its various forms is distinctive; unfortunately it is the least distinctive name in the Commonwealth for obvious historical reasons. True, "Wellington" might well be second in this respect, but at least this Wellington is probably the best known, whereas that is not true of this "Victoria."
The case for retaining the old name is primarily that it provides a continuity of tradition and would best retain the loyal interest of graduates. This has merit, but is not helped by your exaggerated claim that the name is essential, or that a change would be disrespectful to British royalty. Such changes have occurred elsewhere without the heavens falling.
If the Council decides to retain the status quo, we will follow the same course as the Victoria University of Manchester. Yes, that's its name, but of course it is seldom used, and probably never as "Victoria University* without the "Manchester." For all practical purposes it is "The University of Manchester," and its degrees are indicated by (Mane.) not (Vic.), f Council should decide to grasp the nettle and make the change now instead of leaving it to happen gradually, we should realise that their action is not prompted by malice or by the dictates of "petty businessmen." Let's try to keep any further discussion reasonable.
Sir,—The next Executive will not be comprised of the best available students. In some cases the voters were forced to choose between two or more good candidates whilst in others, less competent have been thrust upon them. Can this be described as an exercise in democracy ?
When it is remembered that the duties of an Exec, member extend far beyond the particular portfolio allotted to him or her, the failure of the system is the more manifest.
At the time the system was first mooted I supported it, I only hope my colleagues in error will join with me in admitting short-sightedness.
The only way in which I can see that this system could be retained is to introduce a "policy" committee and to confine portfolio holders to the area of those portfolios.
However, as this "junior executive" would have little appeal, unless it is a pre-requisite for a "policy" position for the candidate to have served a year as a "portfolio" holder, it seems that we shall have to revert to the former shambles as being the lesser of the two evils.
Sir,—The other day I noticed a portrait of George V which was hidden amongst the dirt and cobwebs above the library door. It occurred to me that amongst all the controversy over the proposed deletion of "Victoria" from this University's official title, no one has noticed that we have not one painting, sculpture, or picture-postcard of the old lady herself displayed, however inconspicuously, anywhere within our ivy-covered halls. Nothing to show why we are Victoria.
We want to retain our traditional title. But let us not forget our namesake; let us give her the due recognition which our name implies she should have. Without this we might just as well be named after a certain Australian State, for all anyone knows or cares.
Is the common common room meant to be a common cesspool? The floor is covered with waste—cigarette butts and ash. apple cores, orange peels, dead matches, papers and plain common dirt and dust.
Although the frequenters of the room are particularly blamable for their slovenly habits Stud. Ass. is more culpable. After all what can be expected if waste paper bins are not supplied in sufficient numbers, the few ashtrays infrequently emptied and the floors swept only now and again?
If Stud. Ass. have made some cleaning arrangements they are totally inadequate and would appear to be A Reflection of the General Efficiency and Competence of Stud. Ass.
Is it too much to ask for more waste-paner bins and ashtrays, and to nave the common room and the corridors swept out once every 24 hours, five days a week or is there a good reason why this is not practicable?
(Abridged.)
[Ashtrays and bins are now provided: there are 12 ashtrays in the editorial room—but people still prefer using the floor.]
Sir,—O.K., "Jancist," so I'm still a music student. But look here, I am a genius.
Sir,—While we revel in the unaccustomed luxury of the new Student Union Building, complete with Venetian blinds, etc., we think that some of the money could have been laid out on less ostentatious but more essential articles, e.g., toilet paper in the cloakrooms. Yours, etc.,
Sir,—The National Committee for the Abolition of the Death Penalty is launching a campaign in favour of abolition and against the amendment to the law proposed by the Government. This letter is not the medium to detail our criticism of the amendment except to say that the proposition to have degrees of murder—capital and non-capital—is not a novel idea but one which was examined and firmly rejected by the British Royal Commission in
To those of your readers who agree with us we say. help us to put the facts before the public. Those prepared to be convinced by facts should contact us and we will supply literature. If some of the University Clubs will take speakers or arrange debates we will be glad to supply speakers. Offers of help or enquiries should be addressed to the Secretary, Box 5050, Wel.
Four-students: Your letter referred to the Cafeteria, thanks.
Mr pointon: your letter has been referred to the secretary. We are still awaiting an answer from him.
The New Zealand Institute of Public Administration has conferred fellowships on Profesor K. J. Scott and Mr R. S. Parker.
Professor Scott is the professor in political science and public administration. Mr Parker, who formerly held the post now occupied by Professor Scott, is the leader in public administration at the Australian National University at Canberra.
Probably the strongest soccer team for the last five years will represent Victoria at Tournament in August. In the past Vic. has had difficulty in assembling 14 players, sometimes having to resort to coercion. This year, however, it appears that some of those available for selection will have to be left out. No less than 13 players with first team experience are in line for selection and half a dozen from the second team also come in for serious consideration.
Preparation for Tournament commenced on Sunday. July 2. when a team from the Health Department provided opposition. Later this month it is hoped that a team from Massey will supply even stiffer competition.
1st Team. Two draws and two wins place them in the bottom four and not for the first time, a battle against relegation lies ahead. Poor finishing by the forwards, occasional lapses in defence and plain bad luck prevented the team from achieving greater success.
2nd Team. With five points from two wins and a draw this team is also struggling against relegation. One encouraging aspect that has emerged from the team's play is the number of young players who are challenging for positions in the higher team.
3rd Team. Continual demands for players has certainly not assisted the team but they have still managed to obtain five points from two wins and a draw. Without a regular goalkeeper for a long period and forced on occasion to play without a full team, they lave still played hard and constructive football.
4th Team. Probably the keenest team in the club, and to date, the one with the most successes to its credit—three wins. It is not often that a Varsity team in a lower division finds itself with too many players, but this is the case with this team.
A final note to all players, especially those in line for Tournament selection. Please keep up attendances at practices both on Thursday night in the new gym, and on Sunday afternoons at Boyd-I Wilson.
Recently a number of young people gathered in the University Tramping hut in the Southern Tararuas to celebrate the coming of age of one of the members of the Club, Bruce Popplewell. Brace's parents were unable to attend and hostess duties for the evening were assumed by Miss Helen Thompson and Miss Judith Elwin.
A novel note was struck by having the seating arrangements in two stories around the fire, and also by the serving of a delightful stew, indeed an unusual venture.
For the occasion Bruce wore a charming creation in two-tone (mud and otherwise).
A number of the young people went for a stroll along the picturesque banks of the Tauherenikau River, and enjoyed the lovely starlight night.
Well known New Zealand folk songs were sung by Messrs. Prebble, Prebble and McCann. A delightful exhibition of ballet was given by Miss Leslie McLauchlan.
Others present included Cedric and students who wish to remain anonymous.
I. It is proposed to form a club to be known as the Apathetic Club in the Victoria University of Wellington. The club will seek affiliation to the Students' Association.
II. (a) The object of the Club will be to further apathy in all its manifestations in all fields of student life.
(b) The purpose of the grant for which the Club will apply to the Students' Association on affiliation will be to enable members to be more apathetic more often in more comfort.
III. (a) Only apathetic students will be eligible for membership. Lack of apathy is hereby decreed unconstitutional.
(b) Any person conducting him or herself or encouraging, forcing or otherwise inducing any person or persons whomsoever to conduct themselves in an unapathetic manner will not be eligible for membership and will, if already a member, be expelled from the club.
(c) Members shall be known as Apathetes. They shall conduct themselves at all times in an apathetic manner.
IV. All persons desiring, aspiring, intending or otherwise hoping to become non-members are hereby notified that they are required to signify such intention in writing to the club Immediately. All persons failing to notify the club of their desire for non-membership will automatically be registered as members.
V. (a) Meetings shall be held at the discretion of the committee.
(b) i. All persons failing to attend such meetings and not offering apologies for such defection will be automatically declared members.
ii. All persons attending such meetings are behaving in a violently unconstitutional manner and will be expelled from the club.
Students wishing to become non-members are required to answer by letter addressed to "Apathy." and placed in the pigeon-hole labelled "a" in the Executive Office.
Sunday afternoon of June 25 saw the annual basketball match between Vic. A and Weir House. Four games were played and each side won two. Hence as Weir were the defenders of the mythical crown of supremacy, they retained the same for yet another year.
Crisp passing and neat sidestepping were dominant features of the game. The scoring of goals was the only hint that basketball was being played-Prominent for Weir were Harry Mahon (Speedy) and Brian Finch.
At the Boys' Institute Baths on June 23, the Weir House swimming team won the Inter-Hostel Swimming Shield by a margin of 25 points. Place-getters were:
J. Carlyon—1st in 100 yards freestyle.
M. Sladden—2nd in 33 1-3 yards breast-stroke and 33 1-3 yds. back-stroke; 3rd in 33 1-3 yards free-style.
P. Udy—3rd in 33 1-3 yards breast-stroke.
B. Finch—1st in 33 1-3 yards butterfly; 3rd in 33 1-3 yards back-stroke.
J. Armstrong—3rd in 33 1-3 yards free-style.
W. Haldane—3rd in Diving.
Relay results were:
Medley—Weir "B" 1st; Weir "A" 2nd.
Four-a-side: Weir "B" 3rd.
Could all Clubs Who Will be Sending Teams to Tournament Get a Preview of Tournament Prospects by the Next Deadline Which is on Friday, July 28.
On Tuesday, June 27, the Victoria University Swimming Club held its annual general meeting. For the last two years George Caddie has been Club Captain, and declined to be re-elected this year. Mr Caddie has done some very commendable work, and his successor, Michael Sladden, will find his job easier with a now well organised club.
It was suggested that swimming and water polo should commence as early as possible in October of the coming season. In this way the benefit gained from the active calisthenics classes would not be wasted.
The following is the list of officers for the coming season, subject to the consent of some persons who have been elected:—
Patron: Mr M. J. Mason.
President: Mr T. C. Verhoeven.
Vice-Presidents: Mrs McBrlde, Miss P. Gallagher, Mr L. B. Piper, Mr W. Landreth, Mr C. P. McBride.
Club Captain: Mr M. Sladden.
Ladies' Vice-Captain: Miss D. Davidson.
Men's Vice-Captain: Mr M. Kerr.
Secretary: Mr G. Mace.
Treasurer: Mr P. Hatch.
Committee: Miss S. Anson, Miss A. Roberts, Mr B. Bibby, Mr R. Wiltshire.
How many people come to the University not knowing what they really want to do with themselves? How many go on gathering units still not knowing what to do? And how many students reach that lofty plateau labelled "Graduates" to view a blank personal future?
Stray surveys and questionings would suggest that a considerable number do. Some estimates would say that only 10 per cent, of students have a clear idea of where they are going and why. Yes, the university is a convenient Institution for spending a few years between the reality of school and the reality of a career. But, if the end of your degree is in sight, the long deferred question once again looms—what are you suing to do with it and with your life?
But of course, some sense of direction is necessary also early in a university career if a degree is to be planned to be most useful and advantageous. If first and second year students are to gain the best possible education from the university they should have some Idea where It is leading them. The malaise of aimlessness is not only confined to those in the final year of their degree, and it Is not only then that Its consequences can be unfortunate. If the use to which a degree is to be put Is decided, greater thought will be put into its composition.
Recently a small group of Interested employers got together to discuss this problem and decided that something should be done to inform students, particularly those with broad based degrees, just what career openings and opportunities were available for them in industry, commerce, and Government service. A Committee was set up consisting of three representatives from Government Departments, three representatives from private enterprise, and three from the University. Mr L. W. Keys (Divisional Director, Post Office) was its Chairman, and Mr B. D. Mercer, of Lever Brothers (N.Z.) Limited, its Secretary. They approached the Students' Association with the suggestion that something might be gained by holding a careers Information week within the University. Recognising the need, the Students' Executive agreed to the plan.
Some overseas universities facing this same need have established what are called Appointment Boards. Interested prospective employers then Inform the Board of their requirements and opportunities, and students are able to get leads from the Board when locking around for employment. Whilst not wanting to cut across any plans the University or Students' Association might have In this direction, the group felt that something should be done Immediately.
Plans for the week are under way, and Include lunch-hour talks by various speakers, and displays by prospective employers. It Is proposed to open the week with a broad talk by the Hon. T. P. Shand, Minister of Labour. That will be Monday. July 31, 12.30 in the Memorial Theatre. On the Tuesday there will be two short talks: the first by Mr Kevin O'Brien, representing the private zone of employment, and the second by Mr L. A. Atkinson, Chairman of the Public Service Commission, on the Government service zone of employment. Speakers for the rest of the week will specialise on particular faculties.
This week will not subject students to a barrage of high-pressure salesmanship. All speakers and employers understand that this is not a recruiting campaign, but one designed to inform students of career opportunities available, leaving them free to Investigate and decide for themselves. And questions, on the broad theme, will be welcomed by speakers.
Where will we see the most change in the world within the next few years? I answer this idle question as an ignorant but interested student. (I take full responsibility for the irresponsibility of the following hypothesis).
Today we have seen Communism gain a foothold in South America; Red China become more agressive to the western allies than the Soviet Union; South Africa become a police state amidst the surge of African nationalism and India retain a precarious neutralism. But I think it is to the Old World—the Europe that young rationalists think has "had it"—that the world will look to for change and perhaps, leadership.
Great Britain has undoubtedly committed herself to the E.E.C. and what I anticipate is that she will join a United Europe. As such these older countries will not only be a real force In world politics but also retain the role of an experienced adviser that the individual countries (such as France and Great Britain) now hold. United Europe is full of exciting possibilities, but how will it affect New Zealand?
Well, firstly, there will no longer be a British Commonwealth. No matter how flexible this organisation has proved to be up to date, it would be futile to retain it in view of the opposition of member countries to the trade alliance with Europe. Culturally Great Britain is adaptable and is actually akin to her European neighbours, and although our cultural ties with
Great Britain will remain strong this will hardly be an excuse for retaining an anachronism In a changing world. No doubt many people will always yearn to identify themselves with "home" and have a special place In the corner of their hearts for all things British, but I hardly see this as a major argument for retaining the Commonwealth.
New Zealand has proved herself internationally; from the San Francisco Peace Conference when Peter Fraser gave us the reputation of being spokesman for the smaller nations of the world, we have been proud of asserting our Independence in foreign affairs. "Where Britain stands, we stand" was an admirable sentiment during a world war but today we have shown ourselves to be more than just followers. As Sir Leslie Munroe has pointed out we are surprisingly well respected in the United Nations; we would be annoyed with being considered merely as part of the Commonwealth, a satellite of Great Britain, than as a country in our own right. Perhaps we could at the same time rid ourselves of the taint of colonialism.
It would do New Zealanders no, harm to realise that without our automatic military reliance on Great Britain we have to develop more friendship with our Asian neighbours. Perhaps Asia would also provide the potential market for our goods which we will be selling. To align ourselves with India (leader of the Asian world) would be a realistic step. Retaining our independence but supporting Indian policy as long as our sympathies were with It, would give us an anchor that the anxious will undoubtedly be seeking. As compared to the rather brash diplomacy of the United States, India provides an intellectual approach to politics. Her neutralism would be strengthened by our support and neutralism in today's world seems to be another term for pacifism.
Another repercussion of the Commonwealth disbanding will be the position of the monarchy. The Queen's position is at present secured by tradition and affection. If the tradition is cut under can the affection long endure as a positive force for the retention of the monarchy?
Recent research suggests that the rhythmic behaviour of many marine creatures is not directly' due, as might be supposed, to the influence of such obvious external rhythms as the tide and the day and night pattern produced by the earth's rotation. It seems to be due, rather, to the action of internal "clocks." These are usually in phase with one or more of the environmental rhythms but the "clocks" continue to work when the environmental stimuli are not present, so there is no simple cause—and—effect relationship.
Common green seashore crabs move about the beach when the tide covers it but remain still and out of sight when the tide goes out and the shore is exposed. When removed to the laboratory, where they were kept at a constant temperature In a room continuously lit by a dim red light, they continued to show the same regular bursts of activity followed by periods of quiescence.
There appear to be two separate cycles. Bursts of activity occur every 124 hours, coinciding with the high tide on the shore from which the crabs were collected. Other bursts coincide with the hours of darkness. When high tide occurs at night, activity reaches a maximum. Interestingly, the same tidal rhythm was found in crabs of the same species which were found in docks not affected by tides, suggesting that this behaviour might be Inherited. Similar Inherited rhythms are known in some non-marine creatures.
How do the "clocks" of animals work and in which parts of their bodies are they located? Since they are often independent at temperature changes, it is unlikely they are controlled by simple biochemical processes. In crabs, there is some evidence that the sinus gland in the eyestalk may have an important effect on the rhythm. Attempts to learn more about this phenomenan are being made by subjecting crabs to cyclical changes of light and tide which are different from those they would normally experience. If timing mechanisms are widespread In marine animals, they may help to explain such things as the semilunar spawning periodicity of oysters and other shellfish.
I have very skilfully worked in numerous references to works of art, poetry and literature. No prize is offered for the most correct analysis.
Could chemical reactions be the cause of thunder-cloud development? Investigators of the electric charges in the atmosphere have naturally tended to consider largely meteorological and physical factors but recently the problem has been approached from the chemical stand-point.
Following earlier work on the mechanisms of oxidation reactions, it has been suggested that under the influence of ultraviolet radiation, water may react with oxygen molecules to f form hydrogen peroxide, which decomposes to water and free oxygen atoms. These latter being reactive might then absorb free electrons from the atmosphere to form negative ions which descend from the atmosphere with the rain. This action may be responsible for the positive charge on the major part of the atmosphere.
If these negative ions act as water-collecting nuclei, the repulsive force due to their like charges may be overcome by the effect of hydrogn bond-formation between the water atoms. Though weak in water, these bonds are strong in ice. There have been earlier observations that cold and the formation of ice are necessary for the accumulation of atmospheric electricity; the theory provides a possible explanation for this and for the generation of lightning. As the snowflakes grow heavier and fall to the warmer parts of the atmosphere, the hydrogen bonds weaken and may release the charge as an explosion which affects the whole cloud simultaneously. If the bonds weaken more gradually In regions of Intermediate temperature, the discharge may occur as the well-known St. Elmo's fire.
Among meteorologists there tends to be a certain amount of scepticism about theories since it is possible to find apparent confirmation in laboratories later disproved by observations in the atmosphere. Yet this theory does seem one which could usefully have a first critical examination in an earth-bound laboratory.
A hypothesis suggesting that the blue haze seen over the world's vegetated areas is actually petroleum in the process of formation has been advanced by an American scientist. The haze is attributed to a layer of asphaltic and bituminous particles created by hundreds of millions of tons of volatile hydrocarbons and near-hydro-carbons expelled into the atmosphere annually by living plants. These particles eventually rain down on earth, and in time form, petroleum. Further, it is suggested that these smog-like particles influence the weather in a variety of ways, and also serve to regulate plant growth. This line of research offers a possible solution to two biochemical mysteries—the fate of plant-produced hydro-carbons and the origin of petroleum. The volatile organic products under investigation include: terpens, such as the volatile fraction of turpentine; carotenoids, which are plant pigments found in carrots, tomatoes, and colourful autumn leaves; and rubber.
Monday, July 31:
Hon. T. P. Shand, M.P., B.Com. (Minister of Labour)
Tuesday, August 1:
Mr L. A. Atkinson, M.A., M.Com. A.R.A.N.Z., D.P.A. (Chairman, Public Service Commission)
Mr K. B. O'Brien. M.Com., B.A. (Business Consultant)
Wednesday, August 2:
Mr F. H. Corner, M.A. (Deputy Secretary, External Affairs)
Mr F. H. Renouf, M.Com., Dip. Econ. (Oxon) (Company Director)
Thursday. August 8:
Mr J. N. Laurenson (Manager for New Zealand of Wool worth N.Z. Ltd.)
Mr A W. Graham, B.Com., F.R.A.N.Z. (Secretary of New Zealand Society of Accountants)
Friday, August 4:
Mr H. G. Lang. B.A., B.Com., A.R.A.N.Z., D.R.A. (Chief Research Officer, Treasury)
Mr A. C. Baird (General Manager, Shell Oil N.Z. Ltd.)
Monday, August 7:
Mr G. Searle, M.Sc., M.I.E.E. (Divisional Director, Telecommunications, Post Office)
Mr H. J. Burr, B.Sc.,
(Technical Director, Lever Brothers N.Z. Ltd.)
Tuesday, August 8:
Dr. R. M. Williams, M.A., Ph.D. (Cantab) (Director of Applied Mathematics Laboratory)
Wednesday, August 9:
Mr G. Hanley. B.A. (Employee Relations Manager, Standard Vacuum Oil Co.)
Mr P. L. Laing, B E.. M.I.E.E.
"University Education in the New Zealand Economy."
"The Role of the State in Modern Society and Career Opportunities for Graduates."
"The Role of Private Enterprise in our Community."
"Opportunities for Arts Graduates in the Public Service."
"Career Opportunities for Commerce Graduates in Industry." "Career Opportunities for 'Law Graduates in the Public Service."
"Retailing as a Career"
"The Importance and Value of the Accountancy Profession."
"Opportunities for Accounting and Economics Graduates in the Public Service."
"Marketing."
"Scientists in Administration in the Public Service."
"The Scientist In Industry."
"Careers for Mathematicians."
"Selecting a Career—Preparing for the Interview; What Employers look for; Choosing an Employer."
"Careers in Engineering."
Memorial Theatre 12.30 p.m.
Memorial Theatre 12.15 p.m.
Memorial Theatre 12.30 p.m.
Common Common Room 12.30 p.m.
1.15 p.m.
Memorial Theatre 12.30 p.m.
Common Common Room 1.15 p.m.
Common Common Room 12.30 p.m.
Memorial Theatre 1.15 p.m.
Memorial Theatre 12.30 p.m.
Common Common Room 1.15 p.m.
Memorial Theatre 1.15 p.m.
Common Common Room 1.15 p.m.
This exhibition of drawings and paintings at the Central Gallery was not particularly enjoyable. In places, it was rather like a puzzle or a maze. There were some clear patches, but to me these were few William Mason showed paintings in oils, gouache and water-colour, and drawings in ink and ink and pastel; his styles being almost as varied as his mediums of expression. Some of these combinations of different coloured squares in oils seemed to be nothing but attempts at visual representations of mathematical concepts, and to have no positive meaning. Composition (48 gns.) was of this variety. So was Windows (45 gns.)—but this did also express a feeling of blankness and loneliness. Combat (65 gns.) was an attempt at making the squares move. The effect wanted was perhaps of a battle—of humanity struggling (the title suggests it) but the result was a more elementary conflict: trees whipping out horrid green branches in a storm. The colours were in combat anyway. Curtain (65 gns.) seemed to be a companion piece to this. The squares were lifeless again, after the combat.
Portal (90 gns.) and more squares, was quite effective. Colours were vivid and there was a realistic perspective expressing a feeling something like that of Keat's "magic casements" and "fairy lands forlorn" but without any hint of unreality: this vista is hard fact. Another successful oil Departure, was less formal and conveyed a scene without being either photographic or incomprehensible. A ship is leaving a wharf (or a plane is leaving a runway); the departing object is in blacks and greys, and so is the wharf or runway; the background is in various yellows and oranges and suggests an abstraction—distance—on an analogy with the sun.
You could tell that Dream House was a house, but on stilts and at awkward angles it looked rather like a nightmare. The title gives a wrong Impression; the house is dreamed up and not at all idyllic. Another painting was of a bird. A bird might seem to Mr Mason to be a mixture of red, black, and yellow splashes with white and black edges, placed like an island in a sea of pink, but it does not to everyone. Still, I suppose this is valid art.
Gouache seems to be a good medium for old perspective and ugliness. Claypit was a good representation of a gash in a landscape. Some of the ink sketches were more pleasant although not as seriously treated. Movement of Spring (12 gns.) did show movement, and hesitancy, and renewal; the visual effect is like that of Debussy's impressionistic music. The Survivors were nondescript, their eyes were good—slightly puzzled, rather blank and hopeless. This was a successful study; it had a dream-like and prophetic quality. Altogether this exhibition was rather unusual: it had good points but on the whole remained puzzling.
This is an extremely inspiring and fresh movie from one of West Germany's most versatile directors, Rolf Thiele: his films ranging in topics from teddy-girls (Die Halbzarte) to sanatoriums (Labyrinth). Frauelein has as its subject the nefarious practices of certain West German industrial cartels: the particular incidents related in this film being in fact, true to life. About three years ago, a Frankfurt prostitute was earning big money extorting secret trade information from a handful of leading industrialists and selling it to an unknown alien. Her impetuosity finally gained on her however, and she was found one morning, dead—strangled by a stocking. Neither her murderer nor the secrets (recorded on magnetic tape) has been traced.
The movie is interesting if only for its presentation of characters and incidents. Thiele has managed somehow: to imbue an element of sarcasm into the otherwise dramatically macabre plot, by subtle use of characterisation distortion, effective photographic mis-play and an amusing musical background. The characters are seldom shown in a state of sobriety—they are jumping, fully clad, into swimming pools one minute, the next, riding n a funeral procession of black Viercedes up a parking apartment. The photography of Klaus von Rautenfeld is excellent. Not only are the captured images of sordidness and decrepitude perfectly realistic; his use of the zoom shot and triple exposure is masterful also, in evoking, for example, both the hectic rush of modern life and the world as seen through drunken eyes. Music is by Norbert Schultze, and apart from other things, successfully apes parts of the earlier German, Dreigroschenoper.
As Rosemarie, Nadja Tiller is imaginative and well-cast. Her actions are smooth and straight forward; she has none of the flamboyance and superfluousness which Italian and American "flighties" deem essential to carry an impression through. Peter van Eyck and Mario Adorf as respectively, Fribert and Horst, I would name as competent supports to the lead. The script has unfortunately been dubbed into English, thus suffering abominably. Nevertheless, some of the original irony of Thiele and Erich Kuby (his script co-writer) pierces through—mit sehr bedeutung—in places. A competent movie; well played in all departments.
At the concert recently performed by the University Jazz Society, in conjunction with the opening of the new student building, we heard very little of the interesting, entertaining or profound musical statement that we are beginning to expect from contemporary jazz musicians. The content of the total performance was unbearably limited. These musicians are capable of much more imagination and productive direction as their previous performance at the Savage Club Hall clearly demonstrated.
Apart from pianists Fraser and Charles and drummers Kennington and Loney, instrumental technique was below concert standard. Improvising skill was at a low level except for snatches by Johnson on alto who occasionally showed himself capable of sustaining a controlled melodic development, and fragments from Charles in the second large group. "If You Could See Me Now" by tenorist Talbot with its well defined mood, strong form and economic use of material was a welcome relief from the urgent and excessive emotionalism of his previous numbers.
The only musicians who attempted to demonstrate any compositional skill were the childlike Loney and the structurally unsuccessful trombonist Murphy. Both these composers showed a painful lack of plain musical awareness and maturity.
If, as I believe, a concert such as this should stand critical analysis with regard to vitality, originality, development and composition, the performance was sadly lacking.
However, if any reader feels that In the light of the above criticism the persevering and often labour-some work of our jazz club may be waived as not worth his future interest and encouragement he would, in my opinion, be gravely mistaken. These young and immature musicians have a basic working knowledge of an art that is widely misunderstood in this country. Within this club there are musicians of imagination and rare creative strength who will develop, if given opportunity and an ear, broad and original musical voices.
Following our policy of contrasting the classics with more recent films, the programmes for the rest of the term contain a silent film from the golden age of cinema, a compilation film, and recent films from Russia, Czechoslovakia, and Germany.
As there are still no projectors in the new theatre we will be screening these in C.3 as usual. Exact dates and times of screenings and details about the film will be posted on our regular club noticeboard and prominently around the university; please read them—I am getting sick of answering idiotic questions from cruts too lazy to look at the noticeboard.
The hero of this film is Jan, a young Czech. He is sent with his comrades who have been taken as forced labourers to Germany to clear away debris after air raids on a German town. While rescuing a small child from the rubble, he is injured and taken to hospital where he meets the German nurse, Kathe. They fall in love; in the middle of the horrors of war, the all-pervading hatred and the ever present threat of death, the two people find each other and discover a mutual understanding that transcends the difference in nationality.
Kathe's contact with a foreigner provokes the enmity of the Head sister and the girl is transferred to Dresden. There Jan and Kathe meet again and enjoy a brief glimpse of happiness—Kathe is arrested by the Gestapo for collaborating with a foreigner, the film ending on a note of tragedy.
(Russia, 1957)
Award For Best Film, Brussels Festival, 1958.
United Nations Award, 1958.
The First Screening in New Zealand.
Several families move into a new apartment house built at the beginning of the thirties in one of the suburbs of Moscow. Among them are the factory worker Davydov, the office worker Volynsky, and the geologist Kashirin. The years pass . . . the lives of the inhabitants in the house differ in many ways but they are all happy in their work and their hopes and plans for the future. Then comes the war, and Galya Volynskaia, a charming young girl, and Kashirin are both killed at the front; Konstantin Davydov is crippled. The house loses many of its inhabitants, but in their place the younger generation is growing up.
The story takes us back to the Second World War, the last wartime Christmas Eve. A Czech Army unit has retaken a Slovak village from the Germans and the front Is now just outside the village. The villagers wish to entertain the soldiers at the Christmas celebration but the Commander of the Battalion is uncertain whether they should leave the front. When German loudspeakers commence playing "Silent Night" and dance music he gives the men permission to go and realises too late that the Germans have tricked them. A bitter battle ensues and in the end the Czech unit forces the enemy to retreat, though not before several lives have been lost.
Beethoven. Symphonies. No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67: No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125 "Choral". Wilma
These two discs are first releases; the 5th, not to be confused with an earlier Schuricht performance of
Brahms. Piano Concerto No. 2 in B flat major, Op. 88. Hans Richter-Haaser Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra/Herbert von Karajan. Columbia 33MCX
A warmly lyrical performance of the Brahms concerto is achieved here by Hans Richter-Haaser. His style Is both beautifully light and powerfully dynamic (cf! III and IV with I and II); the poetic treatment of the more idyllic parts of the work going In perfect contrast with the other, more symphonic sections. Von Karajan also deserves special praise for his performance—the orchestral playing is quite superior to any concerto accompaniment I have heard In a long time; the balance between instrument and orchestra being one of complete harmony. The only notable defects are, some unwarranted tempi changes, and a cloudiness, apparent In some of the piano phrases, especially In the lower register.
Richard Strauss. Tod und Verklaerung, Op. 24 Salome: Dance of the Seven Veils.
Death and Transfiguration is one of those rare and unfortunate works which requires superlative treatment at the hands of orchestra and director, to convey any sort of impression at all, to the listener. It is either banal or agreeable, according to whether the spirit is moving the interpreters. Rodzinski's is of the latter humour—wholly satisfactory and pleasing in sound—due in the main to a taut handling of the score and some exquisite solo playing. The orchestra is in fine shape too, and apart from some distorted, brash chords from the brass, plays with great beauty—flute, oboe and harp coming through crystal clear; likewise all the pedal notes. The Dance Suite and Salome's Dance are also, vividly interpreted. The recording is shallow and brittle in places, though I must say, the stereo remedies this.
Mozart. Bassoon Concerto in B flat major, K. 191. Clarinet Concerto in A major, K. 622. Gwydion Brooke (bassoon), Jack Brymer (clarinet), Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Sir Thomas Beecham. H.M.V. mono
This recording of the Mozart Bassoon Is, apart from that of Karl Bidloe. the finest yet made. Gwydion Brooke's tone is full, mellow and warm; lacking the nasal "saxophone" quality too often employed by English wood instrumentalists these days. His phrasing is particularly good, and the vibrato is perfect, neither too flat nor over-round. Beecham has accompanied well in this concerto; soloist and orchestra complementing each other very nicely indeed. Nothing so much can be "said for the Clarinet Concerto; all in all a quite disgusting performance. Mr Brymer's sound Is flat, woolly and thin—I would never have known the instrument was a clarinet, had I been unfamiliar with the work-his timbre is absurdly "wooden", but strangely enough his phrasing Is clear and well taken. Beechan and the Royal Philharmonic are again In good (If loose) form.
Mendelssohn's magnificent oratorio "Elijah" was presented recently in Wellington to a disappointingly small audience. Those who attended were admirably rewarded by a fine performance.
The large choir was full and rich In tone and only the tenors appeared not to be quite so prominent as they might be. This, however, is more than likely the in evitable result of the universal shortage of tenor voices. The bass part came through very well and lent the necessary weight and force to. such choruses as "Baal, we cry to thee" and "Behold! God the Lord past by!" On the whole the diction of the choirs was poor and anyone hearing the oratorio for the first time without the aid of a programme would find it very hard to follow. Fortunately this oratorio. depends very much more on the sound than on the words so that this fault did not very greatly hinder the enjoyment of the performance.
Outstanding among the soloists was the bass, Charles Naylor, who sang the exacting part of Elijah. I have only once previously had the pleasure of hearing Rev. Naylor and my high regard for his ability then was greatly enhanced on this occasion. He is a singer who has much sincerity in his voice.
Although the oratorio does not offer very much scope for the contralto voice, we heard enough of the Australian, Lauris Elms, to want to hear more. She seems to have an almost perfect contralto voice and it seems to have a beautiful richness about it.
Soprano Elizabeth Hellawell and the tenor, Noel Signal, sang their parts well but lacked the polish and finish of the other two main soloists.
The advantage of an orchestra of the calibre of the National Orchestra in a work of this kind was very obvious. Without them the oratorio would lose its meaning. The orchestra's part is by no means a secondary one but at no time did the orchestra tend to drown the voices.
The overall success of the performance was due to the sympathetic interpretation by the conductor, John Hopkins. Mention must also be made of the chorus-masters, Eric Copperwheat and Malcolm Rickard, whose mammoth task included the assembly and rehearsing of the huge choir.
No performance of any kind, however, can be completely successful unless the audience enters into the spirit of the work being performed. A half-empty Town Hall cannot really achieve this degree of audience participation. Chances are few for hearing a performance like this, outside the main centres there are no opportunities to hear oratorio as it is meant to be heard. I appeal to the students of our University, particularly those whose homes are away from Wellington, to support such enterprises by attending—they will not be disappointed.
Beethoven. Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 61. Igor Olstrakh/Pro Arte Orchestra/Wilhelm Schuechter. World Record Club mono TZ 140.
A most exacting concerto, not recommended to any but the virtuoso: this recording of the Beethoven D major is an accomplished one, judged by any standards. Igor Oistrakh is an extremely decisive violinist who phrases meticulously and with care. His harmonics and trills are clean and beautiful; his playing is warm and there is a good body to his sound.
Nevertheless, I would rate this disc below those of Stern. Heifitz and David Oistrakh. for the reason that these otter named are far ahead of the younger Oistrakh In technical and artistic excellence. It is a competitive field; one entered only by masters, where survival of the best reigns over survival of the accomplished.
This week's column leatures a game playad at Winter Tournamont Christhurch last year. It occurred in the liaich Caniorbury voraua Victoria. who ventually tied for first place.
Jazz is largely the exploration of personal experience, but it is not so spontaneous or non-universal as some may think. A statement of a musical idea, or more simply of a specific mood, may have artistic value through all time: in the present as containing the feelings of the soloist at this particular moment; and in the future when listeners realise the validity of such' emotion in this context many years later. A soloist's statement is preconceived in that it is a summation of the musician's feelings both past and present. Thus any given statement is directed by the personal development of the soloist in the framework of his art and is distinguished by the freshness and intensity with which he expresses himself. This statement must have musical meaning, that is it must have form and direction—a sense of inevitability if you like, to stand up to any sort of musical criticism.
The artist, being creative, cannot be static. He must constantly expand his ideas and technique, moving from perfection to perfection. No art, as a whole, can reach such a height of perfection that no step forward is possible. An artist may, but that infers he lacks a quality of greatness. His solo may be "perfect" In a particular setting at a particular time, and this does not mean he cannot be "more perfect" Inter, but he will require a different setting and a new attack. He must therefore remain vital and interesting, and this means, ultimately, profound, for without profundity his musical statement soon becomes trite and meaningless. So those who try and play jazz "exactly as it was in the twenties" are not only stifling their own creativity, but they are stifling jazz too—whatever their professed intention. I place In the same category those who deny the value of "experimental" (I prefer developmental as being more accurate) jazz, or state that It can develop only within their own rigid concept. But jazz Is as individual as the creator of the moment, and is as.universal as human emotion itself.
The listener must therefore be aware of the fundamentals of jazz and, to some extent, the musical direction of the soloist, before he can appreciate the value of the music. This means he mast be aware of the form the soloist is using, and his dependence upon it.
It was observed by the V.U.W. A.E. (V.U.W. Antarctic Expedition)
There are some people here at University, only a small minority, but still very conspicuous about the ivy halls; that try by their appearance to show they are students. Anything of this sort must of course be stopped. These various kinds mixed together unrestricted, could possibly throw the whole student-body, in general, out of order.
They, "the scarfies," that is, should not be confused with others, sounding similar; for their title derives from the green and yellow abortions they wear around the upper part of their bodies.
The "scarfies," are well united and organised: their only purpose is the destruction of a well run educational institution. Their form of rebellion being: the showing of I their colours. One must, in order to guard himself against such vice, be on the alert at all times lest he fall prey to these pregnable prehensities.
"Scarfies," whereabouts can usually be sensed by the smell the many col uses cloth gives out. Also by the many uses the cloth is given; and last but not least, by the yellow and green stain found on, or about, the person's neck after the rains have come and gone.
Some of the different purposes the cloth, dirty though it be, are put to are listed below:
and other purposes which we will not place here at this time.
Of all the people here at university, these will undoubtedly make the grade as the biggest oddballs this side of the International Dateline. In later years we may find them with wall-t i-wall scarf; yellow and green autos; hair dyed green to match yellow suit or a perminite tattoo around neck flowing slowly down back to buttocks.
Whatever the course of the "scarfies," we will endear them in our hearts as we think of the good old days at Vic.
Sun-drenched lagoons, coconut palms curving in the gentle breeze, unhurried and uninhibited folk with flowers in their hair, laughter and plaintive song drifting through mysterious tropic nights . . .
Is this your idea of life on a tropic isle? If so, you live in a dream world of cheap novelists and Hollywood film producers—a world created to allow us to escape the frustrations and disciplines of our modern civilisation. The picture is half truth and half fantasy and, like all such creations, is misleading in the aspects it does not portray. In Polynesia, as in modern civilisation, there are frustrations and resentments and, further more, there is poverty and malnutrition, despair and dismay. If we neglect to notice this important part of Polynesian life, we are left with a hollow caricature. But when we look on its "wholeness" Polynesian life, while not losing any of its natural charm, takes on rounded depth and added reality.
In the summer vacation, two Geography Honours students spent 12 weeks in the Cook Islands trying to understand Polynesian life in Its wholeness. Rarotonga, the largest Island and centre of administration in this scattered, far-flung group of Islands is 1600 miles from New Zealand. Ranging from 110 to 737 miles from Rarotonga are a further 10 inhabited islands. Those in the south, Rarotonga, Mangaia, Atlu, Mauke, Mltlaro and Aitutaki are volcanic Islands whose moderate soil fertility supports large population densities. The five northern islands, Manihiki, Penrhyn, Rakahenga, Palmerston and Pukapuka are coral atolls, which, although providing only the bare necessities of life, also have high population densities. Since the beginning of this century, the Cook Island Maori people (numbering now some 18,500) have been citizens of New Zealand. Their economic and social development is being guided by the Department of Island Territories.
We visited only two islands in the group, staying three weeks in Rarotonga and nine weeks in Aitutaki. Our precise research task, "An Investigation into the Pattern and Form of Village Agriculture" was centred in Amuri village, Aitutaki. Attention will be given here to some rather more general impressions of Cook Island life, as we experienced it in Aitutaki and Rarotonga.
Relaxing In the sun, as we steamed northwards on the new government vessel, the "Moana Roa," we were given some mixed insights into what might lay ahead of us. A rather attractive Cook Island half-caste girl warned us of the wiles of the Aitutakian maidens.
"The Aitutaki girls are the fastest in the Cook Islands," she remarked with a glint in her eye, adding, "especially with young single men."
In a more serious vein, a European resident of Rarotonga, a man of political and economic importance, warned us thus:
"Don't expect too much. Some people come to the Cook Islands with preconceived visions of a community, thriving under the benevolent hand of the New Zealand administrator. When things don't turn out to be quite like this, they become critical and write scathing articles to the New Zealand papers. When you've been in the islands for some time you find things aren't so simple. You don't see problems in terms of black and white solutions.
And of course, as we were to learn, he was largely right. Problems which involve people—problems of social, economic and political development—are complex. All of the Pacific, along with the South-East Asian world, is experiencing similar problems. They are faced with problems that emerge from rapid cultural change. New forms of leadership are still challenged by old forms, new attitudes to land and money still compete with pre-European attitudes. It is a society in transition, divided within itself.
Naturally, the people reflect the disturbing change through which their society is going. Occasionally, the feelings of frustration are channelled on to the administration. Tere (the names are false) whose family, prior to New Zealand administration, possessed high social rank and who has since been displaced by traditionally lesser personages, puts it thus:
"Our family used to have much land. But since the Land Court came other people have taken it from us. The Land Court has cheated us."
Contact with elementary education has brought frustration. Metua, a school teacher of 38 years, who has passed examinations equivalent to standard six, has reached a salary bar of £420 p.a. Although this is high by Cook Islands standards, he nevertheless keenly feels the injustice of having to pass School Certificate to gain a higher salary.
"Why should this be so," he said, "They did not tell us this when we began teaching. They said we would be paid on our experience. My head is too old to pass examinations."
On the other hand, there is the almost universal frustration of the administration, whose efforts at improvement are so often blocked. All too often their response is expressed thus, as one administrator, to whom we showed our project, exclaimed:
"While you're looking at 'attitude to land', you might look at attitude to work as well. You would be getting to the crux of the problem then."
The same thought was expressed by a rather dynamic Maori leader who said to us:
"The Aitutaki people are lazy. They are playing people, not working people."
What do these frustrations mean? On the part of the people, and all too often on the part of the potential Maori leaders, they lead to a focusing of their ambitions outside of their own muddled environment. The voice of Urirau is one among many:
"I have two brothers in New Zealand. They work at Tokoroa and get £20 a week. They send me letters and tell me of the good life in New Zealand. Soon they will send me money for my fare to New Zealand."
Some of these attitudes are based on misunderstanding, some on ignorance and some are justified. They are expressions of contact between two cultures which are basically different. The administration, it is true, has made mistakes, but it has often been criticised by the people for events outside of its control—events perhaps inherent in the process of change. There is no secret formula which the development of the Cook Islands should follow. Radical measure while straightforward to European eyes, may be quite foreign and even resented by the Cook Island Maori people. The situation demands an intelligent and sympathetic understanding on the part of both administrators and native people.
This is only one side of the Cook Island picture. To the average mind, it Is the side least, known and yet, the one most Important for future development. But the more traditional aspect of Cook Island life is still strong. For this Is the side of Polynesian life shown to us so vividly in the Tahltlan paintings of Gauguin and the Pacific writings of Robert Louis Stevenson.
It is difficult to be objective of the traditional feature of present-day Polynesian life. We were aware that the European in Cook Island society Is granted elevated social status. We were on our guard against attaching values to the Polynesian way of life, for such values so easily become conscious or unconscious reactions against contrary features in our own society. Furthermore, the features which might appeal to the European, will probably have an almost completely different function and meaning in the lives of the indigenous people. But, in our minds, we could not resist making such values, despite their limited geographic value.
How pleasing it was to escape the tensions and anxiety which is a by-product of our industrial civilisation. Of course, Cook Island life is not free from tensions. Within their own cultural fabric, people strive for prestige and standing and factions often spilt the village. But the mass anxiety which surrounds our society has not yet penetrated to the Cook Islands.
How pleasing it was to escape the frosty morning-milk bottletram car atmosphere of Wellington. The proverbial friendship of the Cook Islands people was a reality to us. We were accepted into their homes and regarded as sons of the village. We could smile and speak to strangers, without being thought "fresh" or insulting.
How pleasing to feel oneself far away from the hypocrisy and clamour of international politics and to relax in a society where simple concerns still predominate. Occasional rumours and reports of civil war in the Congo and fighting in Algeria seemed so far away and almost unimportant. It is true that the unstimulating temper of life could rapidly develop into boredom but for three months, we found it a refreshing experience.
The picture of the Cook Islands which I have tried to describe is one of a society in a process of metamorphosis. Deep and disturbing changes are hiking place. What we would like to remember is not the disturbances and bewilderment of a changing people, for these we hope will pass in time. What we will remember will be the infectious charm of their life, which, we hope, will emerge in an even more beautiful form from the cocoon of change.
Studie of Ballroom and Latin-American Dancing. A school of dancing which asks Its pupils to study assiduously and offers expert individual or group tuition. The basic course is 5 half-hour lessons, but there is no limit to what can be learned. Phones 45-818 (B) and 52-975 (H).
A fine place In Lambton Quay between the Cable Car and Whitcombe & Tombs. The best range of dresses and coots in town, attractively displayed.
About half-way along Willis Street. Very smooth-flowing silent wool for knitting during lectures. Muffled needles sold. Seriously though, specialists, with the best range of plays and colours in town.
Opp. the Grand Hotel in Willis Street, below street level. An excellent range of mix-and-match separates—slacks, skirts, blouses, ovcrblouses, sweaters, etc. Skirts with matching three-quarter coats are now. Suede coats and sports jackots, casual and charming. Also at 137 Cuba Street. For students only—71% discount on presentation of Library Card.
Discount does not apply to Sales.
"Upstairs in Herbert Street, off Manners Street. On one side of partition, coffee and fruit juices, on the other, dancing (live orchestra). Admission on dancing nights, 6/-.
At 48a Mannors Street, a co-operative bookshop. Buying a single ahare (£1) on-litles you to 10% discount on all titles for life. Gorman. Spanish, French and Russian. Any book ordered from anywhere in the world—delay about two months.
Half-way along Willis Street. The bulk of the stock Penguins, plus selected American educational titles-probably the best "presentation in town of really good paper-backs. Useful references in Pelican, especially for English, History, Philosophy, Psychology.
At 102 Lambton Quay, Phone 43-910. Religious books of all descriptions, e.g., theological, devotional, church history — and children's.
54 The Terrace, Carry a Complete Range of Student Books in Commerce and Law.
Price Lists Available on Request.
(University Booksollers and Stationers) Lambton Quay, Wollington.
For the most complete range of Text Books. Discounts available to Students for Text Book Purchases.
22 Manners Street. Toughen up for the foot-ball season, loosen up for the cricket season, tone up for the swotting season. Personal individual tuition. There is a significant reduction in fees for groups of four or more. This Is a special, for students only, and Library Cards must be produced.
(Witcombi & Caldwell)
Half-way along Willis Street. Long-standing connection with University sport. Every one of Vic's twenty-four sports catered for here. All contingencies provided for.
In Lambton Quay, hard by the Cable Car Lane. Offer men's wear exclusively-durable stuffs at good prices. University blazers at £6.19.6. Weir blazers at £8.0.0. Also made to measure if required.
At 5 Willis Street. Everything to be known about trousers known here. Take your choice of styles and fabrics, lake your choice of prices. 268 fittings.
At the bottom of the Plimmer Stops. Handy to the 'Varsity, to eating places and shops, students and student teachers found here. Drily bar in town with a choice of beers on tap. Rod Band Draught and Tui Draught.
Nearest to the University, on the corner of Willis and Manners Streets. Many like the Back Bar. Never too crowded and com-Fortably twilit. Handy to eating places. Rod Bond Draught, drawn from a refrigerated tank room.
In farish Street, clearly visible from Manners Street. For women, cosmotics and beautifying varnishes. For men, combs and, recently, manly doodorants. And, of course, medicinos and proscriptions and cameras. Produce your Library Card.
In the T. & G. Building, opp. Cable Car Lane. A most handy shop with the usual range of soaps, cosmotics, ointments and soothing balms. Prompt proscription service.
In 10 Willis Street above S. P. Andrew's, noar Stewart Dawson's Cornor. Hair styles for girls. Highly individual attention and plenty of fashion ideas.
In Manners Street, beside the Post Office. An entirely now, well-designed little saloon with 3 chairs and a good standard of cutting. Continental haircuts a specialty. Tatts tickets.
At 86 Mannors St., opp. the Rogent Theatre. Tel. 40-529. For Capping, Tournament, Law. Commerce and Miscellaneous Balls, a good dresss suit hire service. with individual service and/or alteration:,. For the oxhibitionist—costumes to hire. Go wild, man.
Featuring the electronic console organ, floor shows, vocalists. Ideal for all your social functions.
Phones: 50-590 or 58-000/6033.
Curiously enough, they come in various shades
of fawn. But they come. They have e reputation for responding soonest to telephone calls. After the ball or the party . . . 56-900.
At No. 3 Ballcmce Street, in the Maritime Building. Wholesale wine and spirit people. Vintnors to Students' Assn. Especially of interest are their sweet and dry sherry sold in flagons, which go well at a party. Also rod and white dry table winos at 6/-. Minimum order 2 gallons.
Comes a degree. Comes a wife, child and bank account. Get in early with a Bnz cheque account. Pay by cheque. Get the record of your statement. Control your spending.
In Willis Street, near Stewart Dawson's Corner, and
In Lambton Quay, opp. the D.I.C. Two of a kind. Good food cooked with a light touch. Just the placo for businoss girls. the salads are special. Prices good.
4 Roxburgh Street, off Marjoribanks Street, past the Embassy Theatro. Serves a detectable plat du tour at 3/6. Home-made cakes. Coffee, of course. Praisoworthy.
A network covered by trams, diesel buses I and trolley buses, will take you anywhere in the City. Timetables can be procured at the Lambton Quay and Courtenay Place Terminals at 6d. per copy. The sight-seeing tours are truly remarkable and will make I you familiar with the terrain of Wellington.
Telephone 42-719 for further Information.
16. The Terrace. Phone 42-095. Angle-poise lamps, drawing instruments, precision slide rules, etc. Serving science for over 70 years. Waivic offers students the most comprehensive range of scieitific equipment.
In recent months we have been subjected to a barrage of propaganda from the children of Israel. Following the success of the Power's trial after theU.2spy flight, the Jewish people have gone one better. Their trial of Adolf Eichmann is bigger, brighter and the best. I am not trying to condone the despicable activities of the Nazis; but it is trials like this that make a mockery of the name of justice. Nine million Jews died because of the Nazis. Their own people have cheapened the cause for which they died by sensationalising it. Let's face it—they've made money out of it. The Jewish backers of the film telling of the capture of Eichmann will make money out of it. Too often the embarrassing emotions involved has prevented anyone discussing the Jewish problem. Their position in Germany between the Wars must be evaluated without being influenced by this emotion or guilt complex. A section of the German Jewish community were a disgrace to their race and provided Hitler with ammunition to support his fallacious theories.
Germany emerged from the Great War ruined economically and industrially. In traditional fashion the Peace Treaty was a "carve up." The map of Europe was redrawn to the advantage of the Allies. The reparations demanded were exorbitant. In the early spring of
Of the 200,000 or more Jews who congregated in the capital, a quarter were aliens who did not bother to acquire German nationality. Their inherited instinct was to skim the cream rather than to waste vain time and effort in making enduring things which would only be taken from them by their Christian oppressors before they could be enjoyed. They were exponents of the get-rich-quick philosophy that all persecution tends to beget: lovers of the flamboyant and the arts of advertisement: scorners of the slow and un-showy creative virtues of discipline, labour and craftsmanship—of all, that is, that the solid and more sedentary native Teuton means by thorough.
Beggars on horseback are seldom popular, least of all with those whom, they have thrown out of the saddle. They were arrogant, they were vulgar and they were vicious. The films, plays and books of the time seem to be largely concerned with the triumphs of financial crooks, criminal and prostitutes.
The moral degradation of the German capital had to be seen to be believed.
Hundreds of cabarets, pleasure resorts and the like served for purposes of getting acquainted and acquiring the right mood. Most of them were owned and managed by Jews. The perversion which has always been a major German failing was now exploited and stimulated by Jewish caterers who, while seldom sharing such tastes, did not hesitate to turn them to their profit. Berlin was the pornographic mecca of Europe and 93 per cent, of the bookstalls were owned by Jews.
There were other ways in which the new rulers of Germany offended popular susceptibilities. With the inauguration of the Republic a wave of financial corruption swept the country. Sharp dealing, dishonest manipulation of figures under company law, bribery and corruption came to be regarded as the standard methods of doing business in a state which had formerly prided itself on its financial rectitude. The names of Jews were too often associated with such practises.
The financial scandals of that age, such as that of the four Sklarek brothers and the Barmats—all Jews—shook the confidence in the Republic and lowered the whole national standard of good faith. A Lithuanian Jew named Kutisker, who entered the country without passport or identity papers, was able under the protection of a highly placed police official of his own race, to get away with more than 14,000,000 gold marks of the public money advanced to him by the Prussian State Bank in credits for his fraudulent companies. Swindles defrauding investors and taxpayers of vast sums became almost normal. Nepotism was rampant, as always where power passes into the hands of a class which has not yet learnt to treat privilege as a trust. The average Jew did not let his religious views intrude on his private or business life. One eminent Jewish financier, according to the Directory of Directors for
I think that if the Jewish community had controlled through their tighter knit organisation the activities of a large section of their sect Hitler would have been forced to use the Communists and the Soviet Union as scapegoats; and his path to political power would have been much more difficult if the Jewish community had not abused their trust.
The capture and trial of Adolf Eichmann has prompted many people to write in defence and protest of Israel's legal entitlement in this question. Now,.Salient, for the first time, has taken sides with the issue and forwarded an extremely sarcastic, illogical, nonsensical article purporting to "straighten out matters" as far as the "Jewish question" is concerned. I say this rather peremptorily here, for Mr Daniels leaves me no other conclusion to draw: his presentation of the whole proceedings is so flippant and the tripe and stupidities stated therein so obviously false, I can only conclude he is no rational examiner, rather a racist of the extreme calibre
He has stated Adolf Eichmann once, using this as a lead-in to the issue: "if the Jews had behaved better in the Weimar and Nazi states, treatment of them would have correspondingly been better." He may have a good case here; it would however be a case needing level-headed research and intelligence to discover anything. By the inanities and haphazard assortment of "facts" thrown around, Mr Daniels creates the impression once, of examining the economic structure of late Germany, or again, of accusing the "Jewish people" of "Nazi crimes," or again, of relating the two and extracting an illogical conclusion. Just what is he trying to do? But this Is perhaps begging the question; for Mr Daniels has achieved nothing, except to name himself an ignorant person in the eyes of all who read the above.
I Should Like to Briefly Examine Certain Statements Appearing in the Above Article.
1. Two popular terms bantered around with by Mr Daniels appear to be "race" and "Jews", both unfortunately for him. quite meaningless and unscientific in derivation. "Race" is a useless concept. As an anthropological and sociological term it is now discarded in favour of more rigorous, more definitive sub-groupings. Politically and morally it is still quite useful—the racist makes "good" work of the term in postulating macabre racial formulae and purities, as witness the commendable efforts of the writer above.
The concept of "Jew" is also extremely hazy in definition. To give a set of fixed characteristics to the "Jew" is misleading; whether the characteristics embodied are physical, national or religious. There can be no definition in this question, only relative demarcations: and relativity is not good enough in such a serious matter as this.
2. Where Is the evaluation and qualification of the many proffered, outlandish statements? Statements such as: "their own people have cheapened the cause for which they died by sensationalising it." What "cause" did these people die for? Did six million persons suffer in concentration camps because they would not abjure a faith; or were they there (some of them) because of their faith and would have remained there
The Ingenious slatted blind, Which holds back unwanted sunlight while permitting full vision, has a history much longer than that of the city whose name It Shears. Millennia before the Venetians adopted and developed the Idea, ancient Egyptians were using
In Its early applications, the principle was given an extra twist which is lacking today, since slaves tire said to have been employed touring water on the reed curtains, so that evaporation by hot winds would help cool the rooms whose windows were so fitted.
The exact history of the spread of the Idea around the Mediterranean countries is shrouded inmystery, but there Is a story that a Persian slave trader In the time if Haroun Al-Raschid brought the entrain reeds back with him from raids across the Red Sea, and fitted his own quarters with curtains made from them.
The early Venetians were great travellers and traders, and It Is possible they saw such blinds in Persia and brought the idea back [to Venice with them.
In Europe, of course, the spread of such a useful Idea was inevitable. It Is said that a young Venetian slave, set at liberty went to France and there developed his former master's Idea, first for his own personal comfort, and then as a means of livelihood.
There was almost universal acceptance of Venetian blinds by the Venetian making, and handbooks on sewing of that era were full of recommendations on the types of fabrics, tapes and cords to use, but without the benefits of nylon and modern plastics and metal, they were unable to make the most of the dfflightfully efficient but simple Venetian mechanism. The fabric covering the wooden slat used to rot in the sun, and so did the tapes and cords.
In addition, the fabric covering was dust attracting, and with rising consciousness of hygiene, Venetian blinds fell into disfavor on that account. They lingered on in hot climates like India, in bungalows without windows and consequent ready circulation of air, which kept them dust free and it was mainly returning Anglo-Indians who kept them installed in English houses, as many of them found that their attractiveness and grace compensated for the work put into them in cleaning and maintenance. Today, of course, with modern materials, none of the disadvantages apply, and Venetian blinds are gleamingly hygienic.
The Venetian blinds in the Student Union Building were manufactured and installed by Airflow Blinds Ltd., Petone. There are 52 blinds, ranging in size from 24in. wide by 30in. drop to 190in. wide and 63in. drop. This gives a total square footage of 2200 sq. ft. with approximately three miles of slat.
A gymnasium is erected to house the social and general college activities, at a cost of,£976 the Students' Association contributing £402, the Government £574.
The Students' Association is painfully aware of the inadequacies of the old Gymnasium and advises the University Council of £670 in hand to form the nucleus of a building fund. The Association at this time also set up the first building committee comprising Messrs S. Eichelbaum, W. H. Gould, W. Perry, J. M. A. Hott, G. Dixon, G. G. G. Watson, T. L. McDuff, W. P. Rollings, R. J. Reardon, G. Parkinson, S. Perry, E. C. Fussell.
The building committee presents to University Council proposals for the sitting of the building, extensive draft plans for a three -storey building, and advises that the "funds In hand now total £1587. It is agreed by the Council the Gymnasium site could be used for "a Union Building.
The Students' Association sets up a Building Committee, comprising: Messrs G. Dixon, W. P. Rollings, C. S. Plant, H. R. C. Wild and W. Aimers, to report in further detail on the facilities required in a Student Union. They estimate the student roll as 1500 in
The University Council decide to erect a Students' Union building as a memorial to the men who served in the War, and to mark the jubilee of the foundation of the College.
The then Minister of Education, Hon. H. G. R. Mason, advises the Association that the Government will grant a £2 for £1 subsidy of up to £40,000.
A successful appeal was made for public support and many generous donations swelled the building fund from £15,000 to £35,000.
Building restrictions prevent the commencement of final planning and long term forecasts show that the present roll of 2,400 students would be doubled by
Saturation Group are appointed architects for the project.
Sketch plans are presented and sitting agreed on.
It has become increasingly apparent that with rising building costs and student roll numbers the building was going to cost considerably more. Accordingly a deputation waited on the Government with a request for an increased subsidy, and for permission to proceed with the preparation of working drawings and the calling of tenders.
The students vote to pay £1 per student per year to the building fund and undertake to go on paying until a loan of £50000 is extinguished.
The then Minister of Education, Mr Algie, informs the University Council that further subsidy money will be made available.
Working drawings are prepared and building commences on the main building.
Work commences on the New Gymnasium and four tennis courts to complete the project.
A final public appeal is launched to fully furnish and equip the buildings.
The Student Union Buildings are opened by the Minister of Education.
In tune with the magnificent new Cafeteria there's a highly qualified chef. No mere cook! And who is the man who has introduced Hungarian Goulash, and Chicken Ragout to the student diet? He Is Levenbach, a New Zealander by adoption and a German by birth. Fleeing Germany when Hitler came to power Mr Levenbach trained in the culinary arts in Amsterdam. Since coming to New Zealand he has been chef at the Royal Oak Hotel for the past 18 years. His crowning achievement-cooking for the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh during their stay at Moose Lodge In
had all the abjuration of ages past been carried out? What, Mr Daniels?
Other statements appearing without any modicum of reference are: "the Jewish backers of the film . . . will make money out of it"; "hereditary flair for finance"; "At this time it was not the Aryans who exercised racial discrimination"; 'the perversion which has always been a major German failing"; "sharp dealing, dishonest manipulation of figures under company law . . . The names of Jews were too often associated with such practice", etc. etc.
The reader may care to find these remarks in the original context. What I would like to know is: where is the proof backing these statements? They are all so absurd and fallacious. For instance, "It was the Jews with their international affiliations and their hereditary flair for finance who were best able to seize such opportunities." Does Mr Daniels imagine there is a special "financial flair gene" transmittable by heredity processes? Why, sir, it's almost funny.
Or again: "At this time (1935ish) It was not the Aryans who exercised racial discrimination." I quote from the Law for the Protection of German Blood and German Honour of
"Section 1. Marriages between Jews and nationals of German or kindred blood are forbidden."
And from the First Regulation to the Reichs Citizenship Law of
"1. A Jew cannot be a citizen of the Reich. He has no right to vote in political affairs, he cannot occupy a public office."
If this was not "racial discrunination" practised by "Aryans" what was it, Mr Daniels?
3. Where, in the frame of things does such a statement as "And as the sun does not shine often on their race they made hay as fast as they could," fit in? There is neither subtlety nor insight in such a banal attempt at humour, as this is.
4. Where are the examples of "the films, plays and books of the time" said to be largely concerned with "the triumphs of financial crooks, criminals and prostitutes?" (What is the relevance of this to the article anyway)?
5. In the last sentence, Mr Daniels finally forwards a piece of direct opinion. It is certainly illustrative of the ignorance of the writer to say: "I think that if the Jewish community had controlled through their tighter knit organisation the activities of a large section of their sect Hitler would have been forced to use the Communists and the Soviet Union as scapegoats; and his path to political power would have been much more difficult if the Jewish community had not abused their trust." An ignorance of political history, sociology and Nazi philosophy. Could Mr Daniels supply Salient with the name of the book from which I believe all "his" facts and figures came? Finally sir, might I say I consider Mr Daniels such a lousy writer, I doubt if Alfred Rosenberg himself, would have employed him as proof-reader for tho Partei Sonntag Witzblatt.
At the last A.G.M. the motion was put by Mr Brooker and seconded by Mr Mitchell that the Sports Officer on Exec, be elected by the Council of Sports Clubs. It was rejected.
The reasons behind the motion were that specialised knowledge would lead to greater administrative efficiency, and secondly as those more particularly interested in the portfolio would elect the person who could look after their interests. Could there be a greater condemnation of fellow Exec, members than this?
We have just moved into the portfolio field of government. This motion condemns it without trial.
Theoretically work is to be delegated. The appropriate portfolio handles the business through committee and reports the result back to Exec. Collectively Exec, decides the execution of policy. The experts should operate in committee and Exec, will dispose of their decisions.
Every year thousands of pounds pass through Exec's hands. So powerful is this body, so busy, so ubiquitous, that "Salient" has often levelled at it and gloomy prophecies made about the Association's decline. I suggest that the proposed motion far from being more democratic, would be much more open to abuse. Admittedly only 32.4 per cent, of students vote but under Mr Brooker's proposal the day would come when half-a-dozen on Sports Council elect the Exec, member for 3000 others.
Reasons the motion was so heavily defeated were: lack of discussion among the sports clubs and the feeling that there was more than a little self interest Involved. Mr Brooker's benevolent despotism has run the sports clubs well, but It is because of the power he wields that we must be cautious. A less scrupulous person could take advantage of his position. The very organisation means that decisions are made at the top of the clubs and Sports Council.
The "Evening Post" has given an analysis of the history of New Zealand administration in Samoa which is wholly flattering to New Zealand. The epistle is rounded off by the comment: "That (notably increase in exports) is not consistent with claims that Western Samoa has been let down by New Zealand."
This notion is inconsistent with the view of Mr Gotz and i have great pleasure in allowing the Minister to rebut it. In replying to Professor Davidson, Mr Gotz in the "Auckland Herald" had this to say: "There is no use crying over spilt milk." Spilt milk! Egad! I wonder which cat spilt the milk, the fishy cat or the catty fish.
The Evening Post's view is also inconsistent with Mr Corner's intelligent appraisal of the history of New Zealand administration in Samoa in which he cites five defects of the latter administration.
My view is simply this. I do not think New Zealand has always let. Samoa down nor has it adequately led Samoa up. One would infer from the Evening Post Leader that New Zealand has never let Samoa down. This attitude indicates admirable patriotism but it does not show an admirable assessment of facts. Perhaps the author of the Leader expects me to reply by giving an exhaustive survey of the history of New Zealand administration in Samoa. For reasons of my own (I shall reconsider this stand if there is sufficient pressure from readers) my reply will be brief. If I may be permitted to parody the citation attached to an honorary degree recently conferred on Allen Dulles (boss of the U.S.C.I.A.) I would say this! I prefer to defer the appall of the moment to the judgment of history. Original: "Defer the applause of the moment to the judgment of history."
Sir,—The Minister for Island Territories is surely the tactful diplomatist (the superfluous signifies wastful pomposity) personified. Now that the die is cast, independence for Samoa in
Equally tactful, but with the proper diffidence, I would like to ask Mr Gotz, a member of a profession noted for its talent to capitalise on the catching cliche, or on its ability to retreat into the foxhole of garrulous generalities to tell us in precise terms "what is the criterion of readiness?" Indeed one is tempted to ask more: What qualifies a nation, or a state, or an individual to decide the criterion of readiness?
I believe that for years the Indians were taken for a ride on a merry-go-round following the rhythm of the same theme song: "You are not ready yet." History truly has an ironical sense of humour when we consider that "while Solomon was worshipping God in the temple of Jerusalem," the Indians enriching their culture, the natives of Britain were attired in deer-skinned napkins and deer-skinned sarongs.
If the Samoans "are not very happy about their economic future" it is primarily because they have been even less happy about their economic past.
As for the preferred aid of £400,000,
I remain sir, yours gratefully,
The Commonwealth is fortunate that such a step was taken by South Africa. We can be in firm conviction that our progressiveness will not be hindered by South Africa's irrationality in the future. We can now devote ourselves to the aid of the Afro-Asian peoples, who are fast-growing races and must be developed fully.
We are lucky they kept their alliance with us in spite of South Africa's irresponsibility.
We must realise what the Commonwealth stands for. It consists of a free people who combine because they wish. They have been given a basis of equality and in no way are they subordinate to other nations. Such a responsible community of nations cannot be ridiculed, for the rights for which it stands are too significant to be ignored. Any indiscretion cannot be tolerated; the bonds must be kept strong and unity made indissoluble for the preservation of peace. Any threat to unity must be stamped out.
South Africa's policy in apartheid is highly irrational and stands against the Commonwealth's principle of equality. The fact that the Commonwealth would not tolerate South Africa's adverse policies is a manifestation that she was ready to stand up for her rights and let no obstacle daunt her.
The breakup of the American Colonies was due to Britain's inflexibility. This is a good precedent and is an example of her tight principles and tenacious attitude.
The fact that South Africa withdrew from the Commonwealth shows the strength in the hitter's convictions and makes emphatic that the Commonwealth is a powerful unit not to be belittled.
A novelty evening will be held; on Monday, July 24, at 7.30 p.m.; in the Common Common Room.; Admission free to students, 5/- to non-students. Supper will be served, and we can assure you; that a had time will be good by all.
No orthodox play will be permitted, and there will be such interesting ideas as crazy lightning chess, kriegspiel, and so on (rules will be altered at the whim of the Director of Play).
It doesn't matter if you're no good at chess-in this type of event the good players never; win.
Come Along and be Among Fiends.
Recently the University Women's Society presented the Women of the University with a beautiful new stereogram, which is at present in the women's Common-room. Now we are indeed grateful for this original gift and appreciate their generosity, but it seemed to us a pity not to provide an occasional opportunity for sharing it with the men students and also that It be used only to provide a trivial, somewhat annoying background of sound during the daytime; so we decided to do something about utilising the gram at night for the benefit of all.
Although there is already a Music Society which caters for classical enthusiasts, and a Jazz Club for more modern connoisseurs. both are automatically rather restrictive in their range, and the "uninitiated" music-lover can feel a little excluded by his own ignorance. This is why we have started a Record Club for the amateur "broke" collector who just likes music for its own sake without being able to discuss it intelligently or diagnose the technicalities of composition, etc.
We meet on Wednesdays about 7.30 in the Women's Common-room-bring your own favourite records to share with us and listen to those brought by others. Without being subjected to "music appreciation propaganda" or trying to learn formally by comparative analysis, you can become more tolerant of diverse tastes and also enjoy listening to a great range of recordings superbly reproduced without having to expend valuable funds on actually procuring an extensive collection of expensive records.
We are an informal loosely organised club with an ever-changing "clientele" who come along If and when they feel like it. Whether you're a militant crusader looking for converts to one particular kind of composer, instrument or technique, or whether you're the easy-going type who just likes music and wants to meet some others who are similarly "omnivorous"-take an evening of some time and come and see what's going on.
Meanwhile-watch the S.U.B. notice board for news of our progress.
A lecture was held on Thursday, July 13, commemorating the death of Carl Jung. Dr. Taylor introduced the speakers.
Dr. Palmer gave a reminiscent picture of Jung's youth then he discussed Jung's early work In connection with the courts. He used this discussion to illustrate Jung's logical thinking and his meticulously objective standpoint. Finally he presented Jung's recent chemical hypothesis of Psychoses in
Dr. Taylor closed with a fitting quotation from Jung himself: death is psychologically as important as birth; to shrink from it is unhealthy and abnormal.
The audience stood in silence for half a minute in tribute to the great psychologist.
The new cafeteria has been operation for two months, at we have had an opportunity to a sess the kind of service it provide
First, the facilities are first-rate In spite of dark and gloomy for bodings from the past contract about its size (too large) it is regularly filled to overflowing for about two hours each day, with a steady stream of custom in between. The tables are not crammed in too close together, and the occasional redistribution of chain doesn't seem to worry anyone too much.
The service also is good. The queues, inevitable at lunch and tea time, are seldom more than a few minutes delay, and the tables are kept clear and clean all the time If only the cashier wouldn't tos your change on to the counter when you are balancing a cup of coffee and a plate of sandwiches and a satchel and six books in one hand and extending the other, palm wards with stiff and precarious balance, for the coins to be dropped into it . . .
Next comes the food. Actually, it doesn't come next, it comes first -we decided to say all the nice things first, though. The food is granted, restricted by cost and other factors, but the cold buffet leaves much to be desired. Sand wiches, quarter rounds, at 2d. each, are apt to contain so little of such an indeterminate substance that they are positively unpleasant. The town size, at town prices, with town fillings, would be far more appetising. Incidentally, many town stores and tearooms sell sandwiches at 4d., so the present ones are not cheap at all. Also there is often very little variety in cakes, sandwiches and savouries Sometimes there is only one plate set out.
Fruit drinks—very good. Also tea and coffee. The hot meals are well cooked and there's variety; the brown potato has been getting whiter (I take it they have ceased to mash them with the skins on) and everything has the proper flavour. They are, however, expensive. Gravy costs so little to make I think it should be thrown in when you buy a pie for 1/-.
Cafeteria Comment: Absolutely NO more changes until we can see our way clear. Fruit is a risky thing to keep and there is No Profit.
The Scandinavian student organisations are extremely Indignant that all the protests of the Finnish youth organisations and of the Scandinavian students against holding the communistic World Youth Festival in Helsinki in
For the third time a student exchange is taking place this year between the University of Chile: and the University of Texas in, Austin. Early this year, 14 students of the Pedagogical Institute of the University of Chile took a six-week tour of the United States, during which they became acquainted with the structure and organisations making up North American democracy. Travel and living costs were assumed by the State Department.
The following little gems have been picked up recently: In the Psych. Department: she to him, "There's not much you can do about a frustration like that" . . . Comment most frequently heard at Little Congress: "We are Just good friends" ..." I'm going to see 'Saturday Night and Sunday Morning' on Friday afternoon "... In a local coffee bar-" From now on I'm going to be a virgin "... Gossip in the Women's Common Room, says Kinsey's representative there, goes something like this: "Oh no! Beverley's got high principles-well-she did have "... A further report from the W.C.R.: "Necsht week ish Shtudy Week" . . . "Where have you been all Study Week?" "At home-gee, it's good to see some sane faces again "... Said one attractive girl to another, "Dr. X is a very understanding man "...
Mitch speaking about proposed non-smoking areas in the Student Onion Building, "We can't pass the butt"... This raises the question of whether Exec, tobacco chewers pass their butts or spit them out ... No doubt that will remind Peter O'Brien of a certain motion at the A.C M. that the incoming Men's Vice-president should be responsible for supplying the W.C.R. with brass-bound spittoons and chewing tobacco boxes, and that he should be responsible for emptying said spittoons ... A new Exec. member asks, "Parry Report? What's that?" . . . When asked whether she would stand for President next yea Diana Piston said, "I won't stand for anyone" . . . Another new Exec, member: "It's not that I'm power-mad, but I just love those little badges with the lions on" . . .
. . . One way of arousing confidence-the lackadaisical air of the gentleman repairing wiring on the cable car . . . Did you know-there is an anarchist newspaper in England called" Freedom' . . .
... It is whispered that Exec's ex-P.R.O. John (Sixpenny-Mountain) Tanna- hill is engaged in assuring the rise of a new and expanding Ming dynasty ... It is further rumored that one-time Exec. Vice-president Julian J. Watts s departing for greener fields ea sly next month- I wonder whether it will be the fields that will be greener (in any case it seems hr will have to learn the language) . . .
A questionnaire circulated by the V.U.W.S.A Education Sub-Committee during enrolment this year missed the first day of the Arts student?, but nevertheless showed that 125 students were desirous of taking religious studies in their degrees. A startling deduction, emanating from the incumbent Women's Vice-president, I believe reveals that as about half the Arts students were missed, it can safely be assumed that about 200 would be interested; if this number is halved for those who change their minds, and then doubled for the 100 per cent, growth in the roll over the next few years ?), the demand is still pretty large, compared with, say, Public Administration, with its solitary student last year-comments on this are invited . . .
Why the blazes doesn't the sewage and drainage system Around here work better? . . . The dangers and defects of the preference system of voting were highlighted in the election for one portfolio, where the successful candidate polled less than one third of the total first preference votes . . The Geology Department is so interested in student affairs that it set a prac. exam, on the night of the A.G.M., and a field trip on the day of the Second Test . . . Addressed to all those who attended a certain party at Ngaio- would someone kindly tell Kinsey whether Kinsey had a good time . ., Meha suggests that we should present the so-called statue to the French football team-frankly, I think there have been enough attempts to dispose of that thing already . . .
My Weir House correspondent reports: Some gents, there are redecorating the Common Room with a view to having further female entertainment therein-cost so far is about £350, the source of finance being the Weir House canteen, but does the University know that it will cost them something too? . . . Who were the fresher's apprehended by the House Warden escorting female friends off the premises at 1 a.m.? ... I hear that the Weir Ball will be held this year at the Roseland Cabaret, though no one seems to know when . . .
According to the N.Z.P.A. as reported In the "Dominion" of July 5, the British Consul-General in Kuwait said that the Iraqis had as much right to Kuwait as the Red Indians had to North America -we ask you . . .
to the irresponsible and vandalistic oaf who destroyed the C.S.G.'s expensive poster-Kinsey's shout, St. George, July 30, 5.30 . . .
to the Elections Returning Officer, whose honesty had to be seen to be believed . . .
When discussing about the recent, mysterious disappearance of a certain statue, Mr P. O'Brien said: "... I think that It Is high time the thing was Dropped!
"[Editorial Note: Mr O'Brien had since clarified his statement. He had been quoted out of context. By "thing" he was referring to the efforts of some students to dispose of the statue. The students should abandon their efforts, not the statue. What Mr O'Brien personally thinks about the statue is however undisclosed; nor do we know the official view of the executive members regarding this matter.]
Thursday, June 29, the most important event of the year. What! Don't you know?
Well then I'll tell you. Shortly after 7.30 p.m. the outgoing executive faced all those students who were sufficiently Interested in what was happening to them- some 200 in fact. This was the occasion of the 63rd Annual General Meeting of the Victoria University of Wellington Students' Association. The one time each year when w*, the students, directly decide major Issues!
The meeting started enthusiastically with much inclination to have fun. However, our president set a fast business-like pace. A maximum of five minutes speaking time per mover, three minutes thereafter was moved. Despite some opposition as being undemocratic, this was carried, and. four hours Liter was further reduced.
The annual report first aroused interest at the Grants page. Why did one Christian sect (Catholic students) receive a larger grant than others? Answer-(a) It has larger membership; (b) any student can join.
There was some indignation that the management of the new building be out of the Association's hands. But it was generally agreed necessary.
The general report of the capping committee was accepted without comment. However, both reports on Extravaganza . brought heavy criticism. Why are so many non-varsity students in the show? What about accounts? Nevertheless, Mr Flude pointed out that Mr Stubbs had done a difficult job well.
Cappicade accounts are presented in the report. There is a profit of at least £500.
Procession report excited some questions. Why were supplies so poor and late? Mr Spender placed responsibility on Student apathy and the fact that various firms did not deliver supplies in time. Calico, an expensive item would be cheaper if wholesale. This recommendation was accepted.
The House Committee report brought up several points, why has the new building been so dirty? Answer-insufficient cleaning staff-now rectified. A very embarrassed student bravely stated that the writing on (men's) lavatory walls is shocking!
Victoria we shall be forever! This was passed almost unanimously.
In fact all the motions printed in the agenda were carried bar one. Mr Mitchell wished to see the sports representative elected by sports council. This on the grounds of greater efficiency. But he would then be less representative of the whole student body. After some hot debating the motion was lost.
A number of motions came from the floor. The most interesting was one that the incoming Executive "provide brass spittoons and chewing tobacco boxes in the women's common room." Carried.
Shortly thereafter the president was heard commenting "I think things are getting a little bit off!"
And at 12.30 a weary adjournment was called. Not too weary that the two Execs, couldn't meet for "light refreshments" immediately afterward.
There is a lot of bosh talked about the equality of the sexes and the emancipation of women. We are not emancipated. We have votes, perhaps soon some equal pay for equal work. But what of the essence of emancipation? The battle for that has hardly begun. It is emancipation from men's general conceptions about women. Not all women, even the intelligent ones, are concerned about the situation. Either they accept and enjoy it, or they reject it altogether and become confirmed old maids.
The situation K that at University, of all places, it seems impossible for a man and woman to have a platonic friendship. Men in this University behave in one way to other men, and in an entirely different way towards women. Please don't say, "It's natural- it's nature-why are you complaining-sour grapes, etc."
What I am talking about is not natural. It is engendered by our system of education, which segregates the sexes at a dangerous age. Just when they begin to notice one another, they are shepherded into separate institutions, where each sex intensifies its idiosyncrasies. That sounds rather a mouthful, but it means simply that the girls, together, become more self-conscious, hysterical and unreliable, the boys more than ever inclined to worship sheer physical prowess and physique, and have nothing to balance the idea that it is manly to use filthy language, smoke furtively and drink till you're sick. The worst thing is, that when the boys and girls meet, especially if they have no sisters and brothers respectively, they are self-conscious and awkward, and yet, miraculously, get a favorably distorted and terribly romanticised impression of one another. I know that many co-educational schools have a bad reputation. They have also the bad material to work with-or at least, very little good to leaven it. Privileged children go to private schools, nearly always single-sex and intelligent children generally have professional parents, living in older towns, with older and therefore single-sex schools.
Co-education isn't given a fair chance.
Most products of single-sex schools loyally support them. They have been imbued with these so- called manly or feminine ideals, and regard them as absolute values, and institutions supporting them, including our university colleges, as thoroughly desirable. Some girls, not born with charm, actually do have to "turn it on" and thus find it exhausting to be continually in male company. These view co-education with horror. They seem quite optimistic about marriage, however. But back to education. The system's defects are apparent. We come to regard the other sex as having an entirely different, instead of mainly biologically different function in life. A non-platonic relationship between a man and a woman i.s generally a delightful thing. But in the absence of this, need there be no relationship? Or as little as there is? Especially at a university. 4rtd above all, at this one, which ror New Zealand, has a very high percentage of full-time students. At a university, men and "Women should be used to mingling and discussing around their subjects, for it is an essential part of university education. Most men will talk of matters intellectual to women who are simply charming or good looking. Possibly because they are so very afraid of an intelligent woman seeing through them. Possibly because they have this exasperating idea that a woman has a chiefly decorative use, functional only on social occasions (to prove that at least one woman finds him bearable), in the home (to make it bearable), and . . .
In those of our colleges whose members are chiefly from private, or at any rate, single-sex schools, and who chiefly pursue courses where women are not welcome, this view prevails. These colleges have a large influence in the university. So those females not pursuing a course very suited to the college idea of What a Woman Should Be, draw in their intellectual horns. They avoid talking intelligently and belonging to intellectual societies. They do not begin to benefit from university life. They divide their lime between frantic concentrated swot, and the gay social whirl. This, of course, fits in admirably with the medical and dental students, whose work largely is swot. Few of these have other intellectual interests, and those who have, I notice, largely avoid sharing them with women. An intelligent woman may become interested in one of these more intellectual beings, hoping for a platonic friendship, and retire too late, baffled, humiliated and unhappy. And why? Because women are at university to catch a husband and provide some sport in the process. Any female advance is non-platonic and is to be treated as such to the very limit of what the said female will allow. Should the said female allow casual and harmless love-making, she is to be everlastingly despised for it, though the same thing be admired in a male.
This view is fashionable. It is The Correct Thing, like tweed sports and grey flannels. Not to hold this view is not to be one of the wonderful ineffable class of B.C.D. (bitter, cynical and disillusioned). It is to be too, too frightfully naive, in fact, quite fresh.
This is ridiculous. It is mid- Victorian. What the devil is such a situation doing in a university? Among the country's "intellectual elite." It is preposterous. But it is there. And where it is, the emancipation of women is not.
At a Bishops' Conference at the end of March, all the Uruguayan Bishops urged, in a general statement, the foundation of a free University in Uruguay. They emphasised that the country's constitution recognised the legitimacy of private education and that this education should cmbrace the whole field from primary school to the university. (Information Catolica Ibero-Anrericana).
Issue No. 10 included an article written by the Social Credit Club praising itself.
I admire the group of people who, like myself, are interested in what is behind the Social Credit policy, but I deplore the way this group are studying the League's philosophy. I belong to no political party and am an advanced student of economics. After the number of votes Social Credit obtained at the last election I decided I would like to see what lies behind their policy so I attended two of the meetings of this newly-formed group.
Vote catching leaflets were handed out at each meeting which were attended mainly by people curious to know what Social Credit is and how it would deal with 1. The International Bank and Monetary Fund and 2. The European Economic Community. Both meetings were addressed by "tub thumpers" of the party who "waffled" for an hour each. Both speakers succeeded in evading the topics (as above) laid down for discussion, and insisted on mouthing numerous time honoured platitudes about "reduce the cost of living," "cut production costs," "reduce our dependence on the U.K. market," "reduce taxation," "increase the standard of living," etc. Both speakers mentioned (almost correctly) what's wrong with New Zealand's economy. Neither speaker could suggest "how to improve except to reiterate that the measures taken by the Labor Government and the present government are wrong.
Neither speaker mentioned the topic supposedly under discussion -they could only quote what Major Douglas (an engineer) had proposed at the turn of the century. The speaker on the E.E.C. seemed to know less about Social Credit than the majority of listeners. He also knew nothing about the E.E.C. as was proved by the way he not so dexterously evaded the questions he was asked by several of the audience.
At the end of the second meeting I approached the chairman of the meeting and told him I was disappointed and that I still had not had any reasonably sound economic suggestion put in front of me concerning either the E.E.C. or the I.M.F. When I asked if he could recommend a text book on "Social Credit" economic theory I was handed a two-page pamphlet (to the Householder "postage paid") containing further platitudes about Social Credit.
I contend that the V.U.W. Social Credit Club has failed already. It is unable to make available' any sound information on the economic principles underlying their movement. It makes a laughing stock of their claim to discuss "the new economic system based on sound economic principles" (Mr Dempsey's letter in Salient 10) because after attending two meetings I'm still sure their organisation has no sound principles of economic policy that could ever benefit New Zealand.
The shop telephone rang, and I picked up the receiver and said in my "best" voice;
"Good evening, L____
For a second there was silence from the other end-silence, that is, all but the sound of a distant radio. Silence was suddenly followed by two startlingly loud hiccoughs, and a drunken male voice inquired:
"'Ow i you?"
Rather bewildered, and not quite knowing the answer-yet knowing I must say something, I merely repeated the name of the shop. All I could get out of the other end was a series of very vulgar hiccoughs'. So I had another attempt-I said (stupidly),
"Are you there?"
And of course my antagonist replied "Naw."
"Did you want 87435, L ?"
"'Ello! Hie ... hie .. ." Then I heard a loud riotous yell, and was compelled to withdraw from the sight and hearing of two perplexed and rather disapproving customers. By now my feeling was less of embarrassment, and rather of annoyance, and extreme curiosity.
"Who did you want to speak to?" I inquired, as courteously as seemed appropriate. After a few more screams, howls and hiccoughs, the fellow said;
"Gemmethemanager . . . I wanna speaks the manager ..."
And when I had translated this into English, I breathed a relieved sigh, and said:
"Yes, certainly, just a moment please." Anxious to get away from the 'phone, I drew away from the receiver, when suddenly I heard the male voice, startiingly sober, talking:
"Hey, Jan, cut it out . . . are you there? Jan? Hey, listen . .
Well, after all, I should know my brother's brand of humour after 20 years!
"Universities Review" is the new title of the pamphlet published by the National Union of Students of the United Arab Republic (G.U. S.U.) after it has been converted to a pictorial pamphlet to be issued every two months to report news and activities of the country's six universities. Its first issue appeared in
Six hundred scholarships at Baghdad University have been allocated by the Iraqi Education Ministry for the next academic year for students from Arab and Islamic countries. An unspecified number of additional scholarships have been provided for students from "the nascent African Islamic States." (News Features, New York).
On the basis of an agreement between the universities of Baghdad and Texas. American professors will give courses in Iraq in chemistry, physics, and general science. (The Asian Student, San Francisco).
The Death Occurred Suddenly Last Thursday of Kenneth Scott, Professor of Political Science at Victoria University. Professor Scott had been Associated with Victoria for Many Years—Last Christmas he was the President of the N.Z.U.S. Congress at Curious Cove. Our Sincere Condolences go to all his Relatives—He will be Missed by all who knew him.