Thomson replied to by James

Sir a pity that J. B. Thomson Esq, should feel it necessary to reveal his infatuation for 'Dear Doug' by so eagerly rushing into prit with a hit at Wilde'. The importence of Douglas has long been a matter For concern in many people's minds and there was not need for J. Thomson to keep this delicate subject under the illumination any longer than was necessary. Doug blushes easily and some of us are easily offended by pubecent realities as we journey on the long trek to satiety.

Wilde Praised

Sir—Mr Wilde' article on White. cum demonstrations was a sign, I hope, that staid Auntie Salient has not surrended irrevocably to to Establishment. The decisive, far action by the reported, incisive and brilliant repate of Mitchell (Hamilton version) "what do you want to demonstrate for".

One point though about the "in" vigil. I do hope the drenched activists declined to form an unholy alliance by refusing to imbibe the coffee provided by the well intentioned, though misguided reactionary elements in our society.

Yours,

Ian W. Laurenson.

P.S. At least the ultimate indignity of Jamie juining in with placards etc did not eventuate.

God/Hate

Sir—God-awful) Not Only are we treated to some ghastly apparition in the last throes of gutsache, But Also a page of cock. Fortunately, this Little lot was free of the arrogant quotes from the Christian Bible usually embedded in such muck. There appeared only one word which really stunk to "high heaven', namely) 'rational'. Some nerve to equate rationality with the most irrational concepts this side of the black stump. Rationalisation after rationalisation! When will these twits ever learn that a goodly supply of goodnes does not necessarily emanate from an equivalent amount of religion?

"No-one can consistently live as though God were not there."— Suppose I have never heard of 'God' might I not still treat my neighbour decently, or being Godless, would I have to invent a Cod to justify my "morals", (I see no reference to Voltaire made by the Christian fanatic).

You who talk about naievete. Yours is poetry in the ears of the believer. Man is moral or, Man knows what's good for him God or no God. I prefer no-God. God, creator of all things, of drug addiction, condoms, great fishes, and saints. With angels and archangels and all the company of heaven he rules by fear—it's the good old Fascist way. So Vive Satan! Here I come. One of the traditions of 'brave new fearless thinkers'. (Please Devil, consider my age and do not take me at this stage). So we're free-thinkers but don't knock it pal, that doesn't make anyone wrong or inferior—less credulous may be.

On the assumption that God is not, I do not 'conclude that everything is utter irrationality and meaningless' neither do I beat my breast in sorrow or despair. I only take the old old credo heard so many times before in my hot little hand and toss it down the Shangri-la, where like all crap, it belongs. Some other time it might have merited inclusion in my biography "A Million Years of Bullshit".

And you know what God said when they had him up for indecent exposure in church—

'Nobody likes me Everybody hates me Going clown the garden to eat worms

My bloody oath I am!' Genuflect, genuflect, genuflect,

Louise Follick.

Secondary School Union

Sir—There, dear students who have taken it upon themselves to help the poor kids still at school and give them their own Union (very own?) have taken Up the-wrong cause. Any latterday Messiahs can toddle back to their own (very own?) Student Uunion which seems pretty insipid, unsupported petty and petulant.

The people Who need to be im pressed, the School Board, composed of men of the Forty Years On? and what was good then will be better now. group, will not be inspired to make reforms by Secondary Student Unions—rather discouraged. We ourselves have come heavlly into contact with this august body of elders: one demanding the abolition of caps and berets (fully supported by the staff) and then demanding freedom of speech.

Our headmaster, a very tolerant and understanding man 'censors' our magazine to calm the Board (who are afraid that mention of Sex corrupts third Formers, as do purposefully misspelt articles) and make sure we have not inadvertenty written something libellous. However, we have found that am complaints we made mas be censored, but they thus come before the Headmaster, who often acts on them even though they may remain unpublished. You can have just as much success with words unpublished as words printed.

We do not need a student union. We do not want one, especially one founded by Varsity students on a good will mission. Any changes that come must from Boards and Education Departments?student unions have little influence with these groups. So I think your missionaries will find a strong resistance to their move (they will of course, call it 'apathetic indifference').

Thanks

Sir—Some time ago Salient published a letter from myself pointing out the dangers of the metal coat-hanging spikes in the Union building men's cloakroom.

Since then rubber buffers have now been placed over the spikes to offset the danger, and I wish to thank Salient and the per sons concerned for offsetting this hazard.

Brian Bell.

She Offered

Sir—Mrs Belding's propositions are extremely attractive. I would just love to (a) steal, (b) commit adultery, (c) sleep with every girl I fancy, (d) embezzle cash from my own brother, and (e) rape the sister of my best friend. Especially as I would have the sanction of being logically consistent.

Unfortunately (a) I'm not quick enough to get away with it, (b) I'm not married, (c) most of the girls don't necessarily fancy me, (d) my brother is much bigger than I am, and (e) I'm just too damn lazy to make the effort.

However I Will keep Mrs Belding's kind offer In mind.

D. F. Cropp.

Typing

Sir -I am a fifth-year student, and have observed that the staff members in certain departments put pressure on students to type their essays rather than writing them by hand. In fact. I suspect that this is occasional a factor in the marks given for them.

It should be perfectly obvious to these staff members that many Students (e.g. those without bursaries or many girl students who cannot earn much money on the long vacation) find it difficult to buy a typewriter, pay someone else to type their essays out, or gain access to a typewriter at all. Moreover, many students may not easily be able to learn how to type efficiently and do their work well at the same time.

Has.anyone any ideas on what could be done about this?

P. V. Cooper.

Privileged Parkers

Sir—I have just been turned away from the Wai-te-Ata parking area by the University parking attendant for the umpteenth time, while at the same time dozens of staff parking places in the same parking area were empty. In fact the staff parking spaces are at least two thirds empty tor the whole day. It staff do not require these parking spaces surely they can be made available to students.

The Pill

Sir—One aspect of illegitimacy that has not been fully discussed on either the national or university level, is the availability of oral contraceptives to the unmarried woman. I understand the present position with the university doctors is that officially they will not dispense prescriptions, but unofficially they do. It would seem therefore that they set themselves up as official judges—at least concerning the female student?as to who is and who is not entitled to this free medical service (for which we all indirectly pay).

I was personally refused orals by student doctors at both Canterbun and Wellington at the time when I asked lor them. I was living some hundreds of miles away from my home town, had infrequent access to my own doctor and was not involved in what I would consider a promiscuous sex life. I am Interested therefore in what sort of arbitrary criteria the university doctors use, and whether lying to accentuate or minimise one's position is really required. The present high cost of orals ?due chiefly, I understand, to the dispensing cost? makes it absurd for any student to have to attend an outside doctor when the university provides a Health Service.

Dr Carol Shand in a recent Point of View programme stated that there are a number of doctors throughout New Zealand who will dispense prescriptions to unmarried women, Other commentators agree.

Most girls are hesitant to go to their family doctor if they believe he or tneir parents would have an unsympathetic attitude. It takes a great deal of courage for most young girls to visit a doctor and ask tor orals, Far more so if the believes that her request may be denied or that she will be subjected to a moral lecture when the alternative is abstinence (unlikely) or reliance on the male for contraception. The present illegitimacy rate may well be an indication of how well this latter method has paid off.

Apart from the mere prescription there are often accompanying physical and psychological problems for a woman. Is the same doctor Who refused to give a prescription for orals prepared to treat a female student for these needs? Alternatively there is the doctor— and even a Catholic doctor realises the harm it will do to his practice if he refuses to grant prescriptions—who will willingly torn out oral prescriptions on his prepared notepad—collect his $1.50? but because the girl is unmarried, and perhaps because the requests are so many, is unable to give sufficient attention to the sexual problems of an unmarried woman. Marriage is generally considered to be the panacea for these problems.

There is no reason why an unmarried woman should feel guilty about asking for orals from a doctor, yet as long as doctors continue to take a hypocritical attitude toward the problem. I Fail to see how. more unmarried women can be expected to ask For help.

Yours faithfully,

Jan Walker.

[Dr I. C. Fleming replies— "The statement that the present position with the University Doctors' is that 'official!) they will not dispense prescriptions, but unofficially they do' is a misunderstanding and is not correct. What is primarily expected of doctors in the Health Service by the University, by individual students, and the student bodv, is that the highest possible standard clinical and professional be offered to patients. This is the 'position' and this applies to each and every consultation, whatever the reason for the consultation.

"A further statement in this letter implies that our opinion may possibly bo that there is 'promiscuous sex-life among students, This is not our opinion. On the contrary, students generally show a sense of responsibility which far exceeds that shown by man) young persons outside the University community.

"The concern expressed in this letter about the high rate of illegitimacy and unwanted pregnancies in New Zealand is one which is shared by most doctors, and in particular by those who work among young people.

"At the student Health Service we offer students advice about any health problem this includes contraceptive advice if a request is made. It is generally accepted that if we are to encourage a responsible attitude towards illegitimacy and unwanted pregnancies, then such advice should not be withheld. Nevertheless, any advice should remain a purely personal and private matter between doctor and patient. It is only within this setting that an adequate and worthwhile contribution can be made."—cd.]