.jpg)
Salient. An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria College, Wellington, N.Z. Vol. 18, No. 12. September 6, 1954
Irresponsible Criticisms
Irresponsible Criticisms
I do not wish to enter into any discussion concerning accrediting. That is not the object of this letter. My purpose is to show to what extent T. H. Beaglehole had, in his letter to you, relied on an irresponsible type of emotive criticism. Especially is this so in the find paragraph of his letter, in which Mr. Beaglehole has attempted nothing more than to dictate to us his opinions and prejudices, to be accepted without thought or reason. The writer's judgments in that paragraph are vague and emotional, and he has flagrantly neglected to back up those judgments. The style of writing in Mr. Beaglehole's letter is better suited to a political tirade than to a contribution to a university newspaper. "It is good for no one, least of all ourselves, to be exempt from criticism, if that criticism is a proper criticism and not something masquerading as a criticism." (The Control of Language," 1st. Ed. pl2C.) This sentence, I would suggest, sir, is one which Mr. Beaglehole could well take to heart.
—D. F. Donovan
(The much-vaunted principle of freedom of the Press has led us to believe that all criticism, valid or not, should be published—If only to enable us to reply to the criticism. Headers are in a position to judge for themselves as to the merits and/or demerits of the letter in question. One thing is certain, that both Mr D. and Mr. B. spent some considerable time composing the letter, and Mr. Beaglehole is a busy man, judging by his activity and keenness as V.U.C. representative on the N.Z.U.S.A. resident executive. More strength to his pen nib! But, Mr. B. it was just a teeny eeny bit emotional, don't you thing? Mr. D. is also not entirely objective,—Ed.)
Te Aro Park reclaimed . . . it is understood from usually reliable source that the College Council has given the go ahead signal for the reclamation of Te Aro Park. Work will commence within five weeks.