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Salient. An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria College, Wellington, N.Z. Vol. 17, No. 5. April 15, 1953

Another Step . .

page 2

Another Step . . .

At the N.Z.U.S.A. Council Meeting at Otago University another step was made to bring student facilities up to the level of those in other countries. The Student Nnewspapers Association came into being (officially) and was given a pat on the head by what it is hoped will be the parent body.

It is not generally realised in the Colleges that their newspapers are quite big business compared to other item of finance. £2500 approximately is spent by the member collages of N.Z.U..S.A. to ensure a coverage of college news and to aid the growth of corporate university life and spirit. Papers that lose approximately £300 each become quite important in college finances. And up to now there has been no integrating organisation to cover the activities of these papers. Now that there is the newly elected President and Secretary of the N.Z.U.S.N.A. note the "N"J have several problems and aims about which to obtain information for presentation at the second council meeting in August.

One of these is the interchange of blocks. An ordinary single column block costs at the least tan shillings; there is often duplication of blocks of important people (e.g. Dr." Currie) it is easily seen that if one block of each such person—and there are many—it made and then inter-changed between college papers the meagre financial resources of each paper will be able to stretch further. This and the journalistic standards of the papers would be raised.

There are many aspects of this mutual help which can be arranged by N.Z.U.S.N.A but as is being pointed out at N.Z.U.S.A. and elsewhere, this is no good reason for forming another organisation. As M. J. O'Brien remarked: "It seems like an organisation merely for the sake of having an organisation. The papers could quite easily exchange blocks and the like amongst themselves without having to form yet another organisation." The "progenitors of N.Z.U.S.N.A. while admitting the validity of the argument up to a point felt at dunedin that this view was rather limited and short-sighted. Gut there does exist another important aspect of journalistic life in the universities which cannot be adequately catered for without a national organisation.

There is for example the question of gaining recognition from the local and national Press organisations to the extent, not that we ourselves sacrifice any of our individuality, but that we obtain certain privileges and facilities that will raise the standard of student journalism to heights impossible at present. Membership in a national body recognised by each other bodies as (for example) the N.Z. Press Association. N.Z.U.S.A. and the N.Z. Journalist's Association and other bodies both here) and in the Commonwealth and in foreign countries will bring many advantages recognised fully by the College papers if not yet fully by N.Z.U.S.A.

In the end the justification of this new organisation will be in its success, and in the enthusiasm and capability with which its aims are furthered by its members. Time only and the benevolent co-operation of the N.Z.U.S.A. and the Colleges can determine the fate of this "yet another organisation."

T.H.H.