The Extravaganza

The Extravaganza has been put off and off, and at the time of writing it seems doubtful if it will reach the stage of performance at all^* We understand that dates were pencilled in for the Opera House, but that Williamson's, having a general option over all performances there, stepped in with their own companies, and relegated us to the backest of back seats. This is very unfortunate; for if the Extrav. does come off now it can only come as a great interruption to the scholastic year at a very awkward time; and if it doesn't, it leaves the Stud. Ass. stranded high and dry and out of sight of funds—and funds in large quantities will be urgently wanted at Easter next year, not only for the Tournament, but for the proposed Silver Jubilee celebration. The position is very awkward.

This brings up once again the whole question of Stud. Ass. finance. Accidents like this are apparently always liable to happen; last year the Capping celebrations were cut in two for the same reason; and it is more by good luck than good management that we have escaped such calamities before. But, in any case, it is an entirely wrong principle that the financing of all the chief activities of the College year should be made to depend on the anticipated profits from the Extravaganza. A thing like this happens, and the Executive is at its wit's end—and no wonder. The Association ought to have a settled and calculable income, which can be depended upon to turn up punctually and without fail. The only reasonable way, it seems to us, to ensure this, is to do as we believe Canterbury and Otago do—i.e., to levy a certain amount on all students at the same time as they pay their fees. There are 700 odd students now at V.U.C.—put the levy theoretically at ten shillings (which surely every student can afford?) and you have an income, roughly, of £350—say £300, to be on the safe side—Which is more page 60 than enough for all ordinary expenses. And then, if the Extravaganza makes a thumping profit, well and good—there are plenty of worthy objects the expenses of which it could help to defray. But if our eyes are going to be forever hungrily fixed, with a kind of demoniac glare, on those profits, it is going to be a bad thing for the Extravaganza as well as for everything else. We don't want the criterion of the Extrav's success to be the amount of money it makes—for heaven's sake, don't let us commercialise our College pleasures! Last year "The Spike" got into serious trouble for the gentle criticisms which it levelled at an Extrav. which had made dose on £200! We hope "The Spike" will look with the same undazzled eyes on the Extrav. which makes £2000. After all, we are students of a University, and not primarily purveyors of the third rate musical slush which in these days in New Zealand does duty for the British drama.

However, we must have money, and there is only one proper way to get it. The matter has been talked over before; we hope that, thus re-opened, it will this year be thoroughly thrashed out.