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Salient: Victoria University of Wellington Students' Newspaper. Vol. 32, No. 15. 1969.

'Salient' [letter to the editor in Salient Vol. 32, No. 15. 1969.]

As a non-student reader of Salient I appreciate the Quality of current literary, art and film reviews, and the penetrating appraisals of out-of-the-way cultural affairs, which are ignored by the dalies.

In a fit of temper last year, I dubbed the two local papers — "Blundell's Bugle" and "Riddiford's Rag"; my tamper has gone, but the melody lingers on, and I hope This oral lampoon nicks fast, and gains currency.

They deserve plenty of caustic criticism; their impudence and boorish standards are a scandal. Crammed with folios of foundation garment and furniture ads, and leavened by piteos pap which passes for criticism and feature writing, numberless opportunities for informative journalism pass them by, unheeded. They give an abysmal service to readers in a capital city who want something more than weather reports, London-centred cable news, sport and classified advertisements.

As a student I wrote for Salient, and — a few reservations aside—its quality now seems better than ever. Many people outside the university have expressed pleasur at the standard of some reviews and cultural futures, and it would be a shame if its distribution became haphazard with copies being wasted.

About 10-30 people I know— who live in the provinces—would be delighted to be on your mailing list, given opportunity. Your advertising manager should pursue such circulation, as it is meaningful to his clients.

True, students pay for the printing; but surplus copies should never be burnt or otherwise wested, as off-campus readership is clearly bneficial to the university. A continuing liaison is better than an annual "Open Day".

I also suggest that two or three honesty-box street stands be constructed, brightly painted and labelled for use in the city. Boxes in the station area, Lambton Quay and Courtenay Place (with a one or two-cent price tag) would be a sound overture towards better public understanding of university affairs.

Providing the student body agreed—the revenue from street tales could be paid into a fund for the establishment of a literary or journalistic scholarship — or similar awards.

Brian Bell.