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Salient. An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria College, Wellington, N.Z. Vol. 10, No. 12. August 20, 1947

Caustic Comment From Retiring Committee

Caustic Comment From Retiring Committee

An open letter to the future members of the Women's Common Room Committee. Dear Future Members of the W.C.R.C.,—

As retiring members, we feel that it would be helpful to give you some idea of the duties which you are about to assume, and to give you the opportunity of profiting from our three years of misdirected activity.

First, it is extremely unwise to begin with enthusiastic plans for brightening up the common room. Students do not want it bright. For example, if you buy new chair-covers of gold material (partly for brightness, chiefly for cheapness) some conservative students will immediately indicate a decided preference for the old sombre covers by wiping the soles of their shoes over the nice bright gold. Others will show their disapproval in a less open manner by using the covers as tablecloths or ashtrays, and stuffing crumbs, apple-cores and cigarette butts down the sides of the armchairs. On the whole it is wisest to ignore the state of the common room furniture unless you have the necessary peculiar sense of humour to look upon such activity with equanimity.

Second, you will be expected to provide reading material for the common room. This will immediately be appropriated (there is a stronger word) and you will be able to spend your spare time playing hunt-the-magazine, and-explaining to students why there is no reading material.

Third, there is no point in looking at the black footmarks on the wallpaper. Looking won't do any good, and anyway the College authorities pay for the paper, not the W.C.R.C.

There are a few other points we could mention: for instance, we have asked for a mirror for the washroom—imagination boggles at the thought of what might happen to it!

Most students are co-operative and refrain from complaining. Those who pay locker fees promptly deserve thanks, and the not so co-operative should realise that all money spent on the common room is collected from those women who use the lockers, so funds are limited.

We only hope your new committee members will display either more intelligence or more determination than we did.

(Signed) The Retiring Members of the Committee.