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Contrary to press reports, Omega would allow vessels with sophisticated equipment to fix their positions within 200 yards, said Mr R. Offen, lecturer in physics at Otago University.
He was speaking at Victoria's Teach-in last Sunday.
The Teach-in was officially organised by the Students Association to help inform students and the public about the Omega navigational system and its political implications.
Recent figures from the United States Naval Observatory showed the system could result in an accuracy of less than one microsecond—perhaps even one-half microsecond under good propagation conditions — said Mr Offen.
This was far greater than previously suggested by the government. 'I believe the US Naval Observatory to be a very good authority— on technical mailers'. he said.
Mr Offen said New Zealand would be a good position for an Omega station; when eight stations were in operation the system would be useful everywhere except near the poles where its accuracy would be somewhat reduced.
It would be particularly resistant to abnormal sunspot activity.
"If the Omega system is to be used only by surface receivers, 1 kilowatt would be ample power," said Mr
He was the second speaker at the Teach-In.
"Submarines on the surface operate the same as any other surface vehicle. When they are submerged they lose contact with all signals except those on Very Low Frequency. Even when submerged to 50 feel they can use Omega, and if they come to rest at 1,000 feet they can use Omega by releasing a buoyant platform."
"Submarines in general use an intertial guidance system, but this system has one inherent fault. The receivers need updating every so often.
If the submarine is on the surface, this can best be done with use of satellites. In the absence of this, presumably it is done by Omega."
On the question of whether an Omega station has to be sited in New Zealand, Mr McNeil said, "For purely technical reasons New Zealand seems the most suitable place for the South Pacific station. But it could be placed somewhere else.
"And—for entirely non-political reasons — I think it should be."
Mr McNeil said the Omega system had great advantages for navigation round the Antarctic Continent, where it is the only system which can provide reliable information.
"The Omega navigation system sas as one of its chief merits to a navigator its high degree of redundancy," he said.
"The system provides so much data, it is available to all kinds of receiving systems. which can all use it with great benefit. But it is not available to satellite systems," he said.
In answer to a question on the possible elimination of an Omega station in time of war, Mr McNeil said when necessary the system could be adapted to the use of only one group of people, but that it was also quite easy for someone to jam it so that it was of no use to anyone. He later added that rather than jamming the whole system, one station alone could be jammed.
Replying to another question, Mr McNeil told the audience, "The know-how is available in New Zealand to run the system."
There was a crying need for an accurate, dependable. international navigation system, said the third speaker at the Teach-In, Mr
Mr Simpson is Superintending Engineer, Navigational Aids, in the Department of Civil Aviation.
While he had little information at present he thought Omega might when developed have enormous potential for civil aircraft.
Mr Simpson devoted most of his speech to the history of the development of modern guidance system. He said civil inertial guidance systems were now 'extremely good". But they still had the disadvantage of needing frequent "updating". He didn't know how much better classified military systems might be.
The vice-chancellor Dr D. B. C. Taylor has suggested students should not exercise their full rights of free expression in the long term interests of the University.
"I am on record in the press as saying that I do not consider the march organised by your Students' Association to have been primarily responsible for those incidents and I wish to repeat that here. In addition I should like to congratulate your Association on their sense of responsibility in issuing such excellent instructions to the marchers prior to their departure.
"I have also said that, since it is the right of any member of a democratic society—whether a student or an ordinary citizen — to express his views in any manner he pleases so long as it is within the law, the University could not forbid such a demonstration. Further, I am sure the marchers were well aware of the boundaries within which their opinions might be expressed. However, I venture to suggest that there are one or two other things which the marches might have considered and, if necessary, made provision for.
"The first of these is the simple fact that, once they had joined the larger demonstration, there was the danger that, being caught up in the emotion of the occasion, they might find themselves involved in situations which bad not been foreseen; and secondly, that should unpleasant incidents take place, blame would naturally be put on the students present.
"Admittedly the title 'student' tends to be applied by many members of the public to anyone between the ages of 16 and 30, but the fact remains that for a large section of our community the image of students at Victoria is, unfortunately, not all that it should be. It is no use shutting our eyes to this and saying that, since it is a totally incorrect picture, we need do nothing about it. In fact it is vitally important that we should do something about it since public opinion has a very great influence on the Government's attitude to the Universities. Even before these unfortunate incidents took place there was some indication that the Government was concerned at the present time of expenditure on New Zealand Universities and would wish to make a very careful review.
"Reports of the recent incidents will only lead the Government and the public to believe that there is a large irresponsible element among our students and that, consequently, a great deal of money is being wasted on institutions which are expected to turn out the intellectual leaders of our society.
"The consequences of such thinking could be very painful for us all, particularly you students for, without sufficient finance, we wit be unable to provide the teaching staff, class rooms, laboratory space, scientific apparatus and books to cope with the ever increasing numbers of students.
"For the University itself, in the long term, since we are ultimately judged on the quality of our graduates it would mean that we sank lower in the 'pick order' of Universities and your degrees would, therefore, count for less in the university world at large.
"This, to say the least, would be a great tragedy, undoing the work of many devoted teachers over the 70 years during which Victoria has emerged as a mature and independent University whose degrees have international currency.
"My plea therefore is for responsible and thoughtful action. To those fo you who feel motivated to demonstrate publicity I should like to ask you to bear in mind what I have said and, in fact, I would go so far as to suggest that there is possibly a case for not exerting your full rights under the law in this sort of situation.
"To those of you who lake little or no interest in such demonstrations I would point out that you have a right and duty to express your opinion on what is done in the name of your Students' Association. It is vitally important that you do so, for the consequences of irresponsible and hastily conceived actions carried out in your name can be very serious indeed for your own futures and that of our University.
"I am very well aware of the magnificent effort you made during the recent University Day to show the public that we arc a serious-minded community doing the job for which we were intended and I know that this, like last year's function, was a great success. Occasions like this do a great deal to repair our image.
"Finally, I should like to warn all of you against the argunments which suggests that any danger threatening the Universities can be avoided simply by further demonstrations. No government, either our present one or any alternative one, can afford to give way to this sort of pressure. To do so is to deny the rule of law which must be the corner-stone of any democratic society."
"New Zealand's strategic virginity is in danger of being violated," said Mr
He said thre major questions had arisen from the teach-in which should be answered by the Government immediately.
The Kwajalein Island to which he was referring were United States combat-type test For multipl-warhead missiles scheduled for 1970.
"A line drawn through the Hawaiian Island Group where an Omega station is already located would, with a line drawn from the South Island coast of New Zealand form a right-angle in the test area."
"It seems the part the station will play needs clarification."
The arms race, in trms of tand-based armour. is levelling-up. he said, but in the field of submarine the United Stales in maintaining it's superiority.
"Former Secretary of Defence, Mr McNamara has said that the United States is capable of destroying three-quarters of the total industry in Russia and leaving 100 million Russians lor dead.''
The United States have over 1,000 land-based missiles," Mr. Alley said.
"They also have 656 Polaris submarines which are being converted to carry multi-warhead Poseidon missiles, which are capable of carrying a maximum of 16 warheads each."
Mr Alley said hegemonial organisations, such as S.E.A.T.O., Warsaw Pact, all had a clearly defined leader which interprets and defines any opposition the organisation might face.
"There is a growing realisation in New Zealand that United States have control of those they participate in."
Referring to the cost of the base, Mr Alley said, "Whatever the cost it will be a trifling amount by Pentagon standards."
He said that those who read the "smaller articles", in the New York Times, "the ones on about page 5 with small headlines," would find much information in terms of the amount allocated on defence requirements.
About one column inch was all that was necessary to inform the public that several million dollars had been approved by the Senate to meet the defence bill.
Mr Alley predicted that land-based forces would decline in importance over the next few years.
This was related to American fears of Chinese inter-continental ballistic missile capacity, and were expanding their forces submarine capacity to counter this.
Sir—While I am not at present a student, I would like to contribute to the debate on the Labour Party.
Reading the replies—such as they are—to Owen Gager's comments, I was amazed by their stubborn defence of the outworn and shop-soiled legalism which has been the ideological basis of time Labour Party since (because ?) it became respectable. Inside the Labour Party the progressive ideas and drive of yourth will leave no more trace than a river swallowed by a desert.
The readiness of Mr. Gager's opponents to descend to personal abuse indicates the role they play—of necessity—inside the Labour Party. It should be clear by now that on SEATO, at least, they have been sold a pup. The Labour Party is buying student and other young votes at the cheap cost of the illusion of power.
Independence from party politics is esential to growth of the dynamic student movement which alone can secure student demands. And judging from the events in france, Germany and Italy, the effect a student movement could have on the political life of this country is incalculable.
A student seller of Cock magazine was told by a petty Sub official "You can't sell Cock and Salient on the same day in the foyer of the Sub because they create a fire danger. When told of this, Cock editor Cock against a Salient ..."
Staff member overheard at a recent wine and cheese evening; "When I left Auckland in 1957 for Oxford,
If Gager stays at Victoria much longer the Students' Association will be marching to Parliament demanding old age pensions for students.
Overheard at anti-Government demonstration outside Parliament, just after a student had been arrested.
Policeman A: "Just got another one. Don't know what for, though."
Policeman B (grinning): "We got him. anyway."
From
The battle for Student Power is in the Committee stage at Victoria right now. It may never get any further ... But if we know the results committees usually produce ...
A blind American law student has been re-classified 1A by his draft board. He had been classified 2-S until this year despite annual reminders that he should be 4-F.
"All I can say is we must be losing the war." he said.
He has 30 days to appeal.
"Are sacrifices by the individual overshadowed by a suspicion of national self - interest?" queried John McGrath at a recent panel discussion on VSA held at the University.
The aims of the Peace Corps and Volunteer Service Abroad organisations are to assist in the social and economic development of the developing countries.
Dr
Organised during International Week by the VSA subcommittee, the discussion was aimed at recruiting graduate volunteers from the University.
Miss
Speakers from the floor suggested that although it took the volunteer some time to become well acquainted with his task, there was more likelihood of an individual understanding the native culture than a large organisation.
Mr
"Many problems have been met because receiving countries have not thought out how to make the best use of aid provided," he said.
Comparison was drawn between the financing of the Peace Corps and VSA. The Peace Corps is completely government financed, whilst VSA retains independent control, our Government only paying administration costs.
Of seventy VSA volunteers, sixty have an allowance paid by the host country.
The annual expenditure on each Peace Corps volunteer is $7453, whilst that of the VSA volunteer is only $1500.
Ideas towards possible changes in the present training of volunteers included one month overlapping period between tours of duty.
"I don't think anyone can say what is failure at university," said the Minister of Education, Mr Kinsella, at Victoria recently. "I don't regard those who miss units as failures. They benefit themselves and their country. Even those who have passed two or three subjects are of use to the community so long as they have enough drive and stability to make use of their training."
"This year in Parliament I hope, to bring down a bill to provide for a Vocational Training Council. This council would tie together educational facilities and the needs of industry. It would be a link between technical institutes and technical education generally, and industry and commerce," he said.
"Today more and more business seem to be requiring graduates for their executive staff, and this is the way it should be," said the Minister.
"Up to a few years ago the universities could have been said to have had a monopoly over tertiary education. As a result they sometimes had to extend their courses downwards and I don't know if this was good for them."
"Technical institutes are new in this country," he said "But I would say that they will be a major force as far as the future is concerned."
"The technical institutes will develope closer and closer to the universities themselves, We already have this with the Engineering School at Canterbury which can in part provide cross-credited units to the University."
"In the coming years we will have an increase in the cross-recognition of work done in these two institutions," said Mr Kinsella.
"The Central Institute of Technology will deal with technical education at a very high level of university education, and they will eventually develope into Universities of Technology."
"Technical institutes are at the stage now that universities were 30 years ago. with a huge number of part-time students. They will develope in the same way and the percentage of full-timers will grow and grow.
"The greatest possible development we can see ahead of us is the tremendous growth in all forms of tertiary education," he said. "It will be spent on university buildings alone. Last year university education cost about $36 million. I am sure that this is going to grow even more; the needs of higher education are not going to remain static.
"Technical institutes are growing at an even faster rate," said Mr Kinsella "because the technologist and technician is required to a greater extent in this economy. In other countries the load is largely taken off professional men by technologists and techicians who are educated to just below professional standard."
Asked whether he thought university salaries should be raised to parity with Australia Mr Kinsella said "I would like to see New Zealand University staff salaries increased. This is under discussion between myself and the University Grants Committee at the moment. It is a subject to which I am very sympathetic. I don't know however if we will be able to raise them to parity."
At the extraordinary Executive meeting on 25th June, Exec was told it might be possible to call tenders for the extension to the student Union Building this year. University Council had heard this in a letter from the University Grants Committee. But the letter had emphasised no commilment was being made.
* * *
Salient 13 concerning "student activists". The motion lapsed for want of a seconder though
* * *
When plans for the march on Parliament were discussed,
* * *
* * *
The issue of "Sallient" circulated at the SGM was "deplored" Its allegations about Exec members were described as personal and inaccurate.
* * *
After carrying unanimously a motion of confidence in President White, the meeting ended.
* * *
A further meeting was called on 28th June. It unanimously approved President Doug White's actions in writing letters apologising to the Governor-General and to the Australian High Commissioner for any Inconvenience or Insult they may have suffered during the demonstration at Parliament.
* * *
President White was congratulated for his letter to the "Evening Post" condemning its editorial, "The Rabble In Our Midst".
* * *
President White reported that he had received a telegram from the secretary of the Wellington Trades Council thanking the students for their support at the demonstration.
Waikato University will be the venue for an international conference on New Zealand foreign policy during the first weekend in August.
"The conference is being designed as a sequel to the Peace Power and Politics in Asia Conference held in Wellington earlier this year," said
Like its predecessor, he said, it "will provide a mouthpiece for prominant international and New Zealand critics of the war in Vietnam to appraise the assumptions underlying this country's foreign policies. Its organisors are seeking to influence public opinion and capitalise on the momentum generated by the Wellington conference."
"The Hamilton conference is the first tangible result of Peace, Power and Politics in Asia, and is an attempt to duplicate the success of that conference and maintain the new momentum of the antiwar movement in New Zealand."
Sir—Salient ain't wot it used to be. The one-time 'top student newspaper' has deteriorated sadly.
So-called reports are made up of strings of quotations. Only the numerous 'he said's' testify to the existence of a reporter. And just in case these fail to convince us, the author's name heads each column in proud black letters. Surely there are some among Salient's great horde of reporters and sub-editors who can summarise and interpret, not merely tape-record statements.
The term 'Layout' can scarcely be applied to the confusion which meets our eyes. Column after column reaks ranks, changes sides, and surges forward. A disordered army of print is forced to make a hasty retreat from a barrage of thick black lines, dotes, blobs, and little wiggles. Unfortunately, large black squares draw attention to the trivia they contain.
Perhaps the editor himself is aware of the poor quality of his paper. He is over-sensitive to any criticism. Compulsive self-justifications follow even the most minor and facetiously toned attacks in the Letters to the Editor. An editorial of 220 words is printed in large type. Yet all the correspondence is crammed into a smaller space. Space however is not entirely lacking. The centre pages are largely made up of artistically attractive vacua.
C'est la vie! Comercialism replaces culture. Goodbye
We are etc.,
"I am in favour of mental hospitals coming under hospital boards," said Dr E. T. Hall, Medical Superintendent of Sunnyside Mental Hospital.
"But, there would be considerable amount of tidying up to be done before the changeover.
"Our problems would have to be understood and handled in the right way."
Doctor Hall was addressing a meeting of the Royal Society Victoria University. He spoke about mental health needs, the Welfare State and changes within the Pyschiatric Hospital.
There are 1000 patients at Sunnyside, he said.
The medical staff consists of nine full-time doctors and three part-time.
Ward meetings are held daily at Sunnyside. All wards can also receive visitors each day.
"Mental hospitals have changed considerably but we still have a long way to go," said Dr Hall. "This can only be achieved by team approach and effort and the morale that accompanies it."
Between 60 and 70 student nurses yearly go to Sunnyside.
Nearly two thirds leave before they qualify. This number qualifies equally with that of general nursing.
"Alcoholics come into the hospital," said Dr Hall. "But mental hospitals do not treat alcoholics very well."
Sometimes alcoholics were refused entry to Sunnyside because they tended to treat the hospital as a night shelter, he said.
Very little research work is done at the hospital. What work is done is in the fields of drugs and pyschology.
Doctor Hall has found his four years at Sunnyside Hospital a rewarding experience.
Notable advances at Sunnyside have been aided by a new staff, staff training and introduction of daily visiting, clinical and ward meetings and meetings with Christ-church hospital.
Speaking about the Conscientious Ojection Hearing Committees and their predominantly RSA influence,
The occasion was the meeting of
Chris Wheeler, editor of Cock, was the main speaker. He commented upon his pamphlet "The Conscientious Objector". He spoke about the history of militarism in NZ with emphasis on the First World War the forceful induction into the army of
"The present trends could involve NZ in military suppression of revolutionary suppression of wars throughout Asia and quite possibly South America and Africa, as long as NZ is involved in alliances like SEATO and ANZUS." he said. "Those with objections to the war could work within the framework of the legal provisions for registration as a conscientious objector." You may have a moral duty to ignore the system and try to frustrate the administrative machinery.
"The whole idea of a committee set up to determine the sincerity and validity of ones beliefs is farcial." said Chris. "Philosophically and psychologically it is impossible to objectively assess the state of a man's conscience."
Assertions made by Salient, concerning configurations of the current international political system should not pass unchallenged. With a certainty I envy, he says—"the notion of sovereignty (in nation states) is more and more a fiction and therefore the moral values attached to it are incapable of being supported".
At the outset, let us disregard whether moral values are attached to sovereignty, and equally let us disregard whether such values, if they exist, are capable or incapable of being supported. What we cannot ignore are statements in the article such as "the nation of a nation-state, even, is hard to relate to reality",—or—"the notion of a sovereignty is always a woolly notion", presumably applying to nation states.
However, further in the article we are told—"primitive and traditional societies attach themselves to nationalism and the nation state is their ideal". Although no satisfactory or adequate definition of what is meant by traditional or primitive societies appears, we can take it Mr Murphy would agree the greater bulk of both nation-states and population of the globe would fall into this category. At any rate, a sufficient number of nation states exist as viable political entities to dispel any ambiguity as to either their reality, number, or importance.
The confusion is complete. Either Mr Murphy believes in the nation state as a practical entity on the world scene, or he doesn't. Our only guide here is his admission that the international political system is a complex one, something we suspected anyway—and that his elaborations on the questions consist of subjective conceptions. Equally, something we suspected.
Then there is the unfounded assumption in Mr Murphy's article to the effect that as states become more co-operative and "modern", they become less nationalistic. There is plenty of evidence to suggest the contrary, as there is plenty of evidence to suggest that states can play on successive themes of cooperation, national unity, alliance solidarity and independence, just as it suits them. Imagination, flexibility and subtlety in foreign policy is the preserve of no particular ranking in some crudely elaborated classification of development. The foreign policies of Rumania, Pakistan, Czechoslovakia, Canada, Tanzania, and Cambodia, as well as many other states, rapidly make nonsense of any attempts to classify statecraft according to economics, or even political development.
National interests are as jealously preserved within the EEC as in Latin America. Many of the Francophone states of Africa have abstained from endorsing the nuclear non-proliferation treaty at the General Assembly of the United Nations. Acting as a bloc, they hope to trade votes on the issue with the major powers in order to alter the situation in South-West Africa. They may integrate their diplomatic posture on this issue but not on others. Similarly more advanced societies will tolerate certain levels of international and regional co-operation, but refuse, in the name of their national interest, to close their options concerning the control and manufacture of nuclear weapons.
To then go on, as does Mr Murphy, and suggest that both Australia and New Zealand, on account of their prosperity, should be drawn closer together by "the general integrative forces" is largely irrelevant. No matter how much our government would wish it to be true, we are not "irrevocably in the camp of the well to do" as Mr Murphy suggests. Nor can we take very seriously the lame view expressed that the decline in tension in the cold war has made non-alignment less relevant. If anything it has opened more alternative for skilful diplomatic, trading, and cultural initiatives to any genuinely independent state with a clear perception of its own self interests.
Correctly enough, the article suggests that military alliances function best where there is a common perception of a common threat. But a military alliance geared to economic and cultural needs, as suggested by Mr Murphy, is a contradiction in terms. Military alliances are either geared to go about the business of killing people effectively or they are nothing.
Concerned with military stability and security alone, they are totally unsuited to promote political and economic change. Why should they? There has been a completely understandable stagnation in NATO, the Warsaw Pact, and SEATO when these groupings have been confronted with the very political or diplomatic initiatives that would make them redundant.
The U.N. is criticised for "being helpless in the face of trouble in Asia". The absence of Communist China from the U.N., combined with a deep American suspicion of the role of that organisation in Vietnam, have left it little choice.
This catalogue of hasty generalisations, ambiguities, and inconsistencies appearing in the article could go on. Hopefully, Mr Murphy will redraft some of his ideas on this complex subject and then contribute to the emerging debate of New Zealand's role in the international community of nations.
Roderic Alley,
There are occasional times when one sits back and wonders all kinds of views about foreign policy in fashion equally naive. This intellectual claustrophobia is intensified by close scrutiny of Mr W. E. Murphy's Salient article last week and Mr Roderic Alley's reply. As somebody whose main interest is in overthrowing the Government, my concern about foreign policy is limited to trying to guess how a genuinely socialist government in New Zealand could survive in a hostile world. We will begin to have some idea about this only when we actually have a socialist government and see what the world is like then.
My interest in other people's ideas of foreign policy therefore is purely destructive—most foreign policies end us up in equally disastrous predicaments, and all rest on the naive assumption that any conceivable New Zealand capitalist government could do something of importance about world problems. But as I want a non-capitalist government, these quandaries I repeat are not mine.
The reason that I am intervening in the Murphy-Alley debate is merely to prevent all the left being associated with the particular version of revamped Mazzini-type Nationalism that Mr Alley and a few other people seem to think is the special properly of the left, Most unhappily, it has been left to Mr
It is because of all this that Mr Murphy's unconscious Marxism in linking internationalism and economic development must be treated less cavalierly than Mr Alley treats them. It is not true that nationalism has disappeared in the developed countries—Mr Murphy never said it had; but there is more internationalism penetrating into the relationships between developed than in underdeveloped countries. This is all one need establish for this part of Mr Murphy's case to be validated. Neither Rumania nor Czechoslovakia have contracted out of COMECON; France has not withdrawn from the EEC. Compare the careers of COMECON, and the EEC—however troubled—with the Ghana-Guinea union, or the utter bankruptcy of pan-Arabism and Mr Murphy's point is made. Even if one looks at the most successful example of Third World internationalism, the Malaysian Federation, this has far more serious and deep-going rifts than either of the two European economic associations, and one of the original partners in the federation, Singapore, has withdrawn. In the West, nationalism is simply reactionary, the ideological defence as in New Zealand, of the most backward sectors of the economy. Only in a very few cases in Asia, is nationalism still anything but the Right's last defence against socialism. This is not to deny nationalism as still powerful: Stalinism, a perverse compound of nationalism and bureaucratic socialism, still hinders the socialist world from unity and prevents it achieving full rationality as a trans-national economic grouping. But nationalism is being countered by a powerful movement in the opposite direction; which is why the 1968 Labour Party Conference's definite espousal of so-called nationalism spells political death for
Where Mr Murphy's arguments break down is in his strangely unargued assumption that since the trend in the West is to association between states and the opposite is true elsewhere, the violence and irrationality of nationalism (never, let us agree, a very empirical, or non-emotional political ideology) can only be countered by force; "if necessary nuclear weapons." Let me admit at this stage that for purely polemical reasons. I prefer apologists for capitalism and the R.S.A. to defend nuclear brinkmanship: it gives me the advantage of being obviously more sane. On the other hand, these people may use the weapons they enthuse about, and they are our rulers, so however politically predictable their nuclear meglomania, one would prefer mental health.
These people think—like the vulgar Marxists, incidentally—of the world as a battlefield between two opposed forces one national, one not, where one must militarily defeat the other. Mr Murphy's battlefield is just slightly more sophisticated than Mao Tse-tung's, and he does not talk about it too much (fully stated, it might sound absurd). But nuclear brinkmanship is the only way of seeing society if one thinks the gulf between rich and poor unbridgeable; if one despairs of international society solving its own problems peacefully. But obviously nationalism as a political stance can best be undercut by exhibiting the overwhelming economic advantages of economic association between affluent and non-affluent states, not by war it is a political and economic, not a
The reason, of course, why people are not always rational about economic matters is that they may be members of social group whose existence might be threatened
Opinions expressed in Salient are not necessarily those of VUWSA.
The student radicals in residence, from
If this issue had been discussed at any other time than the fag-end of an Annual General Meeting, students might have preferred devoting all their energies to the staff salaries issue, ensuring they had universities of international standing, not to a narrow and selfish campaign for minimally higher bursaries. In a year when the Government is economising on university education, it would have been supremely politically realistic, as Education Officer Caroline McGrath very sensibly realised at the beginning of this year to play down our own minor financial claims. It is high time that the student political devotees at this university realised they have no monopoly of political intelligence.
It serves no purpose at this time to press for a bursary increase which is as likely to be as unforthcoming as the last General Wage Order. What we need to do is to save the status of our universities.
We should prepare a case for the boarding allowance to be given to local students, to be presented as soon as it is politically realstic.
General bursary increases will have to be a second priority.
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Sir—Is
Apart from the obvious injurious racial element in his letter, this expression of dist-aste is an inexcusable insult to students who are invited to study in N.Z.
Regardless of what feelings Kelly may have, and considers others to have, advocation of outright segregation is utterly irresponsible.
For a student of three and a half years at Vic. he shows little understanding and appreciation of foreign students as individuals with personalities as varied and diverse as our own. He mistakes the barrier of the English language and culture for arrogance. He shows no conception of the problems that have to be faced by foreign students studying in N.Z. and the tolerance that has to be exercised by them. It is to be conceded that there are some things which both N.Z. and overseas students must put up with in each other; yet the weight is unequally born by the latter. The type of discussion promoted by the letter can do no good whatsoever in cultivating friendly relations between these communities. If we must have discussion let it be constructive!
Sir—I am referring to Mr P. J. Kelly's statement on Indian and Asian students in the Salient, June 25, 1968.
What I gather is that Mr Kelly made two propositions as to why he thinks Indian and Asian students ought to be segregated:—
1 that Indian and Asian students are not able to express themselves well in English.
2 that there is an increase in arrogance among these students.
Being a Malaysian, I have to concede to some extent that I might not be able to converse and write in English as well as a New Zealand, such as Mr Kelly does, Nevertheless, to my mind one should make allowances for this handicap since English is a foreign language to me. Since my arrival in New Zealand I have made many a worthy friend and so far none have any complaints about my English.On the contrary, I am always eager to learn, especially from Mr Kelly how to converse in "first-class" English!
Concerning the arrogance of Indian and Asian students, I must again strees that it seems to me Mr Kelly has not made enough Indian and Asian friends to find out the real truth. It is almost a universal law that a foreigner will try his very best to adopt the way of life of the society he is living in—at least while living in that country. In doing so it is almost certain that he will try to secure as many friends as possible and to win the hearts of the people of that country. If he were arrogant he would get nowhere. However one is not expected to grin at every Tom, Dick and Harry that one meets.
Assuming that Mr Kelly has had some acquaintance with Indian and Asian students and was unlucky enough to be associated with one or two types whom he describes as arrogant, this is still miles from the real picture. One must not fall into the trap of generalising and so attribute to every other Indian and Asian student the same quality. He is not only wrong, unfair and biased but also, I personally think, this is using one's judgement in a most unintelligent manner.
Sir—With respect P. J. Kelly's letter headed "No Comment", I wish to say that I cannot imagine how Mr
Has he ever tried to get to know an Asian or Indian student? Or have his prejudices kept him from enjoying the company of another of different race and culture. Through having lived and worked with a number of such student during the Varsity year and the long vacation, I am convinced they are "a decent mob" and that they play an important and integral part in the student life within the University.
What gives him the right to advocate the segregation of students? Because a person is not a N.Z. citizen it does not mean they are 2nd class. For 3½ years of University study Mr
If he stopped to think, the reason for there being no so called defiance against Asians and Indians, is because they and most (with the exception of P. J.) Kiwi students interact harmon iously in all spheres of study recreation, sport and general living
Mavbe a visit to one of the International Club's activities would be of help to P. J. If not I suggest he join the
Sir—How long must we permit pseudo-George Wallaces to roam unbridled around this university? Certainly there is considerable apathy on the part of the N.Z. Government as regards this situation, as these racialists are actually encouraged to come to this university and partake some learning. With this position one is forced to wonder why governmental apathy should be readily inculcated in the student body which seems quite prepared to tolerate the inclusion of racialists to university sports, their sharing of tables with decent students, both in the library and the cafe, their perpetual chattering in ideologies that in no way resemble democracy. I have attended Victoria for two years and during this time have noticed that there has been little open defiance against these racialists whose arrogance has increased accordingly. The time has now come when every serious-minded student must openly declare his views hitherto held privately as to the utter exclusion or even segregation of the above mentioned racialist students.
Sir—Now and again some little racist plucks up courage, takes posion pen in hand, and treats us to the sort of bilge that Salient printed last week from a Mr. Salient may be acting in the interests of a free press when it prints the rantings of the lunatic fringe, but have the editors considered the distortion of our liberal image that could result if the wryly understated editorial heading "No Comment" were simply taken-up the wrong way by whoever reads Salient in, say, Russia?
No doubt Mr Kelly would hardly be worried, since the Russians—like for that matter most of the world's population—are also given to perpetual chattering in a language that "in no way resembles English".
As a forcigner, who moreover has been known to "chatter" in his own language in (gasp!) public, I can't quite sympathise with Mr Kelly's linguistic fears—did he perhaps have trouble with his reading Knowledge.
As for his racial phobias, I would suggest a psycbiatrist, or perhaps more cheaply:"Go West young man!—you won't have to share tableswith them at the South African universities.
In the last issue of Salient we published a letter under the head of "No Comment". The letter was irrational and bigoted to an extent that it can fairly be called tragic. It has, predictably and thankfully, provoked a targe number of replies. Some are printed here.
It has been explained to me that some foreign students have got the impression that the letter's publication may have implied that I agreed with it. I therefore repeat a statement I made earlier in the year that publication is no stamp of editorial agreement. — editor.
Sir—My first reaction to Mr Kelly's letter was to take it as a vicious joke. Everybody gets attacked and criticised around University so why not Asian student. Besides, it is so blatantly charged with prejudice; the archetypal hate-letter, calculated to provoke the expected indignation and nationalistic furore among the Asians, just for laughs. But I hear he is on the level, and is, indeed, quite self-righteous about the issue. In which case, I will not give him the satisfaction by appearing all nationalistically wound up and yelling for his blood. But rather demolish his claims to any clear thinking.
Anybody, with any humanistic principles would look beyond colour to verify his objections to the presence of Asian students in the University. Mr Kelly tried to graft Government apathy on to the apathy he sees among Asian students therein jumping on the popular bandwagon of anti-government sentiments. Cheers, he is "with it"—how about some support? But in his 3½ year at Varsity, he still has not found out that not all Asian students at University are under Government sponsorship? Even if they are, his primary objection to their presence is not based on their apathy, but rather on colour preiudice. What liberal-minded person will deny another person a chance at higher education, when they apply with the necessarry qualifications in hand? Mr Kelly's rabble-rousing is, therefore, based on a false premise, and his pathological aversion to Asians can only stem from ignorance. He must be incredibly bigoted to object to the using of University facilities by Asian students. Why may certain group of similar "aliens" chatter in French or German, and are said to be "charming", provoking no comment, but why may not an Asian slip back into a more relaxing speech habit, and yet succeed in offending? He betrays a considerable lack of understanding for the basic problems of language communication and enviromantal adjustment. In a strange country, it is natural to seek companionship with people of less frozen aspect and monosyllabic conversation habits.
As a colleague of Mr Kelly I am surprised that he has not approached me for a "serious minded" discussion of his pet hate. Perhaps he prefers to maintain his "pukka sahib" stance, lest he be disarmed by mere commonsense. I regard the letter as an individual, hide bound opinion. His viewpoints are based on uninformed general impressions, and on his vague intimations at klansmanship. Such people base their aversions on petty incidents. They seek no clarification, have no sympathetic insight at all, and are righteous through a twisted sort of logic. They make a mockery of their so-called liberal education at University.
Sir—It is most disturbing to have in our midst, someone holding the views expressed by your correspondent
Surely it is a fundamental right in our New Zealand environment, in general, and in Victoria, in particular, for anybody—whatever colour, race or religion—to attend university, participate in Student activities, share their lives with other students in the library, in the cafe, and outside the university, and even to "perpetually chat in languages which may or mav not in any way resemble English."
It is attitudes such as Kelly's which are the cause of the unrest and wars of our time which could be largely overcome if these attitudes were changed to mutual tolerance and attempted understanding. To this end I would recommend that Kelly;
(a) joins the International Club;
(b) views "The War Game" to see if he can't amend his views to make them, in my opinion, more reasonable.
Sir—I do not wish to be critical of the comments made by
I do not wish to make assumptions as to what his grievances are but perhaps he finds the languages they 'chatter' too disturbing. Surely you do not expect foreigners who were not brought up in an English-speaking community to speak English among themselves. Would it not be more expedient if they were to communicate in their own tongues? It is true that some do "chatter" but this is an individual characteristic and not inherent in the Asian society, just as there are flaws in any society. Again what you termed as "arrogance" depends on individual and not as whole.
Perhaps you would like to hear my comments on this. This does not necessarily reflect the opinions of other Asians other than my own—just as P. J. Kelly's comments did not necessarily reflect any body else other than his own.
I have no complaints of your treatment here as I have been treated fairly and equally on most occasions. I do perceive some prejudice and intolerance
However I do feel that there is a lack of communication between Asians as a whole and New Zealanders and consequently producing a lack of understanding between the two groups. I believe it is the intention of most Asian students in New Zealand not only to study but also to make as many friends as he possibly can during his brief stay here. Each of us when we say farewell to this rich land of yours we will carry with us a mixture of experience and shades of impressions. On the other hand we have behind us the tiny notches we have made in your society. As we come from different social and cultural backgrounds we are new to your ways of life just as you would feel the same if you were visitors in our countries. We are trying to adapt as much as possible to your ways here while at the same time preserving our own identity which is most difficult.
It is impossible for us to change ourselves as we are born with them—our colour, our feature will always remain with time although our ways of life may eventually change.
Perhaps if one of us were to break this barrier of communications we would be able to foster greater international understanding and goodwill. The question is who has the greater initiative—the visitors or the hosts?
Sir—Finally your curious hotchpotch of a newspaper has had some sense. I refer to your courageous printing of one letter by Mr.
I read his letter once, then I read it again. He's right, you know, and not only that but he has expressed his views in the correct way: "permit ... forced ... tolerate ... denend ... segregation ... apathy (twice) ... serious-minded white student"—all of these necessary phrases were used with devastating effect. However there are one or two objections I have about your letter, Paul. The first thing is that you don't go quite far enough. Wogs and chinks, no sorry, Indian and Asian students, are bad enongh to take, but they are almost pleasant compared to one or two other groups.
S.C.M. couples who go around together arm in arm continually, as if to rub one's nose into the claim: "We're Christian and look what we've got!"
Parties at which dances are performed with broken beer-bottles.
People who say they go to parties at which dances are-performed with roken beer-bottles.
People who say they don't go to parties at which dances are performed with broken beer-bottles.
Exec, members who get a kick out of provoking African student at broken beer-bottle parties.
Irish Latin students who write-to Salient about the Wog invasion.
Anyway Paul, I look forward with some interest to your next effort, and trust you have learned by your mistakes.
Sir—As an Asian student of this University, I hope you will not grudge me the space to reply to the published letter by an apparent "white" student denouncing the presence of Asian students nt this varsity. That this vicious letter, so overflowing with malice and choked with racial prejudice, should deserve to be published at all in your student newspaper is a matter of deep regret, as it is obviously to say the least, extremely detrimental to the existing cordial relations between the vast majority of Asian and New Zealand students at this University. What does it matter to the writer at all if we foreign students choose to converse in our native tongues? Is English the only and sole language in the world that All people should speak that disturbs his warped mentality so much? Is colour of the skin so important in this varsity to him that he should go out of his way to advocate that New Zealand become another South Africa? That the writer has conveniently chosen to omit giving one single instance to support his charge of alleged "increased arrogance" an the part of Asian Students speaks, I think, for itsell as to the validity of his statement. If his 'open letter' has served any purpose at all, it has clearly only served to reflect the despicable character of such a person. Finally, to crown his "speech", he has thought it in good order to proclaim to the world that he has "attended Victoria for three and a half years", during which time I suppose he has learnt by heart that Asia and India are "two separate continent." If the student newspaper is the place where he can properly betray his ignorance to everyone, that is all right, I guess. But if Asia and India are reallv two separate continents, as is inferred, then I have learnt a new geographical concept today.
Sir—If Mr Kelly has managed to hold his tongue so still for three and a half years, it would seem that his rather vague, racial letter which appeared in the last issue of Salient lacks sufficient motivation. I would agree with him that the student body is "quite prepared to tolerate in inclusion of Asian and Indian students into university sports ..." etc., though I might dispute his use of tolerance. The fact that overseas students are included unquestioningjy into university activities, and that Mr Kelly in his long experience has not noticed any open definance against these students, surely goes to prove the point that only he and perhap a few others feel that way in clined.
It seems to be that Mr
I am told Mr Kelly is a
Sir—How long must we
(25% Yeats, 75% Wool)
Floods were And I became Mostly as a Thick with p A relief blank My moods4we Heavy or trid and regulated I swam through raging cre We were all a and agree Washed and c From our som Which was sa Fairy tale of
Take my hand love, and I'll hold yours and do you know love that from your pores will pass onto my hands excreted products of twenty thousand of your superb sebaceous glands.
Guitars
Suddenly I have thought: What has happened to Corstorphine? He became ill and disappeared as we left Troppo; I shall ask Ocarina.
Ocarina says he has not seen* Corstorphine since before the Fracas at Aggabug. Others in Corstorphine's wagon, who I asked as I dried myself (after foolishly having chosen the Ant as my means of travel and a sudden wave caused the swimming animal to overturn) are of the opinion that he went out of earshot of Sockerdocka (who had been holding him by the hand) just inside the gate of Aggabug, and has not been heard of (or seen) since. And Sockerdocka too is not here. There was talk of a liaison between them, inappropriate though their combination may seem. Sad news; I am led to this despairing thought: perhaps the 880 have become separated from one another and now tour their surroundings aimlessly in small groups, away from all their people. Perhaps the same will happen to us all, in the end: perhaps we shall continue to break up, after arguments. I can foresee a gloomy future for us all, floating slowly, separated by miles of water, toward the centre of a whirlpool, which eventually engulfs us, so that only our wreckage Will be together.
Now a mist has settled on us, and we no longer see the suns, except palely. I have pulled up all the string I let down—it has taken me two days and we have roped together all our wagons and animals, so that none shall be lost in the continual half light. All are steeped in gloom. My compatriots on this wagon are on the worst of terms; Ruwenzori and Gastrophonic are on the worst terms of all. Their dispute arose concerning the large blue arrows—indicators to the 880 of our path—which they make from cork and release into the waters. Gastrophonic has been cutting the arrows from our miscellaneous cork stocks, and laying the arrows side by side. Ruwenzori then painted the arrows, laid them in another place, and waited for them to dry. It is a peculiarity of this climate that blue paint dries purple; it look us much experimentation to discover that white paint dries blue. Ruwenzori has now been complaining that Gastrophonic is making her task more difficult by insisting on dropping the arrows over the opposite side of this wagon, and on pushing aside the partly blue arrows. Why, I asked Ruwenz, does Gastro drop the arrows over our opposite edge? Because, she answered, Gastrophon holds spite after an argument of last week. What, I asked, was last week's argument about? The same subject, she replied.
To quieten such petty talk, we have been adding to our heritage of song by composing new works. I offered a prize—a clockwork stream, driven by a spring—for he who wrote the best received song, judgement to be made with applause and sand-glass. The man Clodagh, being a minstrel, we excessively interested in the competition. Ocarina ruled
I he warblefeast lasted for six days. I copy here
Cagliostro's was judged the best song (much to the
It was sung by the composer in a lowpitchcd nasal voice.
The next best song was Bwzampulism's. He wrote:
The third song was composed by Andromedia. Bravo!
Pull out and use as appropriate
"The future of the trade union movement lies in the universities"
The Wednesday demonstrations brought students and unionists to Parliament grounds together for the first time in New Zealand history.
The two groups demonstrated together, becase both had interests in common. Students needed worker support for their case for higher bursaries and staff salaries; the workers needed student support for their protest against the Arbitration Court veto on a general wage order.
Both could find common ground in pointing to the breakdown in the current procedures for relating wages, salaries and social security benefits to the cost of living—and in claiming that what was needed was planning. Both were isolated in New Zealand politics—'student' and 'unionist' are the two dirtiest words after 'communist' in the New Zealand vocabulary.
Both were convinced the Government would not do anything for them.
The day before the protest a further issue came up—the Omega base. This provided another reason for no confidence in a Government, a Government this time making New Zealand a target for nuclear attack. This issue also was tacked on to the list of outstanding issues where the Government had failed to act, or blundered.
Then came Wednesday—and press claims of student violence.
What actually happened?
* * *
The eral problem about the demonstration was that its organisation—not its aims, not its strategy, but its organisation—had not been properly thought out.
Not thought out, that is, by anybody. Not the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Not the Police. Not the students. Not the Federation of Labour.
It all started with the Speaker of the House, who gives permission for entry into Parliament Grounds. He bans most demonstrators from using loudhailers in the grounds.
On this occasion he gave permission to the Wellington Trades Council to use a loudhailer for its speakers from 12.30 to 1.20 p.m. The Trades Council meeting was supposed to end at 1.20 p.m. while the official opening of Parliament was at 2.30 p.m. Everybody who went along to the Trades Council meeting was supposed, would you believe, to trundle off home at 1.20 abandoning the demonstration to the Committee on Vietnam and the students, who, as it turned out did not arrive until after 1.20 anyway. Not surprisingly
Before any stuidents arrived, one crucial step had been taken—the "barricades" cutting off the spectators from the steps of Parliament had been brushed aside. Their only replacement was—a row of policemen. Did somebody hope that, between 1.20 and the time the students arrived, there might be time to reconstruct these "defences"? If they did, they were wrong—the time never came. Nobody should ever have thought there would be no crowd outside Parliament at any time after 12.30. But had the "barricades'' stayed up, the police would not have come into direct contact with the demonstrators, and those who were bored and obstreperous for the hour before Parliament opened could have vented their frustration on pieces of wood instead of uniforms.
This left everyone the Trades Council had brought along without anything to do for an hour, and a row of smartly dressed policemen in front of them. It also left the students, when they arrived, with the same situation and a rather greater note of anti-climax, since they had heard no speakers and an unofficial attempt to use the Trades Council loudhailer had ended with police confiscation of the blunt instrument and a warning to the unauthorised user.
The police confiscated the Student Association loudhailer when it arrived from Students Association President
This meant that the only people who could do anything in the circumstances were people who wanted to push the cops around—there was nothing else to do.
This pushing around has been exaggerated—nobody did in fact get hurt—and it is typical of newspaper stories about "violence" but what they mean by this undefined.
At this point the absurdity of the police's action became most obvious, for the loudhail could not even be used to tell people to move back from the Parliamentary steps. Finally
Had the loudhailer been used simply for speeches—any speeches—people would have had something to think about besides the cops in front of them.
What was irrational was to expect a lot of people to march to Parliament to protest against the Government, and then stand quietly doing nothing when they reached the grounds.
The Police made this mistake The Speaker of the House made this mistake. The Students Association made this mistake in not planning for events inside Parliament at all since they were "just organising the march".
It should be clear that a lot of people were to blame, and that the situation created by lack of planning led both students and workers to participate in the "rocking" of the Australian High Commissioner's car.
People were just not prepared for the police being as irrational as they were. What should have been done, at 1.45 instead of 2.30, if speeches had become impossible, was for everyone to have sat down. This would both have been a militant gesture—and it would have placed any responsibility for violence on the police if people had been told to go limp if arrested or manhandled.
It was a mistake not to do this. We will know better next time. But it should be seen for what it is—something we can learn from.
* * *
What remains is a fact—that students and unionists have acted together once, in one of the most widely-based and militant expressions of opposition to the Government so far.
The press failed to do justice to the event principally because reporters simply lack the training to follow such events, but, secondarily, because it is editorial policy to knock any widely based protest movement against present Government actions.
Neither
There are many trade unionists not ready to rush into print on the basis of newspaper versions of events—people who saw what happened themselves.
These are the people who will see that communications between unions and students remain open and that the campaign for a planned incomes policy, for wage-earners, students, university teachers and social security beneficiaries keeps up its momentum.
Students want violence as little as anybody else—and will organise future demonstrations even more carefully to avoid it They would welcome trade union advice and help in doing this.
It is not at this stage useful to rake over the muck made by the national press on the subject of the march and demonstration before Parliament.
Suffice to say that there is no evidence that any one of the 525 students present at Parliament grounds was involved in any incident that was illegal or in any way undesirable.
Every newspaper in New Zealand is guilty of libelling us, and almost every member of the public believes that libel.
We cannot correct it; it is best forgotten. They have smashed our image; we must start building ourselves a new one.
We publish this not in order to prove our broadmindedness to Mr Holyoake, but to prove Mr Holyoake has what might be termed a narrow mind, flattened out.
The statements include a few facts, and demonstrates a number of things about our Prime Minister.
They do not answer some important questions, asked elsewhere in this issue.
They do not effectively refute the fact that the expense of Omega is justified only by its military uses.
Mr Holyoake says less than the technical "briefing" held early last week, ostensibly to provide the likes of Salient with some facts. No news emanated from this gathering of departmental heads.
—ed
The Prime Minister has directed me to forward to you the attached statement which he has just issued, arising out of a special emergency edition of "CANTA" newspaper, together with the texts of two earlier press statements.
You will note that the Prime Minister expressed the hope that full coverage will be given to these statements in student newspapers.
Copies of these statements are being released generally to the press.
Statement by the Prime Minister:
In view of the interest that "CANTA" newspaper has taken in the possibility of the establishment of an Omega navigation station in New Zealand I should like to draw its attention to two press statements I issued on this question on 24 and 26 June respectively.
There are perhaps one or two matters that I might deal with in more specific terms, although I cannot of course attempt to pick up all the points made in the length, though not always well informed, "special emergency edition" or other similar commentaries.
Information on the Omega navigation system is publicly available. It has been described in textbooks (for example "Radio Navigation Systems for Aviation and Maritime Use: A Comparative Study" edited by
The Omega navigation system is not, however, a sophisticated system. It is not designed for use on nuclear ballistic missile submarines. A United States Polaris submarines. A United States Polaris submarine could, of course, use the system, as indeed could any vessel or aircraft, American, Soviet, Chinese Communist or other, that took the trouble to buy the readily available receivers. But Polaris submarines will not depend for their operational effectiveness upon the system. Moreover, the Omega system has no special advantages for military use.
Although some students, for instance those outside Parliament on 26 June, have referred to an "Omega base" the phrase is misleading. The system requires a large antenna, a transmitter and a helix. Operating staff—including maintenance staff—would probably be 8-12 people, only half of these technicans. Moreover, the system is designed in such a way that it can be operated by the host government and by civilian personnel. United States stations are operated by the United States
It is not correct to say that "without New Zealanders apparently being given any say in the matter the United Slates Navy has decided to build an Omega radio station in the Southern Alps". The actual position is quite different. I announced on 27 November last that a United Stales Navy team would explore the feasibility of establishing a station and survey possible sites. I described the system and said that the visit was entirely exploratory. New Zealand officials were fully associated with the survey team in its work. The survey team has completed its investigations but I do not know whether it has recommended to the United States Government that it seek our agreement to a site here Indeed our information was that a decision on this question was unlikely to be taken for some months. If the United States Government does approach us we shall consider the question. Until then, however. there is no question of a decision having been taken and therefore no question of a decision having been taken in secret negotiations. When interest in the question revived, following the publication of an article in the Christchurch "Press" on 14 June, I issued my press statement of 24 June setting out the situation in full. By then grossly inaccurate assertions were being made and I was obliged to make my further statement of 26 June.
Since "CANTA" newspaper has contributed to the publication of inaccurate assertions on this question, I would hope that it would publish this statement and my earlier statements of 24 and 26 June. I would hope there will also be full coverage in other student newspapers before misconceptions spread even further.
I would hope that an attempt will be made to get the facts straight and to see this question in its true light without—if I might say—the somewhat hysterical distortion evident in statements which I have seen.
The Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon.
24 June 1968.
"Before some people get too far out into the twilight world of science fiction and political mumbo-jumb I might recall a few of the basic facts" said the Prime Minister, the Right Hon.
"First, the Omega navigation system is not established to assist in the operations of Polaris submarines. It is designed to provide the first world wide aid to navigation. As such it is a valuable refinement of existing navigation system already well established throughout the world such as Loran and Decca which, however, do not give comparable coverage, particularly in our area.
"Secondly, this is not a classified military project. All civil departments with an interest have geen kept in touch and will continue to be consulted.
"Thirdly, there is no basis for the assertion that the operations of Polaris submarines depend upon the establishment of the Omega navigation system. Polaris submarines have been in operation with the United States Navy for about ten years, and it would be ridiculous to think that a reliable navigation system is only now being investigated.
"Fourthly, Operation "Deep Freeze" is not a military project. It is the name for the United States Antarctic Research Programme. The United States military authorities provide support for the programme, just as our own military authorities support the New Zealand programme. Antarctic research will benefit New Zealand and other countries, and we have therefore long supported it without anyone discovering siniister implications.
"Fifthly, the Government has not yet taken a decision about the establishment of an Omega navigation station because the project is still at the stage of investigation. If me investigation suggests to the United States authorities that they should proceed, they will doubtless approach the Government again and we shall then give it consideration. In doing so, I might say. the Government will not be deterred by the ill informed and emotional reaction we have seen from some in the last day or so and will, as always, be guided by the interests of New Zealand. While further study wil be needed it may be of interest to note that the Civil Aviation Department commented, the Omega system has considerable promise' and 'from the New Zealand point of view, we would strongly support the introduction of a satisfactory radio-navigation system for use by Air NZ, while the Marine Department saw the system removing the need for our own radio beacons, and the Lands and Survey Department suggested the system 'should result in safe navigation for air and sea transport services'. The suggestion that the Government has kept people uninformed about a decision to establish a base is pure fantasy.
"Both these issues have been distorted and thrown out of perspective although I have issued full statements on the Omega system and replied to correspondence on Operation "Deep Freeze". I suggest that before there are any more Luddite marches or hysterical discovery of nuclear bogeys those concerned should take some trouble to get the facts straight."
26 June 1968.
A campaign of lies and distortions, directed by agitators who have relied on their fantastic and warped imaginations for their emotionally loaded "facts", has totally clouded the issue regarding the Omega global radio navigation system.
As a result of the totally unsubstantiated allegations made in Canta, a scries of protests, luckily involving little violence, but causing some damage to property, occurred in the main cities.
Since Canta appears to have played the most important part in disseminating fears of nuclear havoc, it becomes of interest to examine the validity of the allegations in "Special Emergency Edition Vol. 38. No. 9".
From almost the first paragraph of the main article. Canta's facts are wrong.
"However they (nuclear submarines) require constant Radio Communication to accurately establish their position and remain effective tactical weapons", states Canta. This statement is incorrect. Any cursory reference to a publication dealing with Polaris submarines would have established this.
The submarines are guided by Sins (inertial navigation systems), which require only infrequent checking by external aids. There are up to three Sins in a submarine, and they are correlated by a computer constantly checking for drift.
Submarines obtain their initial position fixes (accurate to within several yards) from the U.S. satellite system, and use this for checking the Sins, at intervals of several weeks. Thus in no sense can they be said to depend upon "constant Rado Communication".
It is later stated in Canta that the "outstanding factor of V.L.F. (very low frequency) signals is that they are the only communications system which will effectively penetrate water".
It is correct that the V.L.F. beacon signals, as used in an Omega transmission operating at full strength, will penetrate water to a depth of up to 40 feet. However, before accepting this as conclusive proof of villany, it would be wise to remember the history of the development of the Omega concept.
The prime significance of V.L.F. signals is their characteristic ability to follow the curve of the earth when transmitted over long distances—unlike higher frequency signals which are rapidly dissipated as they travel in approximately straight lines.
The second significance of the signals is the inherent stability of the wave-front, resulting in maintenance of accuracy over long distances. As Omega was developed, scientists found that the improved characteristics became strengthened as the frequency was lowered; and this is the reason for Omega using V.L.F.
At this point the myth of "involvement" should be dispelled. The New Zealand government has entered into no committment to build, or have built, an Omega station. The nearest we have come to any agreement is in that made public on November 29, 1967—which was to allow a small team of U.S. officials to survey for possible sites. According to the Secretary of External Affairs Department, Mr Canta called "plans (which) were almost complete".
In the paragraph referred to above, a further question is posed: "why should the project be carried out by the United States Navy if it is for the benefit of non-military navigation?"
The sinister implications in the questions are dispelled, unfortunately for Canta, if one considers U.S. Government regulations. "Code ten" of the regulations demarcating areas of jurisdiction prescribes that the Department of Defence has responsibility "for the design and development of navibation systems".
"U.S. Code fourteen" authorises the U.S. Coast Guard—a civilian agency under the Office of Transportation—to operate navigation systems. It is as simple as that.
Canta claims that before Omega can be used by a ship, a position within seven miles must be known. The article then makes the ludicrous assertion in bold type, that:
"To achieve seven mile accuracy is beyond the precision of ordinary sextant and nautical calendar methods, therefore the system is useless for merchant ships." Any reference to a competent mariner would have established that the ordinary accepted accuracy of a sextant sight is less than half the figure stated so categorically as being "beyond the precision".
The same paragraph then refers to shipborne equipment for Omega use as being "of prohibitive cost". Reference to commercial catalogues would have informed Canta that Omega receiver costs range from $1200 to $30,000. $1200 is well below the price of most radar sets.
The statement that "the extra precision of Omega is necesary only to guide missiles", is based on litle more than inaccurate supposition. 'The extra precision" that Canta considers so suspicious is about 200 yards, using the most sophisticated equipment—but the satellite system gives position fixes to within a few yards only. This is, of course, the system used for establishing and checking the Sins in nuclear submarines and other units of the U.S. and some allied navys.
The reason it is not suitable for peaceful purposes is well known: the sophistication and expense of the required apparatus is beyond the abilities of most commercial and private carriers. Omega is an economically feasible system for both ships and aircraft It is, in fact, so suitable that the U.S. Federal Aviation Agency, which controls safety regulations in civil flying in the U.S.A., was reported, three years ago, to be considering making the use of the Omega receivers compulsory in civil aircraft.
Canta also suggests that another reason for the superfluity of Omega is the present Loran A network. It should be well known that there are already 83 Loran stations in operation, covering 15% of the globe. Even if Loran stations were established in the South Pacific, there would still remain vast gaps not covered by the system.
At an international pilots symposium, held at Rotterdam in 1965, the cost of an Omega system to provide world-wide coverage was estimated at being about $100 million. This is considerably less than that required to give full world coverage (as far as possible) using other navigational aids of similar accuracy. The symposium also commented on the fact that aircraft at present flying out of Hawaii, towards New Zealand, were unale to give accurate position fixes after about two or three hours flying time. The need for Omega was fully substantiated.
If there were a case for a potential enemy bombing Omega stations, and there is not, there is certainly no reason to assume that Christchurch would also suffer. Yet Canta seeks to frighten readers with maps, containing slanted information regarding likely deaths from bombing, that show Christchurch as the centre of destruction.
It has earlier been established that Polaris sumarincs do not need to use Omega. Omega does not give the accuracy attainable by other methods, already in use. There is certainly no point in including Omega bases in a pre-emptive strike against the U.S.A. by a possible enemy. The Polaris deterrent would not be in the least affected.
Purely as a matter of interest, nuclear missile strikes are one of the most inefficient methods of removing Omega-type stations. With aerials able to withstand the high winds of the Southern Alps, and being situated in a small valley (a necessary characteristic of an Omega transmitter) the accuracy of aim of a missile would indeed have to be great. As Mr Laking commented, "two blokes and a blonde" would seem to be the best method in this case! But then, as we have seen, why destroy Omega? To do this would certainly not aid the aggressor, or save him from any retaliation.
Reasons advanced by Canta for the bombing of Christchurch airport are even more tenuous. U.S. military and naval transport aircraft fly out of most airports in the Western world—no-one would suggest that these are a threat to a potential enemy. What does pose the threat is a base containing offensive and defensive aircraft and their support and maintenance teams; but none have been observed at Christchurch.
The reactions of some scientists may have seemed surprising, until it is remembered that most were using information which had been presented to them in such a way that only one conclusion was possible. Another "expert source" is actually a technician, while yet another source has been noted for his general readiness to believe without critical examination any allegations which seem to be likely to embarrass the New Zealand and U.S. governments.
Looking back at the way in which the "Omega scare" has developed, it can be seen that the damage has already been done. Scare headlines, irresponsible journalism, and blatant distortion of the truth, have led the various University Students' Associations into invidious positions. The unwillingness to check facts, or to act in a manner commensurate with their power to make trouble, ensures that much of the blame must fall upon the editors of Canta, and on the non-student agitators who deliberately presented an unbalanced picture of nuclear horror in an attempt to persuade students to protest.
It would be somewhat more fitting if those who, by their unparalleled immaturity and deceit, helped to lead student, opinion into this position, were forced to pay the costs incurred. The costs, it should be remembered, will be borne not only by those who have to pay fines for minor disturbances, but by those who appeal in the future for aid from the government and people of the country. This is the damage that matters.
Omega is basically a navigation system. A craft receives signals from a pair of transmitting stations and by comparing the times at which the signals arrive, it is able to find the difference between the distances to the two stations from the craft.
By doing this with two pairs of stations, any craft can find its position to within one mile by day, or two miles by night. (These are the accuracies claimed by the U.S. Navy).
Several navigation systems of this type already exist, such as Loran, DECCA and the Transit satellite system. The satellite system, which is now operational, is more accurate than Omega. Fixes however are not available on demand, but only every hour or so when a satellite passes.
The unique advantage of the Omega system is that it is a Very Low Frequency (VLF) system, and VLF radio waves can penetrate 50-100 feet under water. This means that Polaris submarines can check their position by means of Omega without breaking the surface and being exposed to Radar. This is the reason for the concern over the establishment of an Omega base in New Zealand.
Government officials claim that Polaris submarines do not need Omega because they have inertial guidance systems which do not need to pick up any external signals. Commercially available inertial navigation systems are so poor that they could benefit from an Omega check every hour, and it is likely that military systems are so much better that they do not need a check every few days, but the actual accuracies are classified.
The Northrop Company, which has so far won the main Navy contracts for this system. is installing several million dollars worth of Omega equipment in Polaris submarines. as well as several hundred sets in the U.S Navy aircraft.
The accuracy obtainable with Omega depends largely on the cost of the receiving installation. The military installations, which contain multiple receivers linked to computers, can be more accurate than the 1 mile quoted, whereas the simple receivers in the several thousand dollar class are liable to be inaccurate by several miles, and what is more, they take several minutes to get a fix, during which time a commercial jet aircraft will fly 30 odd miles. (For any fix to be meaningful to one mile in a jet aircraft, it must be taken in a time of six seconds, the period the jet takes to go one mile.) The commercial use of the Omega system would thus appear to be limited.
Omega is a purely passive system as far as the craft finding its position is concerned. Therefore in theory anyone with reasonable technical competence can use it. However, if the need arises the US can alter the characteristics of the system so that those not in the know cannot use it. This can be done using the master control station of the system, the American Government station WWVL. in various subtle ways, such as changing sequencing of the station or the time lags between stations, which even the operators of the station are not likely to notice. The operators of the station do not actually control it. it is always automatically locked to received signals. Even the possibility of such changes would presumably deter any powers which the US regards as unfriendly from using the system militarily.
Overall, the Omega system appears to be a sophisticated system which at present is primarily military. To talk only of Polaris submarines could well be misleading however. NZ is not in a position that an Omega base here would be a threat to Russia, and even China is a long way away (rather further than the Chinaphobes seem to think).
The sort of use which our Omega base is likely to be put to in the immediate future. if it is established, is controlling the bombardment of Vietnam by American ships and planes.
with odd names,
silently
drug-beat
aked feet
sea-sway.
the faster
it crawls
away.
Mazinta wrote:
I thought I saw
a pussy cat.
Oh what it was!
Oh fancy that!
We have found that the man Clodagh is nowhere to be found. We fear that he may be lost under water; perhaps he was pining for his native territory and one day in a dream stepped from the side of Ottoman's wagon into the mist that surrounds us; or perhaps he was kidnapped while all the rest of us slept (except for those who. like Gerontophilia, never sleep); or perhaps, in a display of pique at being excluded from the song contest, he departed without telling us so; or perhaps he intended to find the essential secret of our people, but despaired of his quest, not realizing that the secret is locked in an inaccessible place; or perhaps he found our secret and made off, bearing it in his pocket. Ottoman said that Clodagh was a peculiar man, giving to singing mournful songs in the Shajat language, the words too fast for Otto to understand. Perhaps, if we are as unlucky as Ocarina fears, he has taken our Device and our Seal (which may, however, be only mislaid).
I was woken last night (or perhaps it was day; in this mist one cannot tell) by a sudden rattling of my old orange umbrella, which knocked violently against my sky blue conductor-of-lightning which hangs next to it on the wall above my cushion. I inspected my surroundings and found that the rope which had connected this wagon to Cagliostro's and whose end was tied to the switch of my umbrella (the most convenient point when I tied ourselves together) was causing the umbrella to vibrate loudly against the conductor-of-lightning (as well as of incantations), thus arousing me from sleep. As I sat myself up and pulled my eyes open, I saw the umbrella leave the wall and push the rope through the doorway. By this strange action, Ruwenzori and Mazinta were woken and my orange umbrella lost forever. Alas! Woe! Perfidy! Somewhat lugubriously, I resumed my sleep.
The sky became somewhat lighter, and we began our day. According to my custom, Ruwenzori climbed to the top of the tree and surveyed the environs. Immediately she noticed that she was at a greater distance from water than she usually was at this time of (what we call) morning. She called to me to look at our wheels. I did, and discovered that I could see the wheel for the first time since collecting the bong bladders. This is a sign! It says that we are now travelling in heavier and therefore deeper water.
We must be sinking. Why else should I lie on a wall?
The mist has cleared a little and my question is answered. We are ensnared in a treetop. As I lay on the wall I saw a branch grow across my field of vision. I recall Rigmarole's song in the recent competition:
Three men are hoeing
in my field of vision.
I hope they do not kill
the creeper I have planted there.
Excellent! (But it won no prize.) So I put my hand on the branch and rubbed downward till I arrived at the water level, where I discovered many more branches. We are not sinking, but rising. This fast-growing underwater birch tree will push us into the sky. If a cloud knocks us we shall have a nasty fall. Therefore as soon as the treetrunk appears we shall chop down the tree and continue on our way. The presence of this tree encouraged my thoughts—I have long known that if we floated far enough downhill we must eventually reach the ground. This tree shows us that we are, at the most, a few miles from Earth.
I was about to make public this good news by the usual means of sending a spider with a message along the rope—but the rope is gone and we are lost. Even though the mist has cleared we cannot see any other wagon (Perhaps they have all sunk!)—we are doomed'. Terror! Panic! and Fearfulness! All we have to console ourselves is half the animals and 1728 bong bladders. But I see mirrored in the water that less branches are emerging; soon the trunk will come into view, and when that happens, Ruwenzori can climb down the tree with an axe, chop, and let us gently down into the rivulet, on which we shall float to our destination.
All that I foresaw has been carried out, except that Ruwenzori choped down the wrong part of the tree, and the wagon overturned as the treetop fell into the water. Thus, my script has become inverted.
By dint of having Ruwenzori throw licorice on the water ahead of us, we have induced the animals to swim vigorously; they draw us behind them by their efforts. The water flows past our feet, through the top door (which has become the bottom door). I have spent all morning unfastening the bottom door (which is now the top door). When at last I finally opened the door, its hinges stiff because of water, there was not a spot of light. My morning must have been midnight, or the day have gone out.
I want to briefly extol on three films (from important directors) that have received an unconcerned amount of praise, detached interest, in the Film Quarterly medium qualifying as "short notices".
Jack Clayton's Our Mother's House and Robert Mulligan's Up The Down Staircase are latest works, but since Cul-de-Sac (1964), Roman Polanski has made The Fearless Vampire Killers, and Rosemary's Baby (both due here soon). Young Polanski has had the courage to abandon the healthy intellectualist shores of Poland (a demi-cinematic paradise now) after graduating from a school where his distinct style (Two Men and a Wardrobe, nife in the Water) startled the world, and left for England to make the clinically-important Repulsion, and now, the blackest bravura comedy, Cul-de-Sac (N.Z.F.S.)
It is a brilliant, even "dotty-surrealistic" comedy, combining elements of Ionesco, Pinter,
Two gangsters (
On the island is the retired neurotic Donald Pleasence, prancing around in his wife's (
Francoise is carrying on with a youth from a neighbouring island. Some friends arrive, and when Stander plays the "perfect Hollywood butler" the dialogue sings.
"Well, I think, I'll make an omelet." "Can't I help you?" "Two to make an omelet; Are you joking?" The farce persists, recalling especially the Marx Bros and the best of
The friend's small son runs around the castle digging into Alby's grave, hitting hens, scratching records, kicking people and firing a double-barrel shot gun at the St. Cuthbert stain-glass window. They are finally humiliated by Pleasance and Co., beyond endurance and are sent whimpering away.
Afterward, Dorleac places newsprint between Slander's toes, and lights it. He is so enraged he beats her with a rope and smashes into Pleasence, breaking his glasses. He attempts to retrieve a tommy gun from his car and Pleasence shoots him repeatedly. Spitting blood, he fires at his car, and blows it up. It is a curiously chilling and ironic scene. Dorleac is rescued by one of the friends, and Pleasence is left running through the water, and quietly sobbing, sitting on a rock in the middle of the ocean.
Pleasance is remarkable, and quite mad, yet articulate—it's a shimmering spasm of a performance.
Pumpkin Eater as one of the finest works to emerge from a British studio ever, and said: "One can only hope (if without immense confidence) that the miracle will happen for a second time with Our Mother's House. But even if it doesn't, it will surely happen again at some stage in Jack Clayton's future career. Talent like his, once matured, is bound to go on reassurting itself."
I have met so many people who said that this film was disappointing. They hated kids, especially that clean gooey-spoken British child; they thought it "fell down" when adults (
Clayton has always been a technical master. His films are precise, elliptical, straight forward and deeply satisfying. There were some who thought The Innocents was too loosely based on James' Turn of the Screw (The Pumpkin Eater too literal (for Pinters superb script), and his confusing Resnais influence. Like McVay, I consider The Pumpkin Eater a fine complex and masterly film.
Our Mothers House (M.G.M.) is corruption, spiritual mismanagement, innocence reversed, a film where lighting (impeccable Persona and Laughton's Night Of The Hunter.
Six children witness the death of their mother in an old house. They bury her in the garden and in the tabernacle, or shrine (an old shed, complete with mother's extra-hair and mirror compactum) they enact their powerful "mother-time" through Diana (Pumpkin, but wait until you see her in Finney's Charlie Bubbles!) provokes Charlie.
There's a noisy party and Diana finds him in bed with a whore. He arrives home drunk late one night and the children are in the dark, seated by the fireside. He begins to rave about their St. Violet Hook (mother) who, as a vicar's daughter, "couldn't get enough of it", and how they are all bastards. He flings a cameo of her into the fire. Diana rushes forward and beats him to death with a poker. The children, crying, leave soon after, with their budgie, for where?
As in The Innocents (Miss Franklin's first movie), Pumpkin, and Room at the Top, it has been proven that Clayton's adept handling of children has not been rivalled by anyone. Its bewildering atmosphere is tender, the wideeyed children going about their individual tasks. Because little Gerty has allowed a foreigner to give her a ride on his motor bike, "Mother says her hair must be cut off, or no Mother's comb." The eldest boy horrifyingly does this, with the child's screams intensifying, and distorted lens providing the most moving parts of the film.
While Robert Mulligan's sober, delightful, Up The Down Staircase (Warners-Seven Arts) went one week in Wellington, the similar eternal narcissistic Look at Lice, To Sewer ... , still continues to scrape even lower social strata to keep it in business.
Made before the other, it is gently unassuming and as competent as any other Mulligan films—whimsy as To Kill A Mockingbird, moving and unsentimental as Baby The Rain Must Fall, and as unsure-of-itself-but-take-me-as-I-am Inside Daisy Clover. It is restrained in its fresh treatment of faces, real faces in a real New York School, the claustrophobia of the corridors and the hectic devotion you must have to be a teacher.
Sandy Dennis' Sylvia Barrett, is a perfect realisation of novelist Mad, and referred to in the best of unwholesome American reviews.
Her method style, nervousness, stuttering, at times unable to express her words clearly against the screaming class, gives the film its true style. It catches the class off-guard time and time, particularly the students who's lives suddenly seem to depend on her words and how she expresses them.
The bad boy (a too handsome
Bells and buzzers are heard continuously at
It is a most natural and entertaining little (just over two hours!) film, and I am in debt, and say thank you, to Warners for giving Wellington its first NZ release, regardless of the uncontrollable nature of that black Cod's eternal coming, preventing the release of Accident (if ever), Camelot, Charge of the Light Brigade, and here we go again for '69 with Guess who's coming to Dinner? You should be able to.
The second term concert of the VUW Folk Club, held on May 30 in the Memorial Theatre, proved to be a great success. The Club decided to feature talent solely from the Vic. Club, whereas previous concerts have relied on better-known and distinguished performers. However, the Club's decision did not appear to lower the usual high standards of its concerts—in fact, the standard was the highest yet.
Many people were surprised to see such talent within the Club. The show was compered by
The stage set—a white fishnet centred by a pillar, was simple but effective. Atmosphere was enhanced by creative spontaneous lighting directed by
Highlights of the show included
The Club will hold another concert on September 12, which will Feature more Vic talent and a special surprise celebrity. If this last concert was anything to judge by, September 12 should prove a highly entertaining evening.
The strong points of the International Concert this year were dancing and costuming. A spontaneous solo on a Laotian instrument of bamboo pipes, followed later in the programme by the performance of two Indian students on drums and sitah were outstanding features received with enthusiasm.
Of the round-the-world folk-singing, the duo who sang a French version of Peter, Paul and Mary's "If I Were Free" and "That's what you get for loving me" deserve special mention for their good singing, professional guitar-work and smooth French. Other groups and soloists varied widely in their confidence and standard of presentation.
Friday night's audience was good-sized and sympathetic, if a little too easily amused at the "forgetfulness" of one or two dancers in the group items. But these slips ware too slight to detract from the overall impression of the dancing, which was expressive, graceful and well-rehearsed.
The original compere
The Ugupu Bird. Translated by
Poland has been mainly known in the West for its film industry since the Communists came to power after the war. Recently, however, more and more Polish writers are being translated into English. Last year Penguin published an anthology, Polish Writing Today, and this year Selected Poems by
The anthology doesn't contain anything by Ferdydurke and Pornographia, as he no longer lives in Poland. Many of the included authors do display, however, some familiarity with and influence of his peculiar ironic wit and perception. Gombrowicz is "apolitical" in the sense that he was not subjected to indignities of philistine Stalinism. He prefigured the movement in East European literature after the "thaw" towards apolitical satire, even cynicism.
Now that the bankruptcy of Stalinism has been revealed, it is still difficult to assess how much freedom is assured. In 1966 two young Poles,
Another writer not included in the Penguin anthology is The Elephant, and a play, Tango, just out in the new Cape Editions paperback series. Tango was performed by the Marat/Sade etc.) in 1966. A new volume of short stories, The Ugupu Bird, has also just appeared.
Included in this volume are a dozen very short stories, some no more than sketches resembling Brecht's political and moral cautionary fables, and five longer stories.
In the other short-short stories Mrozek pursues surealist fantasy: an encounter with a three-arm man; a boy who becomes an infant prodigy through hefty blows from his
These little stories are wholely enjoyable if at times they appear too flip. The longer stories are even more rewarding. The title story is a weird account of nature's balance which, it seems, is dependent on man's two main preoccupations, sex and booze. The droppings of the Ugupu bird (oz. to one pint of water) can be made into alcohol. The political moral of the mutual interdependence and non-interference of nature and man's meddling should not escape the reader.
Of the longer stories the most interesting is "Ad Astra" which relates the bizarre happenings when invaders from outer space takes the form of creative geniuses who rapidly usurp the existing humans and their weaknesses in all cultural activities. Their novels are perfect and for the first time everyone wants to read books. The same applies to the theatre, films and music. In a vain attempt to prevent their extinction, the rejected artists band together to confront their united enemy, only to find that their differences cannot be overcome, even though it means their end.
Mrozek is an entertaining and simple writer (his tone is presented well by the translator,
The Drama Club's current production is Max Frisch's The Fire Raisers. Frisch is a Swiss dramatist writing in German, who won international acclaim almost simultaneously with his compatriot
Basically The Fire Raisers is about human beings—ordinary people living ordinary lives; and about fire raisers—people who burn down ordinary houses and ordinary cities. Whether it is also about Communist "coups", Vietcong "insurgencies", Nazi "putsches", or pyromaniacs is arguable. But to impose any or all of these situations in a production of the play would be totally wrong.
The only certain things are that
The Wellington art coterie did not distinguish itself last week when visiting American critic Clement Greenberg spoke at a "discussion" on art. Snobbish cultist attitudes predominated in reaction to some flippant comments and failed to stimulate Mr Greenberg into giving us an insight to his special and intimate knowledge of the American art scene, especially that centred in New York. Although he said he felt "embarrassed" as a kind of roving consultant for the world outside America, I felt that more could have been said in a less apologetic surrounding.
A theme did emerge during the evening's all-too-short discussion was that the major problem of criticism in the visual arts, as indeed in most of the arts, was not subjectivity but objectivity. A competent critic must impart his understanding; a bad one is not necessarily a bad judge, in terms of his own honesty, he is only bad at explaining his understanding. There is no special criteria for criticism. Experience is the only basis, no matter how elusive and enigmatic the expression of that experience may be. A critic must not possess the power, nor even assume that he has power, to influence the continuing development of art.
Mr Greenberg spoke strongly against the momentary success of certain artists, although never denying their right to exist or be successful. Of contemporary modern art, especially that of Pop, Op or Minimal, he was dismissive. The conflict between successful and genuine art is its relation to prevailing tastes. Art which is concessional must inevitably fade into obscurity. That which challenges predominant taste, that which is resistant or inexplicable in conventional terms, is the art which is permanent and truly revolutionary.
Clement Greenberg's brief discussion of the contemporary art scene pointed to the inevitable limitations to which art in New Zealand is subjected. Though we may strive to create a significant art scene our aspirations must be necessarily modest.
For, as Mr Greenberg emphasised, all great art is produced and is intimately connected with a major art centre: Paris for the last generation, New York today. Such a centre provides the pressure and stimulation of the most ambitious artists of the day.
It offers the opportunity to see the actual creations of the contemporary movement, as compared to the crude reproductions available elsewhere. And so New Zealanders rarely get a chance to view great works of art. Consequentially all our important artists must seek inspiration overseas—an unforunate situation to which no satisfactory solution seems possible.
By beating Marist 13-6 last Saturday, University have continued on their winning way in recent weeks. Now in second position, one point behind Petone whom they beat 15-6 three weeks ago, the present team has an excellent chance of winning the cup for the first time since Varsity were joint champions in 1964.
Plagued by injuries to key players,
The inclusion of former All Black
But it is the forwards who have improved most admirably, completely dominating the heavy experienced Petone pack in their recent encounter. Forwards to shine this season have been lock
Record so far this season: Played 9. won lost 1, drew 1. points for 157, against 89, championship points 15.
More than 50 children are benefiting from classes conducted by Victoria University students in connection with the University gymnasium.
The children come from the Home of Compassion, two local schools, broken homes and emigrating families.
The classes are mainly recreational. Children play ball games, slide on the ski ramp, do simple gymnastics, balancing and play on the trampoline.
The classes began last year after meetings with the Executive, University Staff, the Student Councillor, Dr Taylor and the Psychology department.
There was a need for students to see the practical side of education, psychology and sociology. They also felt it was a chance to contribute to the community.
Students observe different stages of child development, and put their educational and physical skills into practice.
Parties come to the gym three times a week.
Classes at University enable children to get away from their homes and to make new friends.
Mr
Twenty-five students help with the children. A meeting is held every Friday lunch-time in the gym. Problems are discussed and expert advice is given.
Any student who is very keen to help in the work is welcome.
For Publication
I see I'm being got at anonymously and obliquely by your freedom fighter for student rights—Frontpage of Salient on His open day, What a nuisance!
If dear Douglas had bothered to come to the meetings on student power he would have heard me attack the smug, complacent and bigoted attitude of current student politicians. These student politicians. Mr White is—are more worried about their public image, about the public image of their students, than in representing students, pressing for a greater say in university administration by students, full control of student facilities by students, increasing bursaries, making changes in the university and educational system.
Mr White is part of the establishment, He can't represent students properly when he does things like:
... agree that the meetings of the Student Participation Committee should be in "committee", that is, secret.
... agree that his executive should not see the books of the student caterer.
... agree that NZUSA should not, at this stage, press for higher bursaries.
Mr White wants to hush things up, keep things quiet, so (of course) he can keep control. Has changed occurred when things have been quiet? When there hasn't been a chance for full discussion of the issues? When layabouts such as Mr White are doing the "leading"?
Nothing will come out of the Committee on Student Participation in the University, other than perhaps another committee, to be used by the university as a fob for keeping things quiet. And why? Because Mr White and his crew, representing students mind you, haven't the guts, the confindence, or the knowledge to suggest real change in the system, to really voice the real feelings or students. These people are playing a game, They don't really know what student power is really about. They don't know the university administration is running scared, that students could get substantial changes in the system.
But what are students generally going to do about this? Probably nothing, until things get so bad they'll kick Mr White and his politician, career-minded colleagues where they deserve.
Bill—hope you can publish this in full, possibly photocopy it. Luv, A.T.
Sir—Amidst the atmosphere of a game, with those ever-present adolescent boobies who swear at the cops and shout at onlookers (to some workers on a building site: "Scabs", "Blacklegs!", "Why aren't you on strike?"), and the confusion of purpose, the flaunting of in-group symbols, chanted slogans, self-important march "officials", giggling students enjoying the novelty of holding up traffic, the plain insincerity of so much of it—there was at least, for some of us I think, a small infusion of dignity. Maybe the march accomplished nothing (could not Kirk have spoken to us, rather than attend the opening of Parliament to hear what Her Majesty's Government was doing in South-East Asia.?)—may be a sense of worker-student identity was achieved ("wot are 'ave they got that red flag up then for? Down with Socialism! Out commos!").
And it was worth it really. Dignity a precious thing—to a student, almost as much as to a man who is unemployed.
Sir—The painted steel coat-hanging pegs in the men's cloakroom of the Union Building are extremely dangerous in my opinion, and steps should be taken immediately to make them less dangerous. The light-coloured paint on them blends with the surrounding lighting, making them virtually invisible.
On two occasions in the last eight months. I have bumped my head on these projecting spikes, and my eyesight is normal. Persons of less than normal eyesight are placed in a most hazardous position, and it is only a matter of time before someone will lose an eye or otherwise seriously injure himself.
The danger could easily be lessed by the use of coloured paint, or by the placing of some kind of contrasting rubber buffer on these metal projections, Yours Faithfully,
Sir—I was very pleased to have the opportunity of responding to the invitation extended to the Public to visit the University.
I deemed it a great privilege to be allowed to 'sit in' at some of the Lectures, which were for me most interesting and instructive.
I was, however, concerned for both the Lecturers and Students, because of the numerous extraneous interferences they had to suffer during the various lectures, but perhaps it was myself only that was over sensitive and that neither the Lecturers or Students were in any way perturbed.
I venture to address this letter to yourself in response to your invitation in your magazine "Salient" and take the liberty to refer to one aspect of life at the University. I refer to the Forum held on the Campus.
Apparently a number of the students took the opportunity to speak on the topic "Freedom" referred to on the front page of the magazine. It is well known that the trend among the youth, not only it the Wellington University, but throughout the world, they have a chip on their shoulders, due very largely to their failure to face up to the reality of life. They fail to understand, or refuse to understand, the meaning of their existence, and resort to behaviour, mannerisms and expressions of a cynical nature altogether Non-conformist to accepted practices in orthodox civilised society. This is done. doubtless, in order to express their frustration, or as I prefer to call it, their inability to express upon others their own personality and their immature intellectual development.
They fall back on seepticism and cynicism, and what, to my mind, is worse, blasphemous expressions.
I would like to add to the quotation shown in the contribution by
I hope I may be forgiven for being forthright, but I do so, as one who neglected the opportunity extended to me, as a Child, to be taught, and have had to learn the hard way through experience.
Recently the International Affairs Committee has undertaken several projects, which I will outline If anybody is interested in helping at providing information, please leave a note for me in the Exec. Work Room.
The NZUSA Treasurer,
Two very good, factual booklets on Rhodesia (40pp., 10c) and Vietnam (100pp, 15c) are on sale in the Stud. Ass. Office. These are published by the Research and Information Commission of the International Student Conference, of which NZUSA is a member. They are well worth buying.
The National youth Council has asked us to investigate the extent to which overseas students in NZ become involved in community activties, A questionnaire has been prepared and will be sent to overseas students at Victoria.
WUS aims to help improve university standards throughout the world. Basically it collects money in NZ and sends it through its HQ's in Geneva to Universities in underdeveloped countries. Although it is very active at Otago and Canterbury, here it has relied on the vagaries of the International Affairs Officers'. Unfortunately attempts to get it set up as a separate body are meeting with a singular lack of success.
Unless a few more people show some enthusiasm it is likely to be as big a crap-out in the future as it has in the past at Victoria.
One of NZUSA's policies is to help the new South Pacific University in Fiji.
Letters are being sent to it to ask what help we can give and to the Australian universities and the University of New Guinea to see what liaison they have had.
These will be formulated at the next International Affairs Committee meeting in 3 or 4 weeks time. If you want to have a say in the Associations policies, you are very welcome to attend. If you do not you cannot expect to have your views represented. Keep an eye on the Exec. Noticeboard for the date of the next meeting.
(Witcombe & Caldwell)
Half-way along Willis St.
Long-standing connection with University sport. Every one of Vic's 24 sports catered for.
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Ralph Wilkins
Corner Manners and Farish Streets
For Flowers ...
5 Bowen Street
Tal. 40-797
(After Hours 44-068)
Members Wellington Stock Exchange
National Mutual Centre
Featherston Street
Tel. 70-169
New Hairdressing Salon
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47 Farish Street and 23 Manners Street
For All Student Styles
Private Tuition Daily
Beginners only every Monday, 7—10.30 p.m.
Admission 50c
58 Lower Cuba Street
Telephone 45-818
The "Seven Seas Bar"
Best In New Zealand
• Nearest to University.
• Modern, comfortable surroundings.
• Cool, bright, fresh beer on tap always.
• Food available from our "Food Bar", 11.45 a.m. to 2.30 p.m.
• Mixed drinking—all facilities.
Entrees, Cold Buffet, Vegetables, Hot Pies
Special Concessions and Low Premiums For Life Insurance
Contact Student Association Office.
90 Courtenay Place
S.D.O.N.Z.
Optician
(Opposite St. James Theatre)
Telephone 55-009 For An Appointment
Reginald Collins Ltd.
Wholesale wine and spirit people. Vintners to the Students' Association. Carry stocks of all brands of ale, spirits, table wine (from 55c), sherry in flagons ($1.60) or quart bottles.
Free delivery—Cellars located at No. 3 Ballance Street
(Customhouse Quay end)
by
Director:
Design:
Cast:
Dinner 6.45 p.m. - Show 8.15 p.m.
Reservations Tel. 55-739
Phone 26-068
(M. G. & K. G. Parkinson)
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Choice, Tender 1St Grade Meat and Smallgoods
Ham - Bacon & Poultry Supplies
How Government Works In New Zealand—Scientific Political Science, Lesson is If you're in business, and want to change the Government's policy, you've got one Really Big Threat—if you don't do what I want I'll go bankrupt. This is what the Northern Steamship Company was doing last week, and you could just see the Government shivering in its shoes—in Sid Holland's time the Northern Steamship Company tried this on and won hands down. Moral? If you must go into business, never make a profit—you have much more political pull if you live on the verge of bankruptcy and blame your failure to make a profit on the Public Service. Then if the Government doesn't help you it will have sold out private enterprise (if it's National) or full employment (if it's Labour). There's nothing like being bankrupt to give you a political future in New Zealand.
* * *
What I really liked about this weeks Peoples Voice — the -Communist Party weekly, for the politically unsophisticated—was seeing
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"We Are normal—but we have our quirks". Four girls, boasting of their alleged "bourgeois decadence" rang up this office shortly before we went to Press and demanded free advertising in the official organ of Stud Ass. Naturally it came to this column whose writer is SalientS'S only professional martyr (or, if you prefer, Salient'S only leftist). Anyway, those who prefer their normality with quirks for $4.80 a week can leave a note in Salient room saying they'll share a flat. Notes should be addressed "Decadence". Salient.
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I dream I saw
Alive as you or me
"Toby", I said "you're ten years dead"
"I never died" said he.
But standing there as large as life
And scowling with his eyes
The spirit that they could not kill
Goes onto compromise.
* * *
Is Alister Taylor a certified master dry cleaner—never say dyer?
And an echo arose from that suicides grave?
A certified master dry cleaner—as the Bard says.
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Anybody'd think the poor boy was being got at.
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Toby Hill was seen recently in Wellington wearing a Neville Chamberlain-type bowler hat.
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Owen Gager has a billy-goat in his back garden.
The ventilation system in
This was revealed recently in a discussion between
He said that "the causes of the most recent discomfort in the library was the unauthorized turning of thermostats to over 90 degrees F. at both ends of the library".
"This has since been readjusted to 65 to 70 degrees," he said.
"Floor nine is subject to hot air rising from the other floors by the stair well. The most effective remedy (the installation of an extractor) is against fire regulations. However, adjustable slats have recently been fitted at each end of the corridor to allow fresh air to enter."
"The main problem with the closed-in seminar and leclecture rooms is not so much the ventilation system as the continual use of these rooms."
"Extra fans and slats fitted to these inside rooms would be sufficient if these rooms were free every two or three hours."
"Unfortunately allocation of these rooms is left to individual departments who refuse to use less convenient rooms for seminars," he said.
"Given the most financial circumstances the Administration finds itself under." Clark observed, "the most effective measure would be to interspace use of the rooms with periods to allow renewal of air."
It was revealed during the discussion, Clark said, that the sophisticated nature of present and future ventilation systems in the university and the inadequacy of the outside servicing firm, had prompted the employment of a full-time Plant Engineer.
"Evidence is wanted from students who are having difficulties in their degrees because of language requirements," said Education Officer
"Signed statements including successes at school, course at University, successes in other units, us well as the trouble experienced in passing a reading knowledge are wanted."
"Several have been handed in already. The statements will be used us evidence in preparing a case for the abolition of language requirements at Victoria."
"A case was made by the education sub-committee last year but was turned down by the council without explanation."
"The language departments want large classes for their own importance and the others arn't prepared to rock the boat."
"If sufficient evidence comes in a petition may be circulated to request action on this matter from the Council."
"Students with evidence about language requirement are asked to hand them into the office or to contact the education officer for further information."
Last Tuesday in LB1, Thurgood Marshall, Associate Justice of the US Supreme Court, was bestowed by VUW with the degree of honorary Doctor of Laws.
In LB2 below, with only Standing room, the ceremony and address were observed on closed circuit TV.
The Pro-Chancellor, Mr
Speaking of human rights and the right to dissent, the Pro-Chancellor mentioned the much publicised demonstration of the previous week. He outlined the distortion of events, and said that freedom of the press carried with it the duty to report "fairly and factually".
In summarizing the events, Mr Simpson said that members of the University had examined the reported incidents and had concluded that students were not the instigators or solely involved in the violence that had occurred.
"On the contrary, it would seem that the students were not responsible for the diplomatic car incident." he said. Mr Simpson said that it did the press no credit that some newspaper opinion was so hasty and unfounded. "In the main the student behaviour was that of people with a sense of responsibility," he said.
His address was tilled "Human Rights: An American View", and was mainly on the civil rights movement in the US, the US Constitution, and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
He Spoke on the history of the civil rights movement and the histories of the US Constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Speaking on the UDHR.
Finally, the Minister of Justice, the Hon.
"Only recently," he said, "have we been able to abolish separate Maori schools, because for many years it was the Maoris who wanted them that way."