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Salient. An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria College Wellington, N.Z. Vol. 6, No. 2 March 17th, 1943

[Introduction]

The editor of "Salient" has asked me to write a short description of the Modern Books bookshop. Some of the older students will perhaps know more about it than I do. For, since students are people of intelligence and independence, caring less for the showiness of vast shop windows than for the value of the wares within, it has often been my lot to find Modern Books practically full of the cream of Victoria College buying up the latest consignment of good stuff before the miserable committee members could even look at it.

That the uninitiated may have knowledge of this shop, the best in New Zealand, I will explain that it is a co-operative venture started largely by University men and women to provide themselves and the public generally with the kind of literature University men want. It is supported in this effort by working people, people of progressive ideas generally, and by people who just want good literature to read. But I have not yet met anybody who hoped to become rich out of shares in Modern Books. The shop is run by a committee of seven. At this moment there is one College Lecturer and three students on this committee, which should be a sufficient guarantee that the shop is worth investigating. The combination of university and working people in the shareholding body is of particular significance in the culture of this country. To students who come to V.U.C. intent on sharing in the culture of the country and on widening its basis it is unnecessary for me to enlarge upon the importance of supporting such a venture as this by interest both as a customer and activity as a shareholder.