Parody... and piracy!

NZSPA Reporter

Christchurch.—Canterbury University's "student newspaper war" took another unexpected turn on the first day of term with surreptitious publication of a perfect parody of Kobald, the weekly satirical newssheet.

Named "Kribald," the publication is an exact replica of Kobald, which features cartoons, articles and photomontages of disputed satirical merit.

The real Kobald Ken—Kobald editor Ken McAllister—got wind of the "pirates" early and allowed (and even assisted) them to have first day of the term to themselves. "It's such a magnificent effort, they deserve it," he told NZSPA. Kobald was intentionally delayed two days.

The parody paper follows occasional rivalry between Kobald and Canta, the official student paper, and the regular distribution of large numbers of Critic, the Otago paper. It also follows the "Nigel Conrad" affair when a non-existent late candidate managed to partly subvert the Presidential election.

Kobald Ken had less luck with another "pirate" publication. For £5 he helped Commerce student Tony Chisholm produce an unofficial third rugby test programme, which sold for less than the Rugby Union's glossy, and affixed Kobald's imprint as publisher.

This effort lost Mr. McAllister his job with a printing firm which has the contract for the official programmes.

Mr. Chisholm assured NZSPA that the Christchurch Press's estimate of 10,000 pirate programmes sold from houses near Lancaster Park for a £190 profit was generous. In reality he had sold only 500 and lost about £10 on the deal. Nor had he made friends.

But the Press's report encouraged a Sunday newspaper firm to try the same act in Hamilton for the Lions' match there. It angered rugby officials there also.