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Salient. An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria College, Wellington, N.Z. Vol. 20, No. 7. 30th May, 1957

Dear Salient

Dear Salient

Quite Right Sir!

Re "Rightwing's" letter, "Salient," May 9, 1957, second paragraph, what in hell is a "right-minded" student?

Does anyone know? (or care?)

Anyone who discovers one may secure nomination as "Man of the Year" by immediately advising the Zoology Department.

One further point, by all means let us have the rule that "University students . . . keep their infantile cerebrations to themselves" for it is imperative that "Rightwing's" last letter should be "Rightwing's" last letter.

A boat ticket to China (single, first class) is enclosed.

J. T. Devine.

Where is Truth?

Your front-page article on the New Zealand press was very good as far as it went. But, to paraphrase jesting Pilate. "Where is 'Truth'?" It has a larger circulation than any other journal in the country, is twice is salacious as the "Standard," and does occasionally "break through" with some muckraking scoop—as, for example, the Compton affair. Yet you did not oven mention it. Also the "Listener" surely deserved some comment-even though Fairburn's unmistakable description in your subsequent issue may be the last word.

—W.McL.

("Truth" really needs a whole article ail to itself. The "Listener" is a real freak—a State-run journal whose editorials (if you can read—for understand—them) often criticise Government policy. But [unclear: st] in the end, "What a dreadful . . . etc."—Editor).

Unassailable

Congratulations on your fine article—"The Paper Curtain.' Let there be more sociological articles of this nature. Your main point stressing the uniformity and conservative political bias of the New Zealand Press is, in my opinion, completely unassailable

Brian Bell.

Mr. Holland's Team

I am glad that the Minister of Education in his recent letter to the Stud Ass. revealed such depth of understanding and knowledge of student affairs. Truly, wo can be confident in the capacities of a Minister who sees our prospectivo Student Union building as a refuge between lectures and nothing more.

To quote: "I have often wondered what students at Victoria College did during the period they had to wait between lectures." He sees the building as an answer to this query.

If Mr. Holland could claim tas indeed he did) that Mr. Corbett's [unclear: qal] [unclear: ions] to be Minister of [unclear: Mi] Affair lay in the fact that he had been to school with Maoris, could he not also !aim that Mr. Algie's qualifications to be Minister of Education lie in the fact that he went to school ?

A. C. Walsh.

More Phones Wanted

For some time past, the facilities for students have become increasingly more inadequate—for the most part as a result of the terrific increase in the number of new students s each year. The new Student Union Building will do much to remove this congestion; in the meantime, however, there are a few improvements which could be made to remedy and eliminate this. I am referring to the number of telephones which are available for students to use in the College buildings. At the moment there are only two in the main block of the College, and an extension over to the gym. They are both heavily overloaded. As yet there is no telephone for the use of students in the Biology block or Prefab. Training College and Little Theatre blocks—in fact very few telephones in that upper part of the College at all. In cases of emergency and for the convenience of the inhabitants of that part of the College might I suggest that the question of installing at least two be investigated either by the College Council or by the Students' Exec.—subject to the granting of permit from the Post & Telegraph Dept.?

—Pro Bono.

Breeding Ground ?

The role of self-appointed moral critic is seldom a happy one, especially in fields that are, to a certain extent, matters of taste. Nevertheless, I wonder if I am alone in thinking that the sexual element in the last Procession was considerably overdone.

There are many persons who think that certain natural functions are not funny in themselves, and that such an emphasis on them reveals a lack of wit and genuine creative talent.

A few years ago this University was considered, rightly or wrongly, to be a hotbed of Communism. If in our "public appearances" such lavatory-humour continues to predominate, it will not be surprising if Victoria be thought a breeding-ground for libertines.

Russell Price.

Compulsory Associationism

The review of R. M. Martin's article in "Political Science" ("Salient," May 2) will remind students that they are themselves vicitims of the morally outrageous system of compulsory unionism. How many members would the Students Association be able to recruit if membership were not a condition of enrolment at the College? I would suggest to your readers that there may be some connection between this compulsion and much-bemoaned apathy which infects student affairs.

Your editorial of April is attributes much of the inactivity of the Labour Party to compulsory membership in its affiliate unions—surely the argument applies equally logically to the Students Association?

Second Year Arts.