Dialectics, Democracy and Discontent

The values implicit in your editorial of April 18th are surely a little grotesque. Your basic complaint seems to be that people are unhealthily contented with what they see about them, and you assert that unless they become discontented, then they won't be contented for much longer!

(Reductio ad absurdun)—Ed.

The [unclear: assertion] that students, above all must take a lively interest in politics if democratic society as we know it is to survive, I find especially interesting. You make earier a clear implication that to be uninterested is to be Conservative—can it not then be assumed that to be interested is to be revolutionary? If this is so, then what you have said in effect is that democracy cannot survive unless students are revolutionaries! Sir, surely the influence borne by student opinion is a little less negative and reactionary than this?

Generally, in fact, your editorial seems to be a bit of a hotch-pot. You begin with absurdity, ("It has become a truism. .—truisms are born, Sir, not made. . .) and you conclude with pomposity and further absurdity (next time you happen to be going backwards. Sir, please try turning about and going forward—the chances are you will find yourself going in exactly the same direction as before, only you won't find yourself tripping up so frequently). Between the two, we find the vague ramblings of a mind confused in dialectic, politically immature.

—R. H. Green.

(We suggest that the correspondent re-read our editorial.—Ed.)

Subversion on the Campus

Your cartoon and editorial (4th issue), your front-page about Suez, so far as it made sense (3rd issue), and your editorial comparing British intervention in Egypt with Soviet intervention in Hungary (2nd issue), all seem to lend colour to Mr. Ellis's suggestion that the editors of "Salient" are tainted with subversion.

He seems to be concerned mainly about the cyclestyled rubbish you produced on tramfares. But I, and, I hope, the great majority of rightminded students, are concerned about bigger things.

Governments are established to govern The duty of citizens who don't agree with policies of Governments is to lump what they cannot grow to like—or take a fast boat to China.

University students in particular should keep their infantile cerebrations to themselves—

"Rightwing"

God Defend Victoria

Why delve into such prosaic statutes as are quoted on Page 3 of your 4th issue? You ought to ashamed of your disloyalty. Section 9(1) of the Victoria University College Act, 1933 (see College Calendar, Page 242) says: "If any member of the Council . . . dies ... he shall cease to be a member . . ."

—David Laws

Closer Relations With T.C.

While appreciating Varsity coverage of Teachers' College affairs, may I make a request for accuracy. If you re-examine your article "Whither Education" (18th April, Page 2) [unclear: which] is a synopsis, albeit somewhat confused, of an article I wrote for March issue of "Student Opinion", and check it against the original you will se that your 3rd and 4th paragraphs do not follow—the supposition "since" in the first instance is not supported by the quote in the second.

It would be useless to print an apology for this, but I would ask you to carefully check T.C. material before printing: for too long has V.U.C. had the impression T.C. is a refuge for adolescents and V.U.C. cast-offs. Your lack of attention does little to mitigate this.

—A.C. Walsh.