Business Manager's Page.

Only those who have had the onerous duty of Business Manager to The Spike thrust upon them can at all appreciate the many trials and tribulations which accompany "the office. But the duty—which at the best of times is not in the least a sinecure—has this year been one requiring extraordinary effort. The business side of the Magazine was in a rather precarious condition. Last year was scarcely a financial success—not that that is unique in the business history of The Spike—only that last year it was. for many reasons, somewhat accentuated. Moreover, the "War Memorial issue of The Spike did not meet with such a ready sale as such a publication deserved; and in this is still another example of the short memories possessed by those who during the war loudly voiced their otherwise quiescent patriotism. "Autres temps autres moeurs"—and to-day we see the self sacrifices of our past student soldiers callously forgotten in the miserable rush for self advancement.

Another factor which added to the difficulty was, and is, the apathy, common to all 'Varsity affairs, of the students and for which there is no excuse: none whatever ! The impressions one gathers as Business Manager is that the majority of the students—except for perhaps a third, who vary from absolute enthusiasm expressed in willing active assistance to mere passive indifference—regard that poor unfortunate as a money grabbing parasite, whose sole aim is, not the advancement and success of an important College activity (what a misnomer !)—but to separate them from another few dearly cherished shillings for his own personal gain. Instead of regarding their subscription to the Magazine as a pleasant duty expressive of their interest in the doings of their 'Varsity, they regard it as a profiteer regards income tax. Those with no shame flatly refuse to subscribe—others not quite so selfish grudgingly assent after almost tearful beseeching by a succession of canvassers. Out of 740 students we get with difficulty, and much effort, roughly 400 subscribers. What a rotten spirit to pervade a University ! An honour to be Business Manager '! Believe me, it is purely a pig-headed determination that the students shall not allow their Magazine to be a failure, a determination fed and encouraged by the few willing assistants, that keeps us at it.

Lastly, we had to cope with the lack of past student subscribers. In this we must admit the fault lay with the Magazine, and not solely with the past students. No provision has ever been made for retaining the interest of the past students once they had left the 'Varsity. This we believe to be wrong—criminally so. A Past Student column has been started and will, it is hoped, be the beginning and means of arousing and retaining the interest of past students, and retaining the interest of those now present students who will in the future swell the ranks of our past students. Our main difficulty here was the fact that we were—and are—without any roll giving the present addresses of our past students. We are circularising those of whom we know, and through them we hope to get in touch with others. We trust we shall get a good response to our circulars and our efforts.

The thanks of the Business Manager is due and is freely given to those who have so willingly and ably assisted in the business organisation of the Magazine: To Mr. S. Goodall, Sales Manager, present students; Mr. H. E. Moore, Sales Manager, past students; Mr. Gibson, Advertising Manager; Mr. Ruston, Finance Manager; Mr. Hodge, Distribution Manager, and to those who have so ably assisted them in the various departments of activity. Whatever measure of success attends this issue is due to them.