The front page of your last issue was marred by a, large three-column banner accusing my Executive, of "Masterly Inactivity" in the matter of this year's Extravaganza. Apart from the mortification this has caused my Executive, it ought to come as a shock to you to know that in making this imputation you have been guilty of an even worse crime, namely, "Masterly Inaccuracy." I have been instructed to enlighten you on this subject. Extravaganza 1949 from the time it was first discussed by the Executive early in the second term of last year presented something of a problem. Since 1949 is Jubilee Year, the obvious thing to do was to have a Jubilee Extrav.

The matter was therefore handed over to the group or ex-students who constituted the Jubilee Celebrations Committee, and who expressed some considerable interest in the idea. Meanwhile much interesting speculation was carried on into the promising possibility of having a college Council Chorus, a Professorial Ballet and so on. At a meeting held on the 5th. July 1948 the Executive received a petition from a group of present students, complaining that because of the Extrav. being prepared by ex-students, "those students who have commenced writing scripts will lose the experience they otherwise might have gained." The petition asked that in order to "maintain a continuity of experience amongst students writers," a number of present students be included in the Jubilee Extrav. Committees. In its usual democratic manner my Executive then appointed seven well-known students to sit with the ex-students on the committee.. On 12th. August 1948 the chairman reported to the Executive "that a sub-committee were working out a scheme for Extravaganza 1949, and were to report back to the combined Committee.

About September

By February of this year, "since nothing further had been heard of this sub-committee it became clear that either the sub-committee had placed too wide an interpretation on the words, "about September'" or else had gone the way of all good sub-committees. Therefore, the Exec, decided to take things into its own hands. It was agreed that owing to the default of the Jubilee committee the Extrav. would have to be written by present students as in the past. Therefore a notice was posted calling for scripts, setting a dead-line at March 3rd later extended to March 29th. The position at the moment is that there are two scripts in the hands of the selectors, and by the time that your issue appears, the casting meeting will be imminent.

The lash of your front-page streamer has provoked the Executive into committing itself to print and perhaps you feel that this in itself is an achievement worthy of satisfaction (We had previously held the opinion that nothing short of tidal wave or famine could stir the Exec, to action of any sort.—Ed.) However I would recommend that the next time you feel you "would like very much to know when the Exec, will actually do something" you refer yourself in the obvious manner, to the minutes of the Executive which are recorded in Scientific prose for the purpose of dispelling such ignorance as that of which you have been the unwitting victims.