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(NZSPA Reporters)
Two political writers, Robin Bromby (below) and Graham Billing, have been transferred from the Sunday Times to the Dominion.
Salient) is now a senior reporter for the Dominion.
Pat Plunket, who frequently acted as chief reporter for the Dominion, and was formerly a reporter for Truth. replaces them on the Sunday Times.
These changes are seen as being a result of a policy decision to de-emphasise hard-hitting political criticism.
The change in policy is believed to be the result of pressures from National Party politicians.
The Wellington Publishing Company, publishers of the Dominion and Sunday Times, are particularly susceptible to such influence.
Members of the eight-man board of directors include Mr
In recent months three cabinet ministers have been angered by articles in the Times.
The Hon.
This last is seen to have been the immediate cause of the change in policy.
Detailed official comment was not available on the significance of the transfers.
Both the managing director Mr
Dr Williams proceeded to talk about constructive political writing as necessary in New Zealand.
Mr Burnet would not concede that the Sunday Times would cease to be critical, but said the matter was an internal staff question.
Last week NZSPA rang
Mr Murdoch said he knew nothing of the sudden reshuffle on the Sunday Times.
He said he had not been in New Zealand for four months.
Over the weekend Salient heard that Mr Murdoch was coming to Wellington today on business.
Since 1961 the net profit of ; the Wellington Publishing Company (publishers of the Dominion and Sunday Times) has fallen from $244,076 to $127,948 ; in 1967. The earning rate on shareholders funds has fallen from 14.4 per cent in 1961 to 5.9 per cent in 1967.
The Dominion, like other newspapers has suffered a drop in advertising because of Television. The next commercial sttion, which will probably be privately owned, will further slash the Dominion's advertising.
Recent reports indicate that the Dominion's circulation has declined again.
In May this year the directors reported that results for the 1st half of the current year are down on those for the corresponding period last year.
" While the immediate future is not very bright, as I would be forced to concede, I believe that the longer run prospect is by no means so grim," said Professor J. K. Galbraith (below) speaking to a capacity crowd in the Victoria University Memorial Theatre.
"There has been a disappearance of the old consensus on the containment of communism—what we have come to call the cold war priesthood," he said. "This is expressed most notably in the appearance of opposition to the Vietnam war."
He said that as disunity had appeared in the communist world, disputes had arisen in the attitude of Americans to foreign policy.
A reflection of this was that America could express support for the passionate nationalism of the Czechs, but not for the equally passionate nationalism of the South Vietnamese.
Prof. Galbraith instanced as other major changes in American thinking a new approach to civil rights—"President Johnson will be known in modern times as the civil rights present"—and the growing interest in politics of young people.
"There is a great demand for a conversational and candid style among politicians. The appeal of this is to young people who don't mind so much what the politicians say, so long as they look as though they believe it."
Students doing Economic History II were recently given a questionnaire to ascertain their opinions about the unit.
"You may be able to help us improve this unit by replying to the questions on the attached form," said a note.
"You are not obliged to complete this form, and if you do so it should not bear your name or any other indication of your identity."
The form asked whether students thought the subject matter too large or too small, dull or very interesting, and what they thought of the lecturers and textbooks.
Suggestions for improvements were invited.
The Debating Club's honours board and a Hunter building wall are incompatible.
The administration will not allow the Club to put the board back on a wall of the first floor by the stairwell.
It was taken down about two years ago when the Hunter Building was being repainted and has lain in the asement ever since.
Student Association President Doug. White said that the authorities fell that the board should be put in the Student Association Building.
He said that before the present Student Union Building was built a gymnasium occupied the site. When the old" gym was pulled down the honours board, which had been hanging in it. was temporarily transferred to Huntor Building.
It remained there for fifteen years till relegated to the basement.
While the Students Association Executive realises that the board was not meant to be permanently hung in Hunter. it feels that the two venerable institutions complement each other.
Besides, there is nowhere to put it in the Sub.
"We Americans give a tithe", said Professor Norman Pearson, concluding his speech on "The Cultural Climate in the United States".
He went on to explain that it was such voluntary gifts that subsidised the numerous orchestras, theatres and art galleries.
Pearson, who is Professor of English at Yale University, spoke to an audience of about 200.
After describing the U.S.A. as a predominantly middle class society whose mass media had levelled the differences in class culture, he suggested that raising the level could pose a threat to the best, but further suggested that the U.S.A. did have a climate for excellence.
He described his pleasure at seeing the realisation of the potential of the common man.
This had been made possible by mass communication aided by the existence of an economy of plenty and the lack of the provision of a culture of plenty.
The presence of patronage had enabled music, fine arts, and architecture to flourish. Many American cities had art galleries as good as any in the world.
Pearson said it was possible that writing was suffering a decline because the U.S.A. had had so many giants in the field in the past.
But television has stimulated acting and given the theatre a new vitality.
Professor Pearson then mentioned industrial design: "Italy and Scandinavia may head us off in glassware
He viewed the proliferation of Universities as alarming in terms of the elite but satisfying as far as the use of formerly untapped potential was concerned.
The making of the uncommon common had, he believed, given rise to a refreshing new stream of the uncommon.
This element of the uncommon as well as mass production and mass communication was lending excitement to the American cultural scene.
At its meeting today, the University Council will consider the recommendation of the Joint Committee on Student Participation to increase student representation on the Council by one. If it decides to ask the Exec, to recommend someone for cooption applications will have to be in writing to the Secretary of the Students' Association by Friday evening.
A lecturer told a Stage III class this week; "You're not here to ask questions. I'm here to teach you." It's about time somebody decided what we are here for!
There is a prize in Pure Maths II for "part time males".
The "Senior Law Lecturer" who judged which was the best speech in the "Support Dorofeev" debate was the worst speaker at the "Support Dorofeev" debate.
"For those three F-111s that have been lost over Vietnam at a cost of say $16,000,000 I could have bought 1200 Cessna 150s" writes a correspondant of Flight International.
"One of these Cessnas would carry one pilot (no special training needed), a 250 lb bomb (just shove it out the door), it would fly 200 fniles into Viet Cong territory (I bet it could fly 150 feet lower than the best terrain-thumping radar in the F-111) and I would probably hit something—and might even get home."
Buy a plastic Buddha, put it on top of your radio—and you won't pick up Radio Peing any more.
Federated Farmers — the cream of society. Rich and thick!
Counting votes in the small hours of the morning after the election must have had some effect on the ability to add figures. Whilst the stated total vote count was 2073 in all cases, the actual totals were 2081, 2079, 2073, 2073, 2076, 2073, 2081, 2073.
Still, four out of eight is 50 per cent., and that's a pass mark.
French Radio quoting
"The cause is the absence of France from the l945 Yalta talks and therefore the formation of power blocs."
Of course White is not politically impotent. Ridiculous idea. He is a political contraceptive. 100 per cent. effective—after all what iue has been brought forth this year?
NZSPA official overheard to say. while looking at statistics of crimes in N.Z.: "Sexual offences—no, not many Maoris there—mostly New Zealanders".
The independent Catholic weekly "Tablet" has criticised Salient for its reporting of the debate "That the Pope is a Pill ".
This report, and a letter from the president of the Catholic Society, Salient next week.
Tim originally wrote to the Debating Society criticising the organisation of the debate, including the relative strengths of the teams.
Tim also suggested that the Catholic Society should have been consulted because it was "a representative of the particular body whose personnel or tenets are to be the subject of the debate".
He said this was commonly accepted practice at Oxford and Cambridge Universities.
Tim asked if it was the stall student debate or the annual religious debate.
"If it was the former my contention on unequal strength loses some of its force."
"I could ask to what extent Dr Geiringer be accepted by the University staff as an honorary colleague."
He did say that one of the student speakers was a replacement for a much more experienced debater.
"It was the annual religious debate which was originally intended to be the staff/student debate" said Hamish.
"Because of very great difficulty experienced in getting three staff members to debate, it was decided to ask Dr Geiringer to speak."
Hamish said any suggestion that the democratic rights of a minority were infringed was "melodramatic".
"Surely Forum is a more appropriate place for minority groups to express themselves.
"In selecting the negative team I did approach a number of Catholic students who were unwilling to defend the Pope's decision because they disagreed with it." Hamish said.
"Nevertheless the negative team not only included a Catholic but also a past member of the very society Tim claimed was unrepresented.
"Not one person who wished to speak from the floot was prevented from doing so for any reason."
Hamish said the letter, although lacking any "real basis", was welcome if principally intended as a suggestion that the society should follow the English practice of consulting readily identifiable groups which had a vested interest.
In the corridors of student power sly looks are shared. A quiet occasional twitch crosses the otherwise placid mien of many. While looks at his Exec, and wonders. Saunders, a journalist, thinks of power. Shand. always a bridesmaid, begrooms himself. Bradshaw smiles abrasively. Council, slightly atremble, awaits its injection of student power.
* * *
"What this paper needs," the Press Baron considered, "is more fearless, liberal reporting. Criticism of our society, our government. That's why the Sunday Times does so well. What this paper needs is the abrasive, youthful outlook of, say, a Bromby. Get me Bromby, boys. Get me Bromby and give him Action Line. Give him fearless, hard-hitting Action Line. That'll fix the circulation. Keep my friends happy too. You know these election years." He chuckled subserviently.
* * *
One Frank French from Yorkshire wants a penpal.
Friendly correspondence with young people from all countries, in English, French, German, and Russian. Interested, he says, in revolutions
* * *
The National Development Conference Lives! Pass it round. No, I mean the hat. A relevant thought from Galbraith — if private industry had to rely on itself for its trained people, vast investment would be seen to be justified by the expected economic returns. However, for the next hundred or so years no doubt we will continue to have begrudging politicians.
* * *
The Administration conducts a losing fight against graffiti—at least in the men's ones. Even a layer of sand doesn't work against the frustrated creative urges of the university population. So how about a fair go? We demand a pad of graff paper in each grot!
* * *
"It Is incongruous, said the High Commissioner, "to have an Australasian Association for New Zealand and Australian students at Oxford. Australia and New Zealand are, after all, two separate nations. The Government decrees that the Association split up, if its members want jobs when they get back home."
Class distinction results in leniency for students in some New Zealand Courts, according to an allegation by the Labour M.P. for Westland, Mr P. Blanchfield, in Parliament recently.
Mr Blanchfield claimed that magistrates were lenient because they gave too much consideration to the possible repercussions of a conviction on the future career of students.
He said that as evidence of this he had enough newspaper clippings "to choke a whale".
"The magistrates even commented on the future of the students before them, and because they had a great career, they would not enter a conviction and just asked them to pay so much of the action." Mr Blanchfield said in Parliament.
"There are sons and daughters of good New Zealanders who have offended against society and do not classify as students, and they get their names published and fined."
"If anything, the boot should be on the other foot," he said. "Students should know better the demands of society."
A spokesman for the New Zealand Law Society said that they had received no complaints, either from their members or from the public, to substantiate the allegations that there were any "class or other improper distinctions" made by magistrates.
The Auckland Senior Magistrate, Mr
He pointed out, however, that where a person could have his future affected by a conviction, magistrates sometimes adjourned proceedings for a few weeks and the accused was instructed to pay a fine by way of Court costs.
Mr Astley said he believed that comments that magistrates were becoming lenient usually canve from "armchair critics" who read a few newspaper accounts of Court cases but did not hear of other cases.
"You are told that Rutsla it frightened of West Germany, that it is haunted by Hitler. But the Wast has forgotten him. It is trying to rear neo-Nazism and is giving it arms to usa against Socialism." said the First Secretary of the Ussr Legation, Mr Pozdnvakov.
The Soviet Government and its allies had supported and encouraged the liberal reforms in Czechoslovakia but they had been forced to intervene in that country because the reforms were being used by "former Nazi collaborators and capitalists" who had been waiting for the moment when they could begin their campaign against Socialism.
Mr Pozdnyakov was supporting the motion "That Mr Dorofeev deserves our support" at the Debating Society on Friday night.
Also on the affirmative were
The affirmative argued that the subject encompassed general support for Russia and said their opponents were confining their arguments to Czechoslovakia.
Mr Pozdynakov was asked who exactly the people were who had requested Soviet aid. He replied he knew of ' ninety-nine workers and a few members of the Czech Central Committee" who had done so.
Voting on the debate was forty to one for the affirmative.
Congress at Curious Cove next year will be between 24 January to 1 February.
The NZUSA Congress which is held annually at Curious Cove, near Picton, in Queen Charlotte Sound, is primarily an intellectual meet attended by students and staff from all universities and colleges.
It provides an opportunity for people of different faculties and varied specialised training to discuss together some of the problems that concern the University, the country, and the whole structure of ideas and traditions within which we live.
The programme of each Congress includes lectures by about 12 guest speakers.
According to the blurb issued by the Congress Committee the Chairman this year will be Associate Professor
Other speakers will include Hon.
Other speakers invited are John Lennon and Eugene McCarthy, and a Maori speaker, possibly Mr.
The arrangement of the programme, with a lecture each morning and another in the early evening, leaves the whole afternoon free for recreation.
The Cove has ideal conditions for swimming. rowing and water-skiing, as well as hill climbing and bush walks. There is ample space for games and sports such as tennis-quoits and volley-ball, while tabletennis is a. popular feature in the Social Hall. Sightseeing and picnic trips are included in the official programme.
After the evening lecture, entertainment is provided by films, concerts, dancing or fancydress in the Social Hall and a feature this year will be a barbecue on the beach.
The total cost for each student is only $27. This charge includes meals, accommodation, films, launch transport from Picton to the Cove and back, and the all-day launch cruise.
As the number of students attending Congress must be limited to about 140, applications will close on November 15.
September 24, 1968
Opinions expressed in Salient are not necessarily those of VUWSA.
Good political journalism is destructive political journalism. It is for the politicians to make and administer policy and for the journalist to pick holes in his work. His role, indeed his sole reason for existence, is to check the politicians, and to keep them on their toes.
Perfect politicians would not require journalists at all—or any of the other trappings of democracy—but politicians remain imperfect, so we like to stick to democracy.
It is not hard to see that the politician looks at things rather differently. Criticism can anger the imperfect; but of course their anger is not of much importance. That political journalism does make politicians angry from time to time shows at least that they read it and realize its importance.
If he has cause to be angry, a politician can answer the charges made against him by a journalist, and a responsible paper will publish his answers.
Where balance is desirable it is achieved-by allowing this right of reply. Buf balance in the sense of giving all sides of a story in every article is undesirable on those occasions where every valid criticism is to be balanced on the other side by a specious excuse, and is impractical in a political system where so much information is concealed.
If a politician is unable to make a reply sufficient to balance the criticism, he deserves to bear its full weight.
It is natural, of course, that politicians and their representatives argue in favour of constructive, or at least balanced journalism, for this is journalism which does not expose them, or which, in exposing them, quotes their own excuses. They have constructed a rationale on which to support their concepts of balance and constructive journalism, and have managed to popularize this rationale to a most considerable extent even among some senior journalists.
Usually they can rely on the popularity of their view (and the social norms they have created) to keep the press passive, but sometimes they have to resort to direct action in order to ensure compliance with their views. This is particularly possible when politicians, or members of their families, are directors of publishing companies.
It is utterly inconceivable that journalists should be able consistently to pick holes in the work of politicians when they are employed by politicians. In order that the proper function of journalists can be performed in this country, a News Media Ownership Act must be passed, to remove any control of the daily press from the hands of politicians.
Editor:
Telephone 70-319 (S.U.B.) or 27-731 (Home).
Associate Editor: Nevil Gibson.
Advertising Manager:
Telephone 55-922 (Work) or 26-260 (Home).
Technical Editor: Graham Ingram.
Sub-Editors: Kevin Martin,
Reporters Are Expected To Attend News Conferences At 5 p.m. Every Tuesday.
In Salient last year (March 17). Professor Norrish. Head of the Department of Romance Languages, was reported as having made Ihe following comment on proposals to abolish the compulsory language requirement:
"The whole problem involves your concept of a B.A. degree and what it stands for."
In the accompanying article, David Harcourt looks at the state of the language requirement debate and concludes that Professor Norrish's point appears to have been ignored. The article takes the form of a submission to the Education Sub-committee and has been revised for inclusion here.
"Students should bear in mind that for serious siudy in any academic discipline a reading knowledge of at least one foreign language is a sine qua non: and that in most graduate programmes, proficiency in foreign languages is not only useful but mandalory. Student are strongly advised, therefore, to continue the study of foreign languages at the university."(1)
My interest in this question should be defined: 1 am taking Italian Reading Knowledge this year in order to satisfy the Arts Degree requirement. I took no language at school beyond Form II.
As to the proposal to abolish the language requirement: this question has come up often while I've been at university. But the debate. such as it was, passed me by until I read Logan's Salient editorial on 16 July. That 1 thought the editorial, regardless of the viewpoint expressed, was vacuous, illconsidered, and thoroughly bad journalism, is immaterial here; save insofar as it was primarily this consideration which led me to reply to Logan's effort in my Salient letter, which appeared a fortnight later.
The purpose of this submission is to try to explain what is involved in a proposal to abolish the language requirements. In the first place, I wish to iterate a point suggested in part in my Salient letter. The fact that the requirement is difficult to satisfy is only a valid argument against its retention if it can be demonstrated:
(i) That an impossibly high standard is set in reading knowledge courses; and/or
(ii) That some students have an 'aptitude' for languages and therefore have an advantage over students without this special facility.
(i) Is the standard impossibly high?
The following are the pass rates for reading knowledge students in the 1967 examinations:
French: 77%passed.
Italian: 89% passed.
Russian:90% passed.
German: 60% passed.
Latin: 77% passed.
Maori: 80% passed.
Greek: No candidates.
While the Committee may feel that the obvious discrepancies between pass rates may need reviewing—a difference of 29% between German and Italian seems odd for example —the over-all standards are clearly not very high: at least in terms of the number of students who pass finals.
(ii) Is there such a thing as an 'aptitude' for languages? I'm not sure one way or another about this—maybe nobody knows. But I think it's very likely that what many of us call 'aptitudes' might better be termed 'predilections', or simply, 'likings'. How many of us have been put off Latin, say, because of the grammar? Or, in the case of any language, because of unimaginative leaching? Inadequate teaching methods might well be the source of the development of the 'aptitudes' and 'ineptitudes' that we hear so much about. I know that a dreary science teacher did much to drive me from pursuing science studies lo an advanced level A great deal of the difficulty students face in tackling the language requirement would probably be solved by improved teaching in schools.
"I believe that there is clear evidence that in the minds of the community and the students the role of the university should be vocational."
A senior Australian Civil Servant. (2)
"The universities do not exist for the purpose of producing cannon-fodder for industry."
The Vice-Chancellor of Monash; in reply to the above. (3)
I am not interested in the language requirement per se. Its intrinsic value is severely limited (by the attitudes of students: as much as by its content or the manner in which it is taught). But the question of the "status in a degree", as the petition which is circulating has it, of the language requirement must inevitably bring up questions of the structure of the degree itself. We have to consider what the B.A. is and what we feel it should be
As I mentioned in the Salient letter, I believe that the B.A. degree should try to reconcile "the opposing forces of generalisation and specialisation"; and that a good Arts degree design would, as far as possible, provide "specialisation within the context of a general education." I suggest that this reconciliation could be brought about in a structure such as this:
First Year: Students would sit six papers set at a level below that of present Stage One units It would be compulsory for students to take two papers from other faculties. Other faculties, in providing for Arts students who are to take papers in one or other of their departments, would present courses in selected subjects of fairly general application. These courses would attempt to demonstrate to students what the particular approach of, say, the biologist is to his field of inquiry and would discuss any broad trends which could be discerned in the discipline involved. In this direction lies Professor Barber's suggestion for a General Physics course (4) for Arts students. This proposal is an enormously appealing one. I hope that it will be adopted, well responded-to by students, and extended into other sciences and. of course, into other faculties.
Second and Third Years: Students would specialise in one or two subjects. Any combination of subjects should clearly have some common denominator. In other words, Psychology and Sociology, and Geography and Asian Studies would be satisfactory subject combinations; but Latin and Economics, or Pure Mathematics and Political Science, would not.
1 don't doubt that any setious consideration of this suggested degree design would reveal major inadequacies: I am only suggesting the approach which should be adopted. One important immediate benefit which would accrue from a structure such as that suggested above, however, would be an improved stanlecturing. I have sat through Stage One lectures in six Arts subjects (5) and have found them almost invariably to be thoroughly boring. The most important failure in Stage One lecturing, however, lies in the wide neglect of definition of the scope of the subject involved, and of explanation of the subject's essential distinctions (if any) from other subjects, and of description of exactly what academics in the particular field concerned are trying to do. Under the present system, where a minimum number of Stage Two units is required for completion of a degree, and where nine units are required in all. every department can be reasonably confident of attracting sufficient students to ensure lhat the administration doesn't start asking awkard questions. (6) Lecturers may plumb fresh depths of boredom, evoke mountains of intellectual tripe—they're still safe. But what would happen if department had to demonstrate that their subjects were interesting and relevant to the modern world? No one would lake a subject to an advanced level if it had been demonstrably boring and tenuously relevant to the contemporary world when the student had sat his first papers. The results of such a changed situation might be very pleasant for students—and challenging for the academics.
The Students' Association's Education Officer. Caroline McGrath. mentioned to me that the Committee is unanimous on the question of abolishing the language requirement. She also said that it might justifiably be made compulsory for language and literature students. I can see how this might remove some anomalies but I cannot see how the principle of the oft-repeated statement that the requirement is a bad one will have been upheld should this proposal be adopted. If the requirement is bad—it's bad. Abolish it altogether! The fact that Miss McGrath feels that languages have some role in an Arts degree is a good point for discussion. I presume we all accept that a degree must have some compulsory features For example. it should be taken over a certain minimum period and should include courses which are fell to be prerequisites for postgraduate study.
Why did the University make the language requirement mandalory in the first place? I suppose they thought lhat knowledge of another language was intrinsically valuable in some way, that overseas requirements should be borne in mind, and that a certain minimum slandard for the B.A. degree should be set somewhere. Have these hypothetical considerations any relevance at the present time?
(i) Is language study intrinsically valuable? I expressed my attitude to this question in the following words in my letter:
"I think that the language requirement is invaluable in that it offers the student a unique reorientation With the fundamental material with which he deals: his own language."
It is entirely a matter of opinion, of course. as to whether languages are so much more important than other Arts subjects that they can be justifiably singled out for emphasis in the way they have. However, I would like to hear Logan's argument for contending that "a knowledge of simple mathematics, modern history or elementary sociology are probably all more necessary for a "rounded education" than is a language.
(ii) What about overseas requirements? It seems clear that nearly all overseas universities require post-graduate Arts students to have proficiency in a second language. This situation may be iniquitous, undemocratic, or whatever—but it exists, and must be recognised as existing.
(iii) What should the minimum standard for the B.A. be? The language requirement is like a small morsel of meat in a thin slew : it's the only solid thing there Take it away and the B.A. degree will be mean. hyperpalatable gruel. The next step would be reducing the number of units in the degree to, say, five. Make it a two-year course. The B.A. is of so low value now that it would be but a short step to its compleate devaluation. As I outlined in my suggested degree design, I would like to see more compulsory requirements, not less.
I hope that in the course of this submission I nave persuaded members of the Committee of the necessity of considering the wider implications of a proposal to abolish the reading knowledge requirement. And I would like suggest to the Committee that it should copsider the nature and adequacy of language teaching at all levels. (This bearing in mind my earlier remarks when discussing the matter of 'aptitudes'.) The reading knowledge requirement, as it stands. represents an unsatisfactory situation. I have found it quite as difficult as any Stage One unit which I have undertaken and I feel that it is unfair that I have to take a 9(-unit degree as against the 9-unit degrees of those who are taking Stage One language units. For most of us, that half-unit means hard work with little credit. Couldn't they upgrade a bit and make it the equivalent of a full unit? Maybe it could be made a two-year course.
Whatever the Committee wishes to propose to the Administration as an alternative to the present situation—complete abolition of the requirement, a limited compulsion (e.g. for language and literature students only), or an alternative language course—it will surely have to produce better arguments than those which have been voiced to date:
"Students dislike the foreign language requirements because they see little relevance to some of their degrees: it causes delay in some cases and because of its content (sic) as a compulsory half unit." (7).
The sentence quoted above, if represented as argument, must be accorded the Status of drivel. There appear to be three 'arguments' here- "relevance", "delay" and "X". I've called the last one "X" because, despite some considerable puzzlement. I can't work out whether Miss McGrath meant that students felt they were being diddled through only getting a half-unit for their pains (with which view I sympathised in the second paragraph above), or that students didn't like it because it is compulsory. (Which is a bit like saying you don't like apartheid because it's there — very fine but hardly an argument). However, Miss McGrath did mention the case of a student who spoke a second language — Hebrew. I think it was—and who had to take a reading knowledge as the language concerned was not taught as a reading knowledge language at Victoria. This is a genuinely anomalous case and certainly should have been provided for in the Regulations. Before dealing with the point, however, I would like to suggest that one's argument should never be predicated on the exceptional instance, but should deal with those cases which generally apply, and take its force from them, rather than from the exception to every rule. Just how common is the case which was mentioned? As a genuine anomaly it is capable of other solution than abolition of the requirement. however, It seems clear that there should be incorporated in the Regulations something along the lines of the proviso, taken from the Monash Calendar, quoted below :
"… a candidate whose native tongue is not English and who satisfies the faculty that his knowledge of English and of his basic tongue is of a good satisfactory, standard, may be exempted from the requirements… " (8)
With suitable amendment, this proviso could quite satisfactorily cover the case concerned. And. finally, "relevance" and "delay". In quoting Dr Mathcson, the ViceChancellor of Monash, earlier. I expect that I made it clear where my sympathies lie. But for all utilitarians and "relevance" people. I'll quote the Vice-Chancellor once again:
"One is not producing a can of beer or whatever it may be; one is producing a human being who moves out into life and begins to develop… and if we have not given him some sort of solid basis from which he can develop into whatever opportunities life should put in front of him. then in the universities we have failed in our purpose. I would say from this point of view it is quite impossible to contemplate trying to match people with jobs; specific training for jobs is just not our business. We are concerned to produce intelligent people who can think, so that when you get them, if you know what you're doing, you can make the best use of them. There is really only a rough relationship between the course that students pursue at universities and the career they subsequently follow." (9)
The delay caused in some cases may derive from a number of causes. Miss McGrath mentioned one in the Salient article:
"Others have failed their third attempt."
I think that the Committee will find that such people are either stupid, or bone idle. And so the argument has come full circle —if people pulled their fingers out and did some work, there'd be a lot less bitching— that was the reactionary argument on which I sailed into this debate. And even it hasn't been answered!
For the purposes of the reader let it be understood that the views expressed are entirely my own and although 1 may speak of "orthodox Catholicism' you are best advised to remain sceptical. The purpose of this article is to elaborate my view that the Pope was right in vetoing birth control.
It seems to me patently obvious that most of us have some desire for an ideal. Some of us want it more than others, we want a sexy wife but a good cook and companion. We want security and success. There are a great many things we want, some of these things are not necessarily very tangible and often we find that nothing meets the requirements of our emotions—or what ever they are called. Some rather outmoded theologians called this restlessness a search for God. Most artists have it as a perpetual source of inspiration. The search whether fulfilled or not gives life quality, it demands involvement in living, searching- for a pattern of life, an ideal, a motif to express the lack of it's realisation. Whatever it is, the lack of this concept reduces the scope of life.
The difficulty of making a 'moral' decision lies in the choice of a frame of reference. In Christianity there is nowadays a range of references to choose from but there are two main classes: those who talk about God and those who talk about people. This is a vulgar oversimplification because both groups would like to say that they do both but it's the change of emphasis that is important. Either the criterion is an objective code referred to a God ('out there') or it is simply one of the immediate needs of people's welfare ('down here'). The switch is from the cosmic and total vision of man to the increased valuation of the immediate and transitory needs.
Catholicism views man as being a being of great dignity, made in the image of God, given an intellect to surpass the material universe and share in the divine mind, possessing a moral conscience to perceive right and wrong in an order of things which he does not impose himself and finally having a soul which is called to an ultimate union with God for eternity.
Everything in the universe comes from God and is directed back, reflecting his glory. Thus in all things, and particularly in the created world there is a movement towards God. The world, governed by Natural Law. which shows the wisdom of God, and man. is under that law but also under a moral law which is found in the Scriptures. Man's intellect and conscience are given, so that he may better understand the divine plan of the universe, Yet man has guidance insofar as God is in the world in his Church which is 'the Body of Christ'. The Church's function is to teach, guard and interpret both moral and natural laws to lead man into union with God.
This total vision of man is worked out in minute detail even to regarding marriage as being a type of mission and a tool to further union with God. All aspects of life are regarded as in themselves good, but some are better than others (celibacy being best!). hence marriage itself must be helped to reveal the divine plan. Vatican II saw two aspects in marriage, conjugal love and responsible parenthood, these two aspects being inseparable in intention, (if not in fact).
"Conjugal love reveals its true nature and nobility when it is considered in its supreme origin. God, who is love, 'the father' from whom every family in heaven and earth is named". (Gaudium et Spes)
Obviously marriage should in these terms be directed 'Godward' and responsible parenthood was described as an expression of conjugal love by "a profound relationship to the objective moral order established by God". In other words if the natural world sees the purpose of sex as being conception then to attempt otherwise would be to travest the natural law of God and thereby to dishonour the marriage in its most ennobling and important feature, the divine constitutive of marriage. In the words of the encyclical they: "… are not free (in the task of transmitting life) to proceed completely at will … but they must conform their activity to the creative intention of God, expressed in the very nature of marriage and of its acts. and manifested by the constant teaching of the Church." Here then in this one aspect of Catholicism is seen the the importance of every aspect of man's life. Beyond the immediate fulfillment of the natural law there is a supernatural order of which the marriage union is a pale reflection and yet a movement towards. This is a wholeness of vision. vigorous because it is positive in it's affirmation of man, poetic because the vision evoked demands all of man's idealistic imagination. The movement to transcend the 'whips and scorns of time' is bound up in the sense of divine purpose in the whole of the universe. Perhaps this is only expressible in poetry where the indescribable may be at least evoked. For example a beautific vision such as Dante's of the Celestial Rose.
"I, coming to holiness from the profane, To the eternal from the temporal, From Florence to a people just and sane, Into what stupor, then, must I needs fall!
… No sound to hear, no word to speak at all.
As when a pilgrim, to new life restored. Beholds a Shrine, and hope within him rise That of its wonders he may take home word."
(Paradiso canto XXXI)
Orthodox religion is notoriously inadequate for coping with situations in a 'practical' way. When, for example, one must choose between two technical sins with no possibility of avoiding both, the absolute external reference gives little guide as to how to choose. Then again, as in the matter of birth control, so often the religious standpoint seems uncharitable, if not a great deal worse.
In situation ethics, on the other hand. there is no permanent point of reference. Each situation is always different so precedent cannot be a basis for decisions. The only reference points are the situation, reason, will and what may be the best and most helpful decision on a very utilitarian basis of values. The weaknesses are obviou. Firstly situation ethics demands a knowledge beyond the ability of most people. If all standards are rejected and have to be put together for each situation there will never be any certainty or enough of a basis for action. Secondly, the emotions and will, without any moral code or help, are likely to obscure and complicate a situation rather than resolutely execute what the reason may dictate as being right.
On birth control the Protestant tradition has left this up to the individual conscience and the controversy may well be viewed with a Reformation-jaundiced eye. Either God should be considered to have full control of a man's life or we should make it clear that God is only to be considered in certain compartments of our lives. In other words either all of life is sacred and directed towards God or only some of it. If the former is agreed with then such an issue as birth control cannot be lightly left to individual conscience.
The Catholic Church is almost in a Reformation-type situation where conscience and authority are being weighed. This reflects the theological debate and uncertainly evident throughout the whole of the Christian Church. There is a search for a more acceptable authority and discipline. Perhaps this is because the old answers are outmoded—in toto—or in their expression, yet surely as the representative and head of the Church.
(Trevor James is a third year English student and calls himself an Anglo-Catholic.)
Elibommuuleprep, Quinqulequoq, Kilimanjaro, Alighieri, Avicenna, Theloniuous, Eleutherio, Tutankhamen, Krumwinkle, Xoirempers, Pneumonia, Cunimundus, Theodolinda, Coccinella, Girigogolo, Broncopolmonitc, Iatagano, Labdacimoso, Guastaslomaco, Arruffamatasse, Inghirami, Sklodilowopovo, Haogunduo, Ciurmadore, Falsariga, Zizzania, Ornitomanzia, Fanghiglia, Addiacciamento, Lusinghevolme, Zangolatura, Zuzzurullona, Piccolomini, Tamarillo, Bonssingault, Nairbeutachad, Ituglomania, Hectaioria, Wargenlina, Massachutoes,Cingalessenx, Oenipides, Wrottesley, Sacrobosco, Epoxodeilax, Winterhalter, Alpetragius, Fracastorius, Abenezra, Longomontanus & Regiomontanus, Arambouvil, Rhadamanthus, Chiaroscuro, Gluaconoma, Catechumen, Monomotapa, Amphitryoblogose, Bastinada, Broceliande, Renmomency, Dreifusismo, Questambert, Ragusyelrab, Hebdomadomadom, Afyonkarahisar, Raknashivar, Killiecrang, Epipsychidion, Aberystwyst, Gangliaglioma, Mandoudhlon, Rothiemurchus, Ardamurchan, Manzikert, Trivandrum, Ordzhonikids, Drakensberg, Lumphanan, Kiskungloxavom, Yackandandah, Amanzimtoti, Wackerstrum, Castleplonk, Mallaramy, Bosmolina, Wagbalemar, Clonkakitty, Coonabarabran, Gongologon, Wildgoosechase, Sarsaparilla, Kerguelcn, Flabbergasted, Montasterile, Kandalaxha, Poinsettia, Quachasnec, Ootacamund, Athabasca, Slurlu Huba, Benjamin Franklin, Vertigo, Molecular, Anaesthesia, Mesopotamia, Goggomobil, Celandine, Duelechtrich, Alopecia, Cagastrica & Iliastrica, Bocibafib, Meritorium, Honorarium, Hoshtikikolai, Brandenburg, Cerevissa, Agesttima, Sepulchre". Khachaturismo, Ysopussy, Tritorium, Tribliotonic, Athanorg, Lixiviu, Necrolica, Boleti, Cerinth, Sagapin, Rabeloia, Ranunculus, Petroselina, Peniaphyllu, Quatrefoil, Tinfoil, Chillicloth, Sarreguemines, Melaesthcsia, Hermaphrodite, Pontoppidan, Asterisky Paracumquat, Steptojazyma, Pallyollogass, PrunyQuetch, Caravanserai, Salmonella, Serengeti, Round Barton, Mesothelioma, Escherichia, Briesemcistcr, Quarticauthali, Pellucider, Hertogenbosch, Drozzera, Fillyjonk, Sugarstove, Cactopus, Melofant, Cheeseturf, Tobiats Tobiats, Ecstasy in Peanutsville, Munglegam, Baba Yaga, Daniel Dribbel, Marinucci de Brucci, Wulfila, Herbigura, Hectorvec, Topsyturvy, Epidema, Bombardion, Positunio, Cornelius, Theseus & Misengutz, William While of Orange, Victamatix, Theophilosophy, McFucknuckle, Cankedort, Swivelhips, Pcnumbria, Tetracycle, Geronimo, Tweedlebom, Pumblcchook, Snickersnack, Snickersnee & Snickersnorum, Feefifofum, Heeby Jcebes and Colly Wobbly, Smithereens, Flimflam, Klopslock, Baccarat, Cocacolonization, Catastrophe, Apistrophe, Volcanina, Fellatello, Taciturnki, Thesaurus, Ignorotamus, Hypotenuse, Curriculum, Mephistopheles, Flamina, Lamentarsi, Scaramouchc, Sandarac, Mastico, Gambogre, Turmeric, Naphthaphthisis, Tragacanth, Sarcocolla, Icinglass, Spermaceti, Sassafras, Citronella, Barbadoe, Alabaster, Mahogany, Lapis Lazuli, Massicot, Giallorino, Litharge, Cinnabar, Turbith, Ceruse, Viridian, Smarapdahla.
Chrysocolla, Malachixu, Verdigris, Ambergris, Albogris, Coerulium, Altramentum, Terracotta, Caput mortum, Zaffrobodoca, Cunnilingam, Eschclidoinc, Safflorwer, Terramerita, Plumbago, Colcothar, Euxanthio, Orpimentum, Dioscorides, Putrelactio, Beelzebub, Euronymus, Harlequin, Molocholo-monasterile, Plutomato, Baalberith, Proserpine, Adramaleck, Astaroth, Finnergal, Levithiantic, Belphegor, Martinet, Lucifer, Alasior, Verdelet, Succorbenoth, Chamosix, Melamchomy, Misrochwerru, Ariel's cuccu, Behemoth, Asmodeus, Nuremberecr, Axuncia, Wilhermere, Savcloval, Pandorian Aloxandrine, Macaronici, Dr Pronsky, Solicito, Carnivorum, Eurekovitch, Pantalunatic, Emphatical, Cauliflower, Ichabod, Auricula, Confibuncius, Beteljuice, Cyclaman, Paracentigradus, Kalokagathia, Callipygo, Insectiqoid Neusmobile, Luminarich, Melanion, Dahomey, Shimpelglinker, Volvox, Scenedesmus, Xiphocaris, Cantharides, Scramasax, Mondongo, Hotchiwitchi, Hambugger, Justifine, Puddendix, Tetragrammaton, Jellybean, Sandbank, Wormwood scrubber, Sugarbeethoven, Infinitum, Eleclrolice, Shrimpanzee, Marmaladyladymalady, Manganturl, Frednc Cedric, Snottingham, Hirundaria, Hippuris, Hermodactylus, Melleborne, Flammula, Equisetum, Cubebobu, Marinade, Capsicum, Cichorea, Agarico, Lionsfoot, Agrimony, Abrotanu, Testude, Struthio, Yrcus, Dracula, Dranunculus, Dranunculunculus, Dranunculuncununculus, Dranuncumunculuncumuncununculunculus, Rolomandri, Durdalezzimus, Melusina Rotunda, Magnalia, Azothimuth, Bufonaria, Aristolochy, Lepidoptera, Chervil, Coriander, Anglosaxophone, Simeon Stylus, The Earl of Coventry, Yle, Theriospodium, Synanon, Laudamerilum, Fuligo, Kibricconic, Gamalei, Chalcedony, Cachimlae, Cerpigo, Calcatrippa, Calendula, Aphidro-disia, Cardamom, Tronossa, Tithymal, Frittany, Meligris, Myrobolanum, Opopanax, Cinquefoil, Entelechup, Imbrocata, Ishbosbeth, Malagrowther, Poodesoy, Contango, Bacharach, Mournival, Haruspex, Salmagundi, Gargagousier, Nuccalaunder, Fultumian, Xanthophore, Saippuakauppias, Hwcubites, Knipperdolly, Alchemilla, Lapsucalamity, Mafacumbi, Torricelli Loquitur, Omilorinco, Tartaruga, Manovella, Sintilula, Steppenwolf, Wugumdraft, Kinnikinnik, and Gontcryopgantraphebaiorasiogoilalaciopekliogiokphallketenoptryolekrateisper-tophaphyossykopichletkinomietchyketakalolimcraopaphiasiltom-maripothyriminodisaipleniokraleogacholasechomatcdolopasaeuzusialeckegorghendula?"
As soon as I had recovered my breath. Rigmarole answered that he had been giving this matter some of his most serious thought, and had even gone so far as to ponder upon it. He had been thinking of a small expedition, composed of the boldest and most reckless among us; he did not care to include himself. Most of us, he said, are still contentedly settling in, but there are a few who, like you, strive ceaselessly towards the borders of their imaginations, While we were talking, Cantilever came. He began to agree with Rigmarole, and suggested calling for a meeting of those who are interested (though he did not care to include himself). So a meeting is to be held tomorrow.
We have decided to have a party of about thirty, travelling in four or five wagons, accompanied by several beasts. These people have said they will come. Nostradamus (wanting to escape from Onomatopeia). Mazinta, Phenobarbara. Kancnenjunga, Cagliostro, Quidditas, Asanisimasa, Chronoholonthologos. Antimony & Colcoptcra.
The same old crowd! Harmony-in-a-treetop and Glagolitsa have just added their names. Doubtless Harum Scarum. Holus Bolus, and Hocus Hocus, and perhaps Chattanooga will want to come too. if they find their way out of the tunnels in time. (I hope they are not imprisoned in Gnisu.) Phenylketonuria has added his name It is wonderfully exciting, planning to leave again. I can scarcely wait for us to go. My wagon needs a new wheel (one was lost during the fall from the giant Shellfish building) and some new planks (some were broken during Harang's wild early morning journey).Cagliostro has found a tincture of Narani, he says; I'll colour my wagon with it. Perhaps Mazinta. Paraphernalia (who has just added his name), will accompany me Nostradamus would he interesting at first, but soon unbearable. Nenuphar added his name, and asked to accompany me. It is unlikely thai anything will happen while we are gone, excepting perhaps a fracas with the Gnisu folk; but. if it proves necessary. Cantilever is to be chronicler for the 134 (or so) who are to remain.
To prefer the film of In Cold Blood (Columbia) to the book would be to join an unfashionable minority. Many, of course, saw the film (but not too many judging by its commercial failure) who hadn't read the book. The film will, I hope, cause more to read it. The preference of film for book arises not so much from the difference in talents of Playboy. In this interview Capote presents much of the more scientific background material used for examining motivation, the psychological and emotional states of the murderers.
The film-maker has a vastly different task from the writer in recreating the tragic events. He must contract detail and event, at the same time dramatise episodes into a coherent narrative. Brook's screenplay is a complex structure which is wholly honest to Capote except for his creation of Jensen, described as a writer for a weekly. Many people, mistakenly, have immediately assumed that this is intended to be Capote himself. However, no matter how much Jensen's presence may be similar to Canote's, his viewpoint and purpose in the film is totally different. Jensen introduces some factual and interpretative background contained in the book, notably the Menninger Clinic paper on "Murder Without Apparent Motive", but one cannot imagine that Jensen went away from the hanging scene to write In Cold Blood. His interpolations in the film provide a basis for the audience to examine for themselves the inevitable conflicts between the particular case and the necessity for police disregard of psychological niceties, and the tragedy in its more general terms as a study for the benefit of society at large through scientific investigation. Jensen also holds the dramatic key to many scenes which are necessary to the film. In a book these are both unnecessary and irrelevant.
Brooks's screenplay is woven around three basic divisions. The first part is the introduction of Perry (
Next morning the bodies are discovered, the police investigations underway, and the killers back at their homes. The cross- and inter-cutting now concerns Pern' and Dick, on one side, and the police. Linking events actions, time and locales form the basis for the narrative Pern throws a can off a bridge; cut to police dragging the river for clues. News bulletins serve a similar purpose The killers now head for Mexico following a dud cheque spree. In Mexico their means are not improved. The murders had proved financially unproductive and further murder for gain seemed the only future course of action. Perry dreams of Captain Cortes's sunken treasure; Dickdecides on the return to the US. Meanwhile a prisoner, who knew of the plans to rob the Clutters while Perry and Dick were behind, informs the police of their identity. The police interview their respective fathers; more background is unearthed. It remains to find them. This is done through the tracing of their stolen car. The gradual police dragnet tightens while Perry and Dick, unaware, jaunt back to Vegas. In one episode they pick up an old man and a boy who collect the refund money on bottles tossed from cars into the desert. They are spotted while in Vegas and arrested.
The final part concerns the crime and its prosecution. Extensive interrogation bv the police yields an account of what took place at Clutter home. In a taut, brilliantly executed (no pun) sequence the brutal murders are perpetrated. This is followed by a short speech from the Prosecuting Attorney during the trial. There is no speech from the defence—there doesn't need to be one. The five years in death row and the hanging are sufficient.
Brooks sticks very closely to Capote's interpretation, which is all he could do under the circumstances, We see Perry as a psychopath of dangerous potentialities— a killer without passion or remorse. He is haunted by his red for his father; both Mr Clutter and the hangman become the father at some time. When in Mexico, while Dick is in bed with a whore. Pern' sees his father beat up his mother who had turned to prostitution. He sees his father with a shotgun (unloaded) when he cuts Mr Clutter's throat. He said later to the police that the murder had nothing to do with the Clutters—he did it both because Dick had failed in his claim of the "perfect score" and because of his father-fixation. According to the Capote interview Perry himself reached this conclusion: he identified Clutter, an authority figure, with the father he loved-hated and he unleashed all his inner compulsive resestmut in the act of violence. The Menninger Clinic used Perry as a case studv; they found that his backgronnd was similar to that of manv other such murderers—a childhood marked by parental brutality, rejection, insecurity. The point was also made of his feelings of physical superiority and sexual inadequacy. The spark came when Dick attempted to rape the Clutter girl. Yet afterward Perry stated: "I didn't want to harm the man. I thought he was a very nice gentleman. I thought so right up to the time I cut his throat".
Dick had little of the psychosis of Perry. He wasn't capable of solo murder, and knew it; he had the cunning and slickness of a petty thief and con-man whose real kicks came from cheque bouncing. Although he had to force Perry to do everything, he would have been unable to do it without Perry's succumbing to his persuasive words. (The use of endearments by Dick was no indication of a homosexual liaison; although Perry had homosexual tendencies they were nothing to do with Dick.) Several times Perry disclosed his concern for losing control: he couldn't stand Dick's apparent lack of inhibition, especially sexually, and he feared himself. When he learned that bowel control ceases after death he is afraid of crapping himself. Dick, however, fears little of this. His smart-alecking continues throughout the interrogations, his time in jail, and to his death. His final words smack of his desire to leave an indelible mark: "I'm going to a place that is better than this world ever was."
Perry in jail turns back to his books and his art. His end is the one on which Brooks concentrates. His final words to the chaplain are spoken while rain water running down the window is reflected on his face as if layers of skin were melting away. The final image of the fatal drop is slowed down to a langrously swinging body. Compare this ending with that of Bonnie and Clyde where slow motion was also used. The artifice of the latter is exposed when faced with the more brutal reality of an execution by "we the people". In the interview Capote states that he is not against capital punishment per se, but protests the brutalising effect of lengthy legal processes. We see little of this in the film, but we are made aware of it in the last image.
The opinion in the first paragraph must now be more fully stated. The book and film are highly supplementary. But the superiority of film in the treatment of "non-fiction" becomes apparent in consideration that In Cold Blood cannot be the work of one imagination. The film is highly dependent on Brooks's skill as a film-maker, but he also has many others working with him: actors, technicians and so on. Capote had only himself. This is the inherent weakness of the book. It necessarily lacks the feat of imagination that makes fiction literature. The film performs a different function. It combines detachment, objectivity while simultaneously restricting our vision, forcing us to comprehend subjectively. Point of view shots abound when motivation and emotion are paramount. It is the camera over which the black hood is placed. Here we see the illusion and reality which Perry himself couldn't distinguish, working as the basis of cinema.
A final word of credit. Although it should have been reviewed in an earlier Salient in its first season (the holidays intervened on our publishing schedule), its return recently has enabled a fuller evaluation. It would be a pity if those who didn't have the opportunity the first time missed it the second time. It is probably the best serious film from America we have seen this year. Brooks's direction and screenplay demonstrates that he can extend both his style and subject-matter after his excellent The Professionals last year. What it lacked in seriousness it made up for in excitement, and. no doubt made more than enough money to subsidise In Cold Blood. Brooks is not a film-maker of great originality, but he a true professional, and this is what In Cold Blood needed.
Brooks's selection of Blake and Wilson for the two central roles is faultless. Both are relatively unknown: you may remember the chase sequence in In The Heat Of the Night across the bridge—well that was Wilson being chased. Old hands take up the remainder of the major parts with
• • •
Will Penny (Paramount) is a western with enough originality that makes the species an everlasting and interesting one. Will (Will Penny is as forgettable as it is momentarily enjoyable. In his first western for some time Heston brings some authority to his role but little convincing. After years in the saddle we know he can shoot a man down like that; we know we can also count on Preacher Quint-types (yet again Donald Pleasence giving it all) who begrudge a little killing, but only when they get hurt. Will only wants to live out the winter undisturbed among the snowclad hills (and our grateful thanks once more to The Group, Joan has all the attraction of Warlord recuperation, and just as conjugal bliss may be added to seasonality and mutuality,
Writer-director Killer on a Horse, to the former's disadvantage. Will Penny comes too close to the cliff. A pity, for twas honest and intentional enough, even though the spurs were chewed.
Republished at an opportune time is this account of a little Known, and grim, aspect of New Zealand's history: the persecution or conscientious objectors during World War I.
The experiences of
Baxter (father of poet
They were imprisoned for some months in New Zealand, deported as civilians on a troopship to the battlefront in Europe, often beaten and tortured, sometimes with the notorious "number 1 field punishment". Thev were subjected to hunger and thirst, deprivation of medical attention and denied the most basic requirements. On several occasions they were threatened with summary and immediate execution for refusing to accept military orders. All this in attempting to break them down.
The fourteen deported men experienced the attentions of sadists attracted by the positive sanctioning of their persecution, Conversely, however, other soldiers of all ranks admired their resolution, and often unexpectedly intervened, sometimes at considerable risk to themselves.
To describe here, even with Baxter's temperate narrative, some of the indignities he and his fellow objectors suffered, would be conducive to eliciting emotional responses impairing rational appreciation of this review. An equally substantial impression that Baxter projects is of the sympathy and kindness they received from many, and without which thev might not have survived.
We Will Not Cease was first published in 1939 by Victor Collancz of London, but few copies reached New Zealaud before the unsold stocks were destroyed during the Blitz of 1941.
Archibald Baxter: We Will Not Cease. The autobiography of a concientious objector. The Caxton Press, Christchureh, 1968. 189 pages. $1.90. Reviewed by
Noel Coward's plays, if we are to believe what another generation tells us, are very funny. Within the framework of conventional West End comedy they delight us with the sparkle of their dialogue and … ? The truth is that apart from the rapid exchange of pseudo-epigrams there is nothing: there is no characterisation, no sentiment to be imparted to the audiences, no great insights.
The programme notes tor Private Lives, currently at Downstage, claim the absence of substance, of "political opinions, moral judgments" as the reason why Mr Coward's work hasn't dated. Such opinions and judgments, as he may have written in 1930, could well look ludicrous now. Because Mr Coward is not concerned with messages, his "interest in humanity, its quirks and foibles, its vanities and idiocies, its prejudices and pomposities" come to us I as it did to the West End audiences of the 1930s.
There seems to me to be a strange logic here for if you admit that the plays contain no characterisation (and the programme notes make this admission) then how can there be any concern with humanity (unless the actors are reciting political tracts, which they aren't). Surely humanity is made of people and every person has a character. If Mr Coward's theatre is to be demonstrative —it certainly isn't didactic—then it must be composed of characters living in more than one dimension (which according to my logic involves characterisation).
All there is is very funny dialogue coming from very flat people who belong in a world far removed from anything I (or 99.9% of Downstage audiences) are ever likely to live in. The people are flippant and their flippancy is very but they never stop being flippant so we can never see what is underneath (hence the conclusion then is nothing). Because they are all very much the same and thev swing along without giving us a peck at anything it is impossible for us to tell it they are vain or pompous at all.
The saving grace is the dialogue and the style of dialogue which in some respects foreshadows Albee (as that plavwright is gracious enough to admit). It is this grace that is most sorely abused in Downstage's Private Lives. I found it very difficult to catch many lines, particularly those of Sibyl and
While Mr Mason's voice lost many of the quips that lie in the play he also failed to bring enough charm to
Nicky Hill's performance tried to capture some sense of the whimsical young thing that
The play begins with the newly-weds Sibyl and Elyot: the latter is being very blase about the honeymoon and off-hand about his first marriage. The conversation takes place on a hotel balcony. Then with Sibyl and Elyot retreating to dress for dinner Victor and
Whereas Mrs Hill and Mr Mason brought little but the lines (and slightly garbled at that) to their opening scene
Miss Smith's performance stands above those of the rest of the cast She conveys a sense of enjoyment when she is being frivolous and witty and a sense of frustration when she argues with Elvot (with whom Amanda reunites at the end of Act I). Most delightful of all is that she never seems to repeat herself. After a while with the rest of the cast I felt I knew their repertoire of reactions and inflections, but with Miss Smith there was always something new. She was the one member of the cast I could imagine in that strange social climate.
In the second and third acts the scene is Amanda's Paris flat and it is here that we meet Louise the French maid.
If I say Noel Coward's plays have dated I am obviouslv open to criticism— the Downstage season of Private Lives is very popular and I understand revivals of this author's work are being successfully staged both in Australia and Britain. I think it is safer to say that because the plays are not offensive on any grounds I can think of and because they have some very amusing dialogue they make an easy and not too dramatic change from television. The fact that they have nothing to say is obviously not a lament of the majority, though I have noticed it is more commonly a lament of my particular age-group.
While the costumes in this production do reflect (and most attractively) the affluence of the social strata the play is set in it is unfortunate that the sets do not. They appear to be functional from the point of view of the cast with nice balconies to sit on and baby grand pianos to play on but they belong to another world. While I appreciate the exigencies of space at Downstage and realise that it is a triumph to use two complete sets anyway. I think it is a pity that neither of them managed to help establish the world in which all the flippancy was taking place.
This first novel of a woman involved in the English intellectual-literary contemporary scene uses all the 'right' points of departure but fails to draw the necessary links between them. Her novel becomes studded with names, references and events but the originality, the interest, the substance which should have been between this name-dropping is not there.
Her novel begins "Tell me about Wittgenstein, I begged," and ends with the observation that there are, "No Nijinskis in the ethical class." Yet this intellectual snobbery cannot disguise the flaws in this novel. It is the story of a rather off-beat girl who lives in London, her lovers, her literary and political affiliations, her marriage and subsequent acceptance of her role as wife and mother.
She is the wife of Mrs Grundy and Private Case, Public Scandal); Klaus the hero of Thinking Girl is a thinly disguised
It's no use standing on the seat
The crabs in here can jump ten feet' "
Her sources are acknowledged in the first chapter, when Jockey, a man she has met at a rather contrived demonstration asks her what she does:
"I told him 'I write, you see but not fiction. Stories are carpets; they hide the floor. I keep a note book,' 'Like Doris Lessing?' he ventured. 'Like Simone Weil' I retorted."
—" 'I would've thought,' he hazarded, 'that Sibelius has all Beethoven's faults and none of his virtues.' 'He has them,' I replied, 'so thoroughly that they are virtues.' "
— "She [Ivy Compton-Burnett] creates a world,' I said, 'where grotesque malevolence underlies human relations.' 'Our own;' he suggested. 'There's no one-to-one correspondence between art and life' I said."
— " 'I go sometimes to Antonioni, Bereman, Fellini, I told him." In Paris I saw The Andalusian Dog. Most people gasped and turned away when a razor sliced an eye. The surface held for a moment, then collapsed and jelly bulged out of it! "
— " 'Do you go to exhibition? Have you seen the Kandinskv exhibition? What do you make of it?' Silence. I was nonplussed. 'I don't know,' I said. T have trouble generalising.' "
Justine, but she identifies more with the spirited Juliette. Her marriage, the birth of a child, the poverty and her husband's subsequent affairs break down her individuality. She becomes the wife rather than the "other woman", the betrayed rather than the betrayer and learns to accept the restraint on her freedom. She marries out of frivolous indecision; she wants to retain her marriage for good ordinary bourgeois reasons. Hut none of these relationships are understood or analysed: all we have is the product of a feminine sub-culture.
Norma Meacock: Thinking Girl, a novel. Neville Spearman, London, 1968. $2.80. Reviewed by
• • •
When
All is bliss after Edith comes to stay: only at the very end do besetting problems arrive when it becomes imperative that Papa and Edith get married. This means dealing with Mother. Bernard had not seen Mother since she left home (and he can't remember that). However, Mother comes to a quick and thankful conclusion, thanks to the micros, and Papa can now safely both bed and wed. The ending, despite rather delicate suspension of credibility, is too pat. The whole thing is wrapped up as if the author had suddenly run out of ideas, which he probably had. The theme—"childhood is the ace of astonishment"—is dealt with unclumsily, without labouring the point. It's refreshing but far from intoxicating. Its charm is wholesome, peripheral, momentary. The characterisation of Bernard is handled with restraint and detached sympathy: he is no child horror despite the rather ridiculous machinations of the plot. The gentle irony is tempting but melts on savouring; it is candy-floss. A nice book for the rather sentimental girl-friend or liberal Mum.
Andre Couteaux: Portrait of the Boy as a Young Wolf (L'Enfant a Femmes). Translated by
The VUW Athletic Club has certainly not gone into recess in the off-season
The group at present numbers 20 of both sexes and anyone interested is welcome to join.
The Athletic Club has for many years been at or near the top of Wellington Centre athletics. '
One of the most successful club members was Penny Haworth. She was deservedly named the New Zealand Universities Sportswoman of the year for 1968.
This year was an oustanding one for her. She began the year by equalling her personal best 100 yards time of 10.8 sec, and followed this by successfully taking the provincial 100, 220 and 440 yards championship titles.
The highlight of her list of successes was the winning at the Nationals of the 220 and 440 championship titles.
She now holds the Wellington provincial 100, 220 and 440 yards records; NZU 100 and 220 records and the NZ 220 record (23.8 sec).
Penny, along with other club members, Alan Dougal and Dick Tweedie were members of the NZU athletic team which toured Australia in the May vacation.
1968 was not without disappointment for Penny. Following nomination for the 200 and 400 metres at Mexico, she failed to gain Olympic selection, although her season's best times were inside the I.A.A.F.'s qualifying standards.
The A.G.M. is to be held in the Women's Common Room, tomorrow.
With 9 athletic blues awarded for the 1967/68 season and the undoubted enthusiasm and ability of its members, the coming track season promises to be a good one for Victoria.
This season has been a moderately successful one for the Victoria first soccer team, which has achieved some excellent play.
Perhaps the high point of the season was the team's effort in the Chatham Cup; the best performance the club has achieved for many years.
In the first round, Petone. a Central League team, were beaten 2-1 in a hard and exciting game.
In the second round. Varsity was drawn against the top Wellington team. Western Suburbs, and were given no chance at all.
However, surprising the large crowd — and Suburbs too — Varsity lead 1-0 for much of the game after a headed goal from
Vic were finally beaten 2-1 after extra time in one of the most suspense-filled games of the season.
In the Wellington first division a disappointing effort during the middle of the season pulled the team down the table.
A revival, with four good wins towards the end of the season brought the team up to halfway, fifth place.
Outstanding games in the first division were the 1-1 draw with eventual winners, Wellington Diamond United, and the 4-3 defeat of Lower Hutt who finished third.
Top goal scorers for the season were
Swim—on Fridays,
Swim—at 1-2 or 2-3.
Swim—at the Freyberg Pool.
Swim—for only 20c (includes bus fare)
Don'T Forget —buses leaving every Friday 1-2 and 2-3 from outside new lecture block and returning in time for next lecture.—Be In The Swim!
A square dancing social evening in the gym will be one of the last chances to let off steam before exams— tomorrow, Wednesday, 25 September, 8 to 10 p.m. To the accompaniment of a professional Country and Western band.
Intramural
Badminton Ladder as at 16/9/68: Music 1, Geography 2, History 3, Chemistry 4, H.S.O.B. 5, Maths 6, Philosophy 7, Si Williamson 8, English 9.
Soccer Ladder (1st 6): Accountancy 1 Salient 2, Economics 3, Weir (All Stars) 4, Horowhenua 5, Grange Mount 6.
Challenges for tomorrow: 12.00, Horowhenua v. Commerce; 12.40, Accountancy v. Weir (All Stars); 1.00, Weir (Rugby)
For the third successive season University hava won tha Wellington men's hockay championship title.
In the last game of the season they succeeded in beating Karori 1-0 at Anderson Park to take the McNaught Cup.
A win for Karori, some-thing which was well on the cards, would have given Wellington College Old Boys the honours, as the final points ladder below well illustrates.
Mcnaught Cup Final PointS
The following student members of Victoria's men's hockey teams made various Wellington representative sides this season: K. Purchase (Wellington A);
Both teams had lost several key players to the NZ Olympic team. Victoria had lost Bruce Judge; Canterbury, Selwyn and
The greater loss suffered by Canterbury University should have evened the odds up for Vic. However. Vic were thrashed by Canterbury 6-0.
Victoria's decision to play
Victoria have had an unhappy time in games outside the Wellington McNaught Cup competition.
The Winter Tournament side, admittedly, was not the best Vic side as several key players were not eligible.
However the bottom placing, with not even one win. was most disappointing in view of the composition of the team.
Sir a pity that
Sir—Mr Wilde' article on White. cum demonstrations was a sign, I hope, that staid Auntie Salient has not surrended irrevocably to to Establishment. The decisive, far action by the reported, incisive and brilliant repate of Mitchell (Hamilton version) "what do you want to demonstrate for".
One point though about the "in" vigil. I do hope the drenched activists declined to form an unholy alliance by refusing to imbibe the coffee provided by the well intentioned, though misguided reactionary elements in our society.
Yours,
P.S. At least the ultimate indignity of Jamie juining in with placards etc did not eventuate.
Sir—God-awful) Not Only are we treated to some ghastly apparition in the last throes of gutsache, But Also a page of cock. Fortunately, this Little lot was free of the arrogant quotes from the Christian Bible usually embedded in such muck. There appeared only one word which really stunk to "high heaven', namely) 'rational'. Some nerve to equate rationality with the most irrational concepts this side of the black stump. Rationalisation after rationalisation! When will these twits ever learn that a goodly supply of goodnes does not necessarily emanate from an equivalent amount of religion?
"No-one can consistently live as though God were not there."— Suppose I have never heard of 'God' might I not still treat my neighbour decently, or being Godless, would I have to invent a Cod to justify my "morals", (I see no reference to Voltaire made by the Christian fanatic).
You who talk about naievete. Yours is poetry in the ears of the believer. Man is moral or, Man knows what's good for him God or no God. I prefer no-God. God, creator of all things, of drug addiction, condoms, great fishes, and saints. With angels and archangels and all the company of heaven he rules by fear—it's the good old Fascist way. So Vive Satan! Here I come. One of the traditions of 'brave new fearless thinkers'. (Please Devil, consider my age and do not take me at this stage). So we're free-thinkers but don't knock it pal, that doesn't make anyone wrong or inferior—less credulous may be.
On the assumption that God is not, I do not 'conclude that everything is utter irrationality and meaningless' neither do I beat my breast in sorrow or despair. I only take the old old credo heard so many times before in my hot little hand and toss it down the Shangri-la, where like all crap, it belongs. Some other time it might have merited inclusion in my biography "A Million Years of Bullshit".
And you know what God said when they had him up for indecent exposure in church—
'Nobody likes me Everybody hates me Going clown the garden to eat worms
My bloody oath I am!' Genuflect, genuflect, genuflect,
Sir—There, dear students who have taken it upon themselves to help the poor kids still at school and give them their own Union (very own?) have taken Up the-wrong cause. Any latterday Messiahs can toddle back to their own (very own?) Student Uunion which seems pretty insipid, unsupported petty and petulant.
The people Who need to be im pressed, the School Board, composed of men of the Forty Years On? and what was good then will be better now. group, will not be inspired to make reforms by Secondary Student Unions—rather discouraged. We ourselves have come heavlly into contact with this august body of elders: one demanding the abolition of caps and berets (fully supported by the staff) and then demanding freedom of speech.
Our headmaster, a very tolerant and understanding man 'censors' our magazine to calm the Board (who are afraid that mention of Sex corrupts third Formers, as do purposefully misspelt articles) and make sure we have not inadvertenty written something libellous. However, we have found that am complaints we made mas be censored, but they thus come before the Headmaster, who often acts on them even though they may remain unpublished. You can have just as much success with words unpublished as words printed.
We do not need a student union. We do not want one, especially one founded by Varsity students on a good will mission. Any changes that come must from Boards and Education Departments?student unions have little influence with these groups. So I think your missionaries will find a strong resistance to their move (they will of course, call it 'apathetic indifference').
Sir—Some time ago Salient published a letter from myself pointing out the dangers of the metal coat-hanging spikes in the Union building men's cloakroom.
Since then rubber buffers have now been placed over the spikes to offset the danger, and I wish to thank Salient and the per sons concerned for offsetting this hazard.
Sir—Mrs Belding's propositions are extremely attractive. I would just love to (a) steal, (b) commit adultery, (c) sleep with every girl I fancy, (d) embezzle cash from my own brother, and (e) rape the sister of my best friend. Especially as I would have the sanction of being logically consistent.
Unfortunately (a) I'm not quick enough to get away with it, (b) I'm not married, (c) most of the girls don't necessarily fancy me, (d) my brother is much bigger than I am, and (e) I'm just too damn lazy to make the effort.
However I Will keep Mrs Belding's kind offer In mind.
Sir -I am a fifth-year student, and have observed that the staff members in certain departments put pressure on students to type their essays rather than writing them by hand. In fact. I suspect that this is occasional a factor in the marks given for them.
It should be perfectly obvious to these staff members that many Students (e.g. those without bursaries or many girl students who cannot earn much money on the long vacation) find it difficult to buy a typewriter, pay someone else to type their essays out, or gain access to a typewriter at all. Moreover, many students may not easily be able to learn how to type efficiently and do their work well at the same time.
Has.anyone any ideas on what could be done about this?
Sir—I have just been turned away from the Wai-te-Ata parking area by the University parking attendant for the umpteenth time, while at the same time dozens of staff parking places in the same parking area were empty. In fact the staff parking spaces are at least two thirds empty tor the whole day. It staff do not require these parking spaces surely they can be made available to students.
Sir—One aspect of illegitimacy that has not been fully discussed on either the national or university level, is the availability of oral contraceptives to the unmarried woman. I understand the present position with the university doctors is that officially they will not dispense prescriptions, but unofficially they do. It would seem therefore that they set themselves up as official judges—at least concerning the female student?as to who is and who is not entitled to this free medical service (for which we all indirectly pay).
I was personally refused orals by student doctors at both Canterbun and Wellington at the time when I asked lor them. I was living some hundreds of miles away from my home town, had infrequent access to my own doctor and was not involved in what I would consider a promiscuous sex life. I am Interested therefore in what sort of arbitrary criteria the university doctors use, and whether lying to accentuate or minimise one's position is really required. The present high cost of orals ?due chiefly, I understand, to the dispensing cost? makes it absurd for any student to have to attend an outside doctor when the university provides a Health Service.
Dr
Most girls are hesitant to go to their family doctor if they believe he or tneir parents would have an unsympathetic attitude. It takes a great deal of courage for most young girls to visit a doctor and ask tor orals, Far more so if the believes that her request may be denied or that she will be subjected to a moral lecture when the alternative is abstinence (unlikely) or reliance on the male for contraception. The present illegitimacy rate may well be an indication of how well this latter method has paid off.
Apart from the mere prescription there are often accompanying physical and psychological problems for a woman. Is the same doctor Who refused to give a prescription for orals prepared to treat a female student for these needs? Alternatively there is the doctor— and even a Catholic doctor realises the harm it will do to his practice if he refuses to grant prescriptions—who will willingly torn out oral prescriptions on his prepared notepad—collect his $1.50? but because the girl is unmarried, and perhaps because the requests are so many, is unable to give sufficient attention to the sexual problems of an unmarried woman. Marriage is generally considered to be the panacea for these problems.
There is no reason why an unmarried woman should feel guilty about asking for orals from a doctor, yet as long as doctors continue to take a hypocritical attitude toward the problem. I Fail to see how. more unmarried women can be expected to ask For help.
Yours faithfully,
[Dr
"A further statement in this letter implies that our opinion may possibly bo that there is 'promiscuous sex-life among students, This is not our opinion. On the contrary, students generally show a sense of responsibility which far exceeds that shown by man) young persons outside the University community.
"The concern expressed in this letter about the high rate of illegitimacy and unwanted pregnancies in New Zealand is one which is shared by most doctors, and in particular by those who work among young people.
"At the student Health Service we offer students advice about any health problem this includes contraceptive advice if a request is made. It is generally accepted that if we are to encourage a responsible attitude towards illegitimacy and unwanted pregnancies, then such advice should not be withheld. Nevertheless, any advice should remain a purely personal and private matter between doctor and patient. It is only within this setting that an adequate and worthwhile contribution can be made."—cd.]
28-068 Kelburn Butchery (1965) Ltd.
(M. G. & K. G Parkinson)
•
Choice, Tender 1st Grade Meat and Smallgoods
Ham - Bacon & Poultry SupplieS
Margaret O'Connor Studio
Private Tuition Daily
Beginners only every Monday, 7—10.30 p.m. Adminion 50c
58 Lower Cuba Street
Telephone 45-818
The Grand Hotel
Willis Street
The "Inn" Place For Students
Daysh Renouf & Co
Members Wellington Stock Exchange
National Mutual Centre
Featherston Street
Tel. 70-169
Victuallers
Reginald Collins Ltd
Wholesale wine and spirit people. Vintners to the Students' Association. Carry stocks of ell brands of ale, spirits, table wine (from 55c), sherry in flagons ($160) or quart bottles.
Free delivery—Cellars located at No. 3 Ballance Street
(Customhouse Quay end)
New Hairdressing Salon
•
47 Farish Street And 23 Manners Street
For All Student Styles
Sports
The Sports Depot
(Witcombe & Caldwell)
Long-standinq connection with University sport. Every one of Vic's 24 sports catered for.
For Flowers …
Waughs Flower Shoppe Ltd.
5 Bowen Street
Tel. 40-797 (After Hours 44-068)
Barry & Sargent Ltd.
Opticians
118 Willis St. - Tel. 45-841
Downstage Theatre Cafe
"Private Lives"
by
Produced by
Designed by
All Reservations
Telephone 55-739
Hotel St. George 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
Suit Hire
•
Comer Manners and Farish Streets
You Don't of course read either in the daily papers, the Committee on Vietnam publications or anywhere else about this big split in the Auckland anti-war movement between the Peace Committee on Vietnam and the Auckland Council on Vietnam-which is why I'm telling you now. The Auckland Council expelled the University Vietnam Committee, the Progressive Youth Movement and the Peace Committee from its conclaves for organising independent demonstrations on the same day as the Council's, Now the Council has issued a magazine Views On Vietnam which is on about how pro-Communist the Peace Committee is, and how no one will work with it unless they can trust its motives. Compared with this, Wellington left wing politics are pretty dull.
* * *
Which reminds me-it's nice to have this visit from President Park, establish good relations with South Korea and all that jazz. But if the South Koreans are that interested, why don't they have an Embassy or Consulate, or some such in Wellington? (or New Zealand something in Seoul?) Some consulate must have prepared the way for good old Chung Hee Park and it was probably either the Americans or the Taiwanese. But is surely would save everyone concerned a lot of trouble if South Korea had a simpler way of communicating with us than sending its President over. Or maybe behind all the protocol everybody's still wonderding why he bothered to come-perhaps his daughter wanted a trip overseas.
* * *
My Stockbroker tells me the Billing-Bromby affair may indicate an attempt to ward off a 'Truth' takeover bid for the 'Sunday Times'.
* * *
Everybody knows, of course, about how the Chinese smuggled the Asian flu virus disguised as plastic-coated editions of the Thoughts of Chairman Mao (yes, that's why there's that Mao picture above Doug While's desk-a symbol of the Great White Virus, the answer to the Yellow Peril). But not everybody knows how the Security Service smuggled it out again in President Park's baggage. And then people complain that they don't know what the Security Force does?
* * *
As If people didn't know anyway there'd only be 20 members of the Communist Party if there were no Security cops.
'The City Council is virtually powerless. It must be replaced by a Regional Authority-both to create real local government and save Wellington ratepayers money," says Labour candidate for the October 12 City Council elections, 29-year-old Mrs. Yvonne Grove (left).
Yvonne, a student at both University and Training College, has appeared in several television panel discussions, as well as holding positions on Carp, the Workers' Education Association and in trade unions.
Yvonne thinks that the City Council as it now stands is virtually powerless, especially as far as students are concerned. She wants to become a councillor only in order to expedite a transfer of power-but not powerlessn ess-to a directly elected Regional Development Authority which would have more real power.
Local body anarchy costs ratepayers money-particularly Wellingtonians, who at present subsidise commuters from Hutt and Porirua who use city amenities.
"It's just taken twelve months for the city councils of the four main centres to get a report on Urban Renewal accepted by the Government," said Yvonne. "And this report-on the inner-city area-does not once mention student housing which is largely in this inner-city Apparently no consideration has been given to subsidising student housing or preparing for housing for the increasing student population.
"A student is needed on Council to bring this kind of thinking down to earth."
The City Council has no power to police student flats to prevent profiteering and to eliminate sub-standard accommodation.
It cannot even enforce its own regulations. This can only be changed by re-organising the whole local body set-up.
Yvonne will support University control of Kelburn Park-which is the logical recreation area for students -and act as University spokeswoman on matters, like the re-zoning of buildings for the University bookshop.
The 1968 Vuw Sportsman of the Year has been awarded to John Gerald Gibbons, a rugby and rowing blue.
John was unable to be present because he is in Mexico to represent New Zealand in the rowing.
John was also absent in 1966 when he was first awarded the cup.
The cup was presented to John's father, Mr
In his reply, Mr Gibbons said that his son had said that while he was in Mexico he would try to bring further honour to New Zealand and to Victoria.
John had worked extremely hard, devoting himself to everything he took in hand, he said. He felt really thrilled that his son had been presented with the award as he 'realised it was not given lightly.
The terms of the ward of Sportsman of the Year are: 1. Prowess in sport. 2. Versatility in sport; and 3. Contribution to sport in the University.
The 1968 Blues Awards were presented by the Chancellor. Mr
The address was given by Mr
A Blue was a great responsibility when one became involved with pressure groups, who would use the recipient's name to add weight to some particular issue of their own, Mr Reid said.
"I am appalled at the amount of use pressure groups are making of the sportsmen of the world, he said. Sport should remain above the political level.
"The Olympic Games have bowed down to politics, and I am very sad." Mr Reid said. "The way the Press jumped on Ron Jarden's recent comment is a case in point," he said.
The Olympic Games should and could be a level at which men and women of all colours could meet and compete against each other without having to look over their shoulders, he said.
The evening was attended by nearly 100 people, including many old blues.
After cocktails, a five-course meal was served.
It was hoped that next year (the fifth annual dinner) and every following five years, the nines Evening would be a gala occasion, the Sports Committee chairman, Mr Corry, said.
John, who was educated at Wangenui Collegiate School, is now completing a Commerce degree. He plans to sit the first paper of his Accounting III exam in Mexico.
In 1964 John was in the Senior A rugby and rowing eight for Tournament. He also rowed for Star during the season and while still a maiden oar was selected for the Tokyo Olympics in the rowing eight.
In 1965 he concentrated on rugby and was a lock for the Senior A and Wellington B teams. Ho also made the Victoria rowing team for Tournament and was selected for the NZU team and received an NZU Blue.
In 1966 John was selected In the Wellington A squad but went to Auckland to train with the New Zealand rowing team for the World Championships. He went to Yugoslavia with the eight which performed well, finishing sixth.
Again he was awarded blues in rowing and rugby and won the Sportsman of the Year trophy.
In 1967 he concentrated on studies and was not available for the Canadian rowing tour, but still rowed for Victoria, which won the eights. He was also selected for the NZU team.
In 1968 he received three thirds in the New Zealand rowing championships. He was also a Victoria Blue in rowing, won the single sculls at Tournament and was a member of the winning eight.
John has always epitomized the real sportsman, the secretary of the Blues Committee,
The
Miss Jenny Wee, who will give a concert of music by Bach, Schumann and Bartok in the University Memorial Theatre today at 1 p.m. The admission will be 20 cents, and proceeds from the concert will go to aid the Biafran Relief Fund. Miss Wee was born in Singapore in 1947 and began her musical studies at the age of five. In 1961 she went to London to further her general education, and studied first, under recommendation of Mindru Katz, with IIona Kabos. More recently she has studied with Balint Vaxsonyi who was Ernest Dohnanyi's last pupil. At present in New Zealand on a short visit, Miss Wee has given some private recitals and has been auditioned by the NZBC for recording.
The Director of the New Zealand Library School, Mr
Appointments can be made with the Librarian's Secretary (R.B. 303 or telephone 46-046, ext. 441), says the Deputy Librarian, Mr