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Salient. An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria College, Wellington, N.Z. Vol. 7, No. 3. May 3, 1944

No-Man's Land

No-Man's Land

Since the beginning of this year the number of outside letters and contributions for "Salient" has been very heartening. We take this opportunity of thanking those writers. Their number is, however, still far too small. A small, part-time staff has great difficulty in covering all College activities. Outside reporters can help us immensely. Write for us—articles, letters, criticisms or reporta, and address them to "Editor, Salient," before the Wednesday preceding the relevant issue. (Men's Common Room letter rack or "Salient Room letter box.) It would also be appreciated if you would submit your copy legibly written on one side only of halved-foolscap paper, preferably double spaced. This saves a tremendous amount of re-writing.

If it is necessary to edit copy this is done as painlessly as possible—only padding is removed. You again can help here. Write your contribution out in full, then re-write it into half the length. It will be more lucid, brighter, more easily read. Your original ideas gain strength as unnecessary words are eliminated.

The possibility of doubling the size and frequency of "Salient is now arising. To achieve this we require a dependable team of contributors.

Will you be one of them?

Dear Sir,

—In your article on "Students and Trade Unions" (March 28th), Mr. Thompson, Secretary of the Freezing Workers' Union, cited the case of a student at Ngahauranga who refused to pay union fees. He failed to mention, however, that the refusal to pay was based on the injustice that a student who was only there two months should have to pay a full year's fee.

I was the student concerned and could see no legitimate reason for paying a full fee. Although other casual workers also paid, the fee was in most cases partially transferable to other unions.

Had there been a similar agreement between the Freezing Workers' Union and the University Students' Associations a different light would have been thrown on the matter.

However, by the Industrial Manpower Emergency Regulations, 1942, it is the law that anyone refusing to pay union fees may have them deducted from his pay if the union secretary, via the Chief Manpower Officer, requests the employer to deduct the amount.

In my case this was done. Apparently at Auckland freezing works students were given a concession, but at Ngahauranga we obtained a despondent promise from the manpower officer at the works to see what he could do. This seemed to be nothing.

Certainly dues levied on a weekly basis present the solution of the question, but the students from Ngahauranga are still fifteen shillings short. I am certain that the majority of them feel as I do; that they were stung.

Hoping for a square deal next time.

—Yours, etc.,

A. R. Stone,

Medical School, Otago.