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SMAD. An Organ of Student Opinion. 1935. Volume 6. Number 12.

Just Before The Start. — Stud. Ass. Candidates Reviewed

Just Before The Start.

Stud. Ass. Candidates Reviewed.

We have pleasure in presenting to readers the notes of a series of interviews with candidates who are offering themselves for election to the Stud. Ass. Executive. The list does not, of course, include the four who appeared in our last issue. Our aim is to bring to the attention of the electorate the records of candidates and their general outlook, so that voters will have some idea of the qualifications of those they are voting for.

Bonk Scotney, B.A.

Bonk is standing for President and Committee. He has already had two years' experience on the Exec., being Men's Vice-President in 1933. He is taking his M.A. this year, but will still be connected with the University next year. A believer in "complete academic freedom but not license," he considers the present attitude of the Exec. and College Council in this matter is "reactionary." He support student representation and the Building Fund. There is "no hurry" about the latter, though, and he thinks there is no reason why this generation should sacrifice itself unduly for the sake of future generations. He is definitely in favour of improving the University's relationship with the public, and has a scheme for appointing a liaison officer to "rope in foreign and local celebrities to speak at University." The amalgamation of certain clubs would be one of his aims—e.g., S.C.M. and E.U., F.D.C. and Literary Society. He also believes in having the Club elections at the end of the year.

Mcintosh.

The job of Treasurer, for which position Mac. is standing, is very arduous, and as Assistant Treasurer of the old Exec he realises this. He has only one subject this year, however, and says he can devote plenty of time to the work. His efforts would be directed towards an improved organisation of Cappicade and a better distribution of the funds which are collected from the Stud. Ass. fee, Mac. thinks the Tournament delegation is treated too well at the expense of other 'Varsity touring teams. He was for three years Treasurer of the Rowing Club, and is now Club Captain. He is also on the Athletic Club and Commerce Society Committees.

A. G. Wicks, Ll.M.

Arthur Wicks, Secretary of the Cricket Club Treasurer of the Law Students' Society and Law Faculty Club, and Circulation Manager of "Smad," is another candidate for the Treasurership. He has had a number of years' office experience of accounts, and, having completed his LL. M., is now taking accountancy subjects at 'Varsity. He is particularly interested in the Building Fund, but in this matter and in the organisation of the Caf he was not prepared to criticise the present efforts without a fuller knowledge of the position. "Smad nearly came to grief on the tennis court steps during the interview, as a result of which Arthur added, as a plank in his platform their renovation of substitution by an escalator.

A. F. Wilton.

Alan Wilton, Secretary and Treasurer of the Boxing Club, Treasurer of the Haeremai and Cricket Clubs, and Committee member of the Football Club and Commerce Society is standing for the Treasurership. He thinks that the Caf. organisation could be bettered, so that the price of a meal, at present "more than a three-course meal in town," could be reduced. The Building Fund might well be increased by a system of voluntary weekly subscriptions from the students. He is completing his B.Com. this year and therefore, despite the imposing array of activities, would have plenty of time to devote to the arduous duties of Treasurer.

Claire Childs.

As befitting her role of Secretary of the Literary Society, she made straight for the material. It seemed that the Caf. was the plague-spot of University existence and needed re-organisation—with special reference to the provision of pure water (for drinking, she hurriedly added). Or there should be a drinking fountain somewhere round the College. Then imagination blossomed out to providing Sports Ground, page 2 which was only slightly less important than the Building Fund, and to the playing of Badminton in the new Gym. As the surrounding electorate become more clamorous for its "panem et circenses," she merely paused to chastise the new Glee Club for not admitting her.

Sheila Fraser.

Basketball secretaryship worries set aside, Sheila, too, was caught at the Weir House dance, and seemed little inclined to ponder on the imminent collapse of civilisation or the horrors of war. All the important points had already been expounded, and the crucial thing was to push them ahead actively and not just let them lie as paper promises. We were keyed up for fireworks when the wretched music broke in. Even she cauld not be rhetorical in face of the "Blue Danube."

Janet Grainger.

Janet was under great difficulties, for we had to extort a platform from her to the lilting strains of the Weir House dance. Two kinds of potatoes in the Caf., thick gravy (or was it strong?), and besides that brighter and better organisation—more kick in things. Asked to justify her existence, she returned a carte blanche; her partner threatened to tell of her childhood, so we disappeared in alarm, remembering only her feats in hockey, basketball, and tennis.

Audrey Harding, B.A.

When approached Audrey was loath to admit anything. It was with great reluctance she admitted that she played hockey at all, let alone that she was on the Hockey Club Committee and had a New Zealand University Blue. As for the Election, she said she had only decided to stand at the last moment and had not had time to work out a Wikitorian Utopia.

Nora Mclaren.

"This electioneering business is wholly vile," was this committee candidate's view of "Smad's" reporter. "If 'Smad' does not misinterprer what we say others will." Like most women, she has a high opinion of the quality of all her sex, and thinks the Exec. could do with more female members. "All the women candidates are all-round sports, rational thinkers and good workers." From a consideration of a co-ed., Weir House (under strict rules, of course) we passed to finance. Miss McLaren thinks men are too mean and that commerce students especially are obsessed with sundry details. She is a strong supporter of the Building Fund and progress.

Audrey Nisbet.

Like most of the women candidates of the Committee, Miss Audrey Nisbet had little to say to "Smad" and confessed she was "very unconstructive." We fully appreciate this becoming modesty in the Secretary of the Women's Club, but it makes the reporter's job difficult. She is not seeking election to right any wrongs against women—she considers they "have a pretty fair spin." and it is the University as a whole which should be considered.

Tom Birks, LL.M.

Tom stood last year for Committee, and this year, having completed his degree, he will have plenty of time, if elected, to attend to University affairs. Last year he was Chairman of the Haeremai Club and on the Weir Committee. This year he has been Records Officer of the Stud. Ass. and Teams Officer of the Football Club. Having seen the other colleges, he appreciates the lack of facilities here, and will therefore be prepared to support the movement for the Union Building Sport and social activities would receive his special support, for he considers V.U.C. has plenty of college spirit and it is only a question of fostering it.

Ted Blacker, A.M.I.C.E.

Vice captain of the First XV and captain of the social team of the Cricket lub, Ted Blacker seeks election to the Committee. It will be noticed that he has already obtained an imposing degree, and he says he would have plenty of time to devote to the work. He thinks there should be complete academic freedom, and he" wouldn't care two straws for public opinion" on this question. With regard to the Student Building, he does not think" the present students should be impoverished for the benefit of the Building Fund. Some funds should go towards the reconditioning of the Gym. and Men's Common Room." he supports the more for student representation on the Council.

Max Brown, B.A.

Max was last year's Rhodes Sccholarship nominee, and he will probably apply again this year, now having additional qualifications in a Senior Scholarship and a Sir Robert Stout Scholarship. As a member of the "Smad" staff he has been a tower of strength. If elected he will have plenty of time for the job and, incidentally, he is the only full-timer standing. Last year he was Chairman of the Debating Society, and this year is Chairman of the F.D.C. and is on the Weir Committee. He is full of enthusiasm and says "the great essential is to preserve the University as an active centre absolutely free and independent."

Ian Campbell, LL.M.

Senior Scholar in Law two years ago, his proudest feat—so it seemed to "Smad"—was the presentation of the Drinking Horn competed for at Tournament for the first time last year. Clubs: Tramping, F.D.C. (to which he has given several addresses), Literary Society (which he helped to found and of which he was the first Secretary). Edited the 1933 "Spike"—the best for years—and has contributed much for "Smad."

Refusing to talk to the "gutter press" he confided to "Smad" that, though the Building Fund and Tournament are the most important things in sight, and money must be raised for these, it is far more important to preserve a certain student independence, and indepenednce of the 'Varsity—we must not be dictated to by outside interests. As he is taking no lectures this year, he will, if elected, have time a-plenty to devote to Stud. Ass affairs.

R. C. Connell.

We had only a very short opportunity of interviewing Dick Connell, who is in his final year of the LL.B. degree, a member of the First XI, and on the Committee of the Law Faculty Club and Haeremai Club. His interests at the moment are the Student Union Building, cricket, and the introduction into Victoria of the game of Soccer.

Malcolm Mason.

Malcolm has hanging at his scalp-belt the Presidency of Weir House and the Club Captaincy of the Swimming Club. Prominent in the Haeremai Club, he was one of the principal organisers of this year's successful procession and Capping hooleys.

Hitting straight into social activities, he said that the principal thing was to stimulate interest in these. Half the chaps were half-hearted, and the rest did nothing. Especially let's make next year's Capping . . . . . . And at Tournament we can make the men's social side better than any of the past three particularly with a good haka party to keep things rolling. Let's rehabilitate ourselves in the eyes of the public with good shows, Cappings and clean sport.

Rodger Roberts.

Rodger Roberts has had a number of years' experience at the University, and he has some constructive proposals to place before the electors. As secretary of the Haeremai Club he has ideas for haka parties at Tournament. There should be a closer co-operation between the Exec. and Common Room Committees, and he thinks some minor matters could well be attended to by sub-committees selected from the student body, leaving the Exec. longer to deal with the major issues. He would like to see the Exec. run on a more businesslike basis. He believes in academic freedom, but he would bar the door to the press reporter when certain controversial subjects were under discussion.

Kingi Tahiwi.

Kingi Tahiwi is Secretary of the Hockey Club and a member of the Debating Society Committee. His exploits in that direction are well known. He is strongly in favour of "full academic freedom," as he considers restriction only results in a dangerous repression of feeling. Student representation on the Council and greater efforts towards the Union Building will be supported by him. The aim of the University should be to free itself from the necessity of bowing to public opinion. An Exec. had more to do than ordinary routine administration: its aim should be to make the University" a real and positive factor in its environment."

J. N. Sellers, B.A.

Unfortuately our reporter could not interview Nesbit, as he was in bed ill. We are glad to be able to report, however, that he is well on the road to recovery and will be full of enthusiasm on his return to University. He proved himself an able News Editor of "Smad," and we were very sorry when pressure of work made it necessary for him to retire. We understand that, if elected, he will adopt a policy of greater action.

Harold Sivyer.

Another newcomer to politics, Harold Sivyer, is at present Secretary of the Men's Common Room Committee and is a member of the Tennis Club Committee. In answer to a question on academic freedom, he thought it should be restricted if the privilege was abused. He is in strong agreement with the proposal for student representation of the College Council and for greater activity towards the Student Union Building. He is in favour of keeping on good terms with the public, as we have "much to gain from having good friends it the city."

John White.

Now, perhaps our most formidable job remained to catch the Editor off his guard. At first he refused to wield the power of the press in his favour or reveal the sordid details of his life.

Last year, however, he was Secretary of the Cricket Club, on the Committee of the Law Faculty Club and Students' Law Society, and Sports Editor of "Smad." This year he is General Editor of "Smad," a member of the Law Faculty Club Committee, and a member of the Cricket Club Sub-Committee dealing with the formation of the N.Z. University Cricket Council. He has one subject to complete his LL.B. degree.