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Salient: Victoria University Students' Newspaper. Vol. 24, No. 9. 1961

The Official Sub Opening

The Official Sub Opening

Saturday, June 10, went without a hitch. The three or four hundred present did not even notice the only stunt arranged. The bell on the alarm clock was too quiet.

For an hour we shivered on the drive between Hunter and the Sub. An official party shivering even more on a specially built dais faced up and one by one some spoke to us.

Speaking as chairman Dr. Lynch (the pro Chancellor) outlined the history of our new buildings. He emphasised that a Student Union building was just as much a necessity as laboratories and lecture rooms. Surprisingly, yet maybe he was right, he commented that there was considerable achievement in finishing the building so quickly. The following figures were quoted:

£285,000, total cost; £100,000, original estimate; £94,000, contributed by students (applause); £44,000 of this in cash; £50,000, a loan to be paid off in the future by student levies; £170,250, Government subsidy; the balance—donations.

The 1960 furnishings fund appeal with its target of £15,000 had been subscribed so far to the extent of £14,500.

The Mayor's Speech

Mr Kitts was pleased that the Little Theatre will strengthen bonds with the city. The two city council donations to each of the 1949 and 1960 appeals were mentioned as a small though tangible help. His final comments were on the City Council Library which during the weekends were an extension of the Sub.

Mr Dowse's remarks were delightfully ethnocentric. He graciously admitted our view to be magnificent, suggested a Palmerston North-type extension in the Valley and darkly hinted at improvements to the Lower Hutt Little Theatre. The £1500 which his council recently donated was, he said, due to the Vice-Chancellor's persuasion. This was, however, justifiable in that the university received more students than the "dying" city of Wellington.

Dr. Lynch introduced Sir Bernard Ashwin as a kind and old friend. Representing the donors, all of whom had been invited, he said that businessmen recognised the value of our facilities. The Sub would contribute to a fuller community life in the university in which character and personality were built by informal discussion which sharpened wits. He suggested the possibility of government legislation being more lenient with taxes when donations such as to the Union Building, saved the government much money.

The Lower Hutt Mayor's Speech

Mr Wild (Attorney General) represented those students who served in the World War II. His speech was undoubtedly a classic. Negotiations are under way to include it in "Spike" 1961, despite this late date.

Mr Wild endeared himself to many by speaking of this "Victoria University of ours." His only lament was the clash with the Athletic Park function.

This was a time for songs of praise and thanksgiving that an ideal was now a reality. Victoria University in name was now one in truth with its own student heart and home. Since the first building's foundation in 1904 no building of greater importance to the aims of the university had been built.

His tribute to former students killed in the wars was deeply sincere. In 1924 the library's stained glass windows had been unveiled at the jubilee to commemorate the 153 killed in the first war. The Little Theatre has been erected to the memory of the 290 victims of the second world war and "it is well that it should be so."

Mitch's Speech

"Today is yours not ours," he told the many graduates before him. "We have so much for so little effort on our part."

The Minister of Education could well be, and was, taken up on his statement that he was prepared to assist in any worthy cause in the university. After finishing, the architect, Mr Muston, presented submissions regarding the third storey to go on the S.U.B.

The Minister, the Hon. Blair Tennent, spoke of the importance of providing a common meeting ground for student "exchange of ideas, insights and attitudes." Without a S.U.B. no university could be complete. From the friendly clash of personalities grew a knowledge of human nature not obtainable from books. The best knowledge is in the university and is ours to be grasped. Here we may learn to think and acquire wisdom. We may stand on our own feet determined to find truth independently using our own faculties.

Without fuss Mr Tennent finally declared the building open.

This simple ceremony was followed by inspection of the S.U.B. and afternoon tea. Dear old ladies approached your executive members and confided that they were lady Vice-president in 1900 and something. Hearty old men insisted that the office phone be used to find out the score—"at the Park, you know."

Later a delightful cocktail party was held in the common rooms. Round the piano former students recalled the old drinking songs.

N.B.—The functions were organised by a sub-committee of members of both council and the Students' Association and everyone was charged 10/- for the cocktail party.

(Registered for transmission by post as a newspaper at the Post Office, Wellington.)