Two successive Special General Meetings had had quorum trouble: one flittered up and down like the cable car, the other just stopped when the quorum walked out. But the third Special General Meeting in the week before the vacation had no trouble with a quorum—it just didn't get one.

But as the President, K. B. O'Brien, pointed out, it seemed rather a shame to have dragged out some of the faithful to discuss the Building and then send them home without any reward: so an informal meeting was called and held. Naturally none of the decisions made at it could be binding, but it didn't really matter because it didn't make a great number of decisions.

The basis of discussion was the Executive report on the requirements for the new building (the full report will be published in one of the next issues of Salient) but the discussion was desultory at the best.

President O'Brien made a brief, survey of the report, making odd explanations as he went.

The Gym?

One of the major points he mentioned was the question of having a separate gym building. There were several reasons for this. One was that it seemed uneconomical to build a gym in expensive ferro-concrete, and take up space in the building—and space would not be all that easy to spare. Another was that a wooden building could handle the requirements perhaps better: and the present gym would possibly do in the change over period.

The gym would not be stressed, cater for dances. Using a gym in this way spoilt the floor for sports, and sports also made the floor bad for dances. "I don't dance myself," he noted, perhaps to show how unbiased he was.

The floor of the gym was the basis for a discussion too; to be sprung, or not to be sprung? To be sawdust, or not to be? The clubs don't seem quite to agree here: the Exec, report sits on the fence rather than on the floor. Mr. Piper emerged with a swimming pool under his arm—the Exec, were somewhat surprised at this late stage. This matter, too, seems one which no-one except the Swimming Club and the Rifle Club (for once) agree on.

Few of the other points raised in discussion were of much importance.

The Drama Club were totally at odds with the opinions expressed in the report on a couple of matters. The opinions expressed in the report were their own. Harsh words were hurled at heretics in the theatre lighting fraternity, and even harsher ones at architects who just didn't understand the needs of a theatre. No-one knew how much space it took to drive a nail; perhaps it was about the same amount as it was for Mr. Piper, who wanted to have a bath.

Most self-sacrificing of the evening were the Music Club experts who, offered a separate room of their own, didn't want it. Less official musicians disagreed, pointing out that the college was not suitable for holding musical evenings when they had to finish so early (and anyway, as one darkly muttered "all the blinking piano players in the college are not in the Music Department.")

A Chapel

One thing most people seemed to agree on was the chapel. This had been thrashed out before, apparently, and everyone had their minds made up on the score. An extremely simple job, available to all denominations whenever necessary, was the demand. Some of the college atheists may be expected to register a protest at this: if there are arguments against this, then none were raised at the meeting.

Last real bone of contention was the caretaker's flat: it was suggested by Mr. Garrett that he would hardly care to sleep next to the noise created by a bash or Extrav, rehearsals—and that the flat would need either to be placed away from the building or soundproofed fairly well. Mr. O'Brien thought that the caretaker should sleep on the premises to do the job properly. Someone was heard to remark that he wouldn't get much chance to go to sleep on the job.

The evening broke up early:.. Mr. O'Brien's parting answer (to a query) reminded them that the cost of maintenance and upkeep in the new Building would mean inevitably a rise in the Stud. Ass. fees, and they went home to think that one over.