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Salient: An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria University Wellington. Vol. 24, No. 1. 1961

High Intellectual Tide at Curious Cove

page 3

High Intellectual Tide at Curious Cove

The talks and discussions at the 13th NZUSA Congress held in the last week of January at Curious Cove, Picton, were of an exceptionally high standard, 'The participation by the students, as worked out by our statistics expert from Auckland University, was much better than usual. This is a tribute to the speakers, who ably provided food for thought and discussion. The Congress audience was described by one speaker, Mr Toby Hill, as a dangerous one, because the students were relaxed (i.e., prostrate on the floor) and had none of the usual everyday ties to distract them. They therefore concentrated on the speaker with a "what is wrong with his reasoning" attitude. It reminded one of a Victoria Debating Club audience — although interjections weren't allowed and more constructive lines were followed.

Professor Scott, of the Political Science Department at Victoria, was a popular chairman and ably directed the discussions. He tried to avoid allowing any particular point becoming belaboured and gave as many people as possible the opportunity to express their views. On both counts he was successful.

A scene from Curious Cave

A scene from Curious Cave

There was a better-than-usual sized contingent from Victoria— probably due to the fact that we were running it.

Reports on the speakers' talks are published in "Student Summer," which is now available with this issue of "Salient." Perhaps one of the most gratifying things about Congress is that the speakers (or most of them) are resident at the Cove and can mix freely with the students and are willing to discuss any topic with them. When you consider most students, at least up to Stage 3 level, never get to know their lecturers and tutors, Congress illustrates that the ideal teacher-pupil relationship when it exists is a very worthwhile and profitable thing.

The weather during Congress ranged from gale-force winds and minor cloudbursts to mild summer sunshine, but this had no real effect on the proceedings, as the only two days when good weather was Important, i.e., a cruise day and the Olympics day, were fine.

The cruise was by launch up the Sounds to a place called Ship's Cove, where rests a lump of concrete dedicated to an appearance there by Captain Cook. Apart from the lump of concrete there is some beautiful native bush at Ship's Cove, and a very pleasant afternoon was spent there. the motion was carried "that the Congress Olympics be abolished."

The following afternoon the Congress Olympics were held. These consist of the sports, table tennis, volley ball, archery, tenniquoits and tug of peace.

Auckland University again took the honours and beat Victoria and the consolidated South Island teams.

At the forum the following day the motion carried "that the Congress Olympic be abolished."

Father Simmons, the Catholic chaplin, again organised the Professorial Board and Pinks Committee of Curious Cove University Curious Cove Pinks are awarded for extraordinary feats and behaviour and were presented with" great pomp and solemnity. It seemed to me that nearly all the degrees as conferred by the University of Curious Cove were accompanied by a research grant for study of some aspect of a particular biological function.

But perhaps Congress is best remembered by the students for the parties. These ranged from the small, select, well supplied type to the 60-jammed-in-a-two-man-hut type-where-ballads-were-sung. One thing which nobody had much of was sleep, as the jam-packed programme disallowed that, well before the parties prohibited it.

Two films which were shown at Congress were "Twelve Angry Men" and "Vanishing Prairie," and both proved popular.

A daily newspaper was produced called "The Maniac Depressive," after the proprietors of Curious Cove, Mr and Mrs Manning. Excerpts from this great spasmodical are inset.

Motions passed by this year's Forum have already been given considerable publicity, both by the Press und by the N.Z.B.S.

Professor Scott commented on the Forum at its conclusion by saying that ho was proud to be associated with such a body. The motions which were passed were realistic and constructive and I am sure the publicity they have received has added considerably to the down-town prestige of the students' viewpoint.

Cecilia Frost,

Congress Controller.