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Salient. An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria College, Wellington, N.Z. Vol. 10, No. 4. April 23, 1947

Truth?

Truth?

Most students will have read the article in "Truth" attacking the proposed Student Health Scheme. Apart from the fact that it is obviously a form of "yellow journalism" at its worst, the article contains both a number of direct misstatements and an even greater number of distortions, all of which require correction.

I propose to correct the more obvious errors:
(1)The motion clearly states that all students "should" have a medical examination. It is only in the form of a recommendation and does not in any way pretend to be mandatory. This makes nonsense of the suggestion that it foreshadows "total regimentation and complete subservience to the State." This is emotional distortion, apart from the fact that it has nothing to do with the matter under discussion.
(2)The motion was passed at a properly called meeting complying in all respects with the constitutional provisions and after due publicity had been given of the intention to move.
(3)It is open at any time for the Association to rescind the motion.
(4)The scheme is not being foisted on the students by any clique or coterie but in fact simply re-expresses the wish of 600 out of the 900 voting students when asked the same question in a ballot in 1943.
(5)The paper's understanding that the voluntary system "has worked very well indeed" indicates its complete lack of comprehension. The voluntary system does not work at all.
(6)The Association does not wish nor would the Council by any stretch of the imagination agree to the ejectment of persons suffering a physical disability. It is interesting to observe however that the University prohibits the attendance of the vast bulk of the community because it suffers the mental disability of being unable to pass the entrance examination. There appears no logical reason why students should not be physically as well as mentally fit.
(7)The paper has failed to observe that already in New Zealand a compulsory system is operating in one of our Universities, to wit the Otago Medical School, a system which it is proposed to extend to the whole of the University. They also overlook the fact that all school children and all entrants to Training College undergo such an examination.

These are some of the most glaring examples of "Truth's" journalese. Every sentence could be taken and shown to be either incorrect or so full of emotive jargon as to be useless. One can readily agree that there are arguments worthy of consideration by reasonable people against the proposition, but it is to be hoped that those students who read the article in "Truth" do not reduce themselves to the intellectual level of those to whom "Truth" habitually addresses its "messages" and accept this stuff as a correct statement of the case.

—Nigel Taylor, President, VUC Students' Association.