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This small verse provided the refreshingly informal introduction to the speech of Sir Patrick Duff, the new High Commissioner for Great Britain, who announced the winner of the Plunket Medal from the platform of the Concert Chamber last Thursday. Sir Patrick, who has seen in action the choice and master spirits of the age in the Parliament of Westminster, was still favourably impressed by the general competence of the speakers in this Oratory Contest.
After being welcomed by his fellow-judge, the Rt. Rev. Lord Bishop of Wellington, Sir Patrick informed the audience of the standards by which speakers had been judged and contending that finished oratory was the most popular, he furnished an immediatae, practical example by sitting down.
"The name of Plunket hangs like a benign influence over the whole of New-Zealand," said Mr. Howard Wadman, the third judge, who commented on the individual speakers. He offered criticism which was scintillating and trenchant, if not always kind. Throughout this report the remarks in brackets are his.
Mr. Stan Campbell in the chair, gave a brief history of the Plunket Medal and hoped that the entrants would live up to the expectations of the donor. The programme opened with a pianoforte solo by Leonie Pascoe.
Miss Joan Taylor spoke on President Roosevelt. She gave a clear if idealised exposition of his life and his great aims for America and the world. In slightly biblical tones we heard, "When they were hungry, he gave them bread; when they were homeless, he gave them shelter." Her voice was excellent but lacked modulation. (Miss Taylor is evidently a Right-Thinking Girl, but she has presented us with the standard matter of an evening paper obituary.)
Mr. Roy Jack began his speech with a picture of Indian devotion to Ghandi. Then, deploring the way in which the British accepted "with masochistic glee" all charges levelled against them, he proceeded to "debunk the Ghandi legend." (Irony was confidently used but this speech lacked cohesion. The change from presentation as a saint to denunciation as a prevaricator was not logically prepared for.)
Mr. Ivor Davies, who was to have spoken on Job, had to withdraw because of illness which he was bearing, according to Mr. Campbell, with the patience of his subject.
Mr. Kevin O'Brien took as his subject Josef Viand. He outlined his difficult life (audience comment—Viard dolorosa!) as the first Catholic Bishop of Wellington. One recognises in Mr. O'Brien's oratory a conscious restraint and solemnity which take away the vigour of his usual debating style. (This was a sentimental Victorian biography. There were too many trite phrases. One walks to Makara through a Wellington southerly, not "in unfavourable conditions.")
Mr. M. McIntyre presented his speech on Marie Curie with measured eloquence and emotion. His voice was moved as the pictured the years of struggle and victory. "The incredulous scientists could only bow before the superhuman obstinacy of a woman." (I suggest this speaker derived his matter from a two-and-fourpenneth at the Majestic. His phraseology was ornate and a little old fashioned. It is wiser not to pile on the agony with a British audience.)
Miss Kath Kelly spoke on Tom Kettle, Irish poet, patriot and philosopher. Her manner was challenging and her delivery vital, yet somehow Kettle remained an incomplete figure. (We got into, his life sideways.) But she revealed the quality of the man's mind by pithy and picturesque quotation. Lack of clarity was one of this speaker's chief faults. (She has a beautiful voice. I liked her sharp and bitter phrases. Gestures were inadequate—a despairing movement of the hands like the fins of a gasping fish.)
Miss Nell Casey presented rather a different picture of Ghandi. She gave a clear account of his life and emphasized his spiritual virtues. She made of him the saint, transcending the complete comprehension of his followers and the world. (Miss Casey's phrasing was undistinguished but she presented an integrated picture of Ghandi, if it did tend towards the Ideal Figure. Her gestures appeared practised rather than spontaneous.)
Mr. L. Neuberg opened and closed his speech with the NZU motto "Sapere aude"—"Dare to be wise." The speaker was daring too, in taking for his subject not a man of action but an an intellectual figure, a scholar—Erasmus of Rotterdam. One of the foremost thinkers of the Renaissance, Erasmus was the advocate of tolerance and enlightenment, refusing to adopt a partisan attitude in the Reformation crisis. (Mr. Neuberg presented interesting matter in words which were good and dry, without sentimentality or book-ishness.)
While the judges considered their verdict, Mr. John Davis and Miss Pascoe entertained the audience with musical items on the violin and piano. Sir Patrick Duff announced the result of the contest.
The participation of a small group of students in the Trade Union demonstration last Thursday aroused some interest in this dull hole. We have it from an anonymous and therefore unofficial source that this unofficial group, disguised as notables of business and the National Party, and accompanied by their hairy but shivering "wives," had planned to lower abruptly the dignity of the Speaker of the House of Representatives. They were stopped, however, by a weighty pair of constables, and were relegated to waiting and shouting from the bottom of the Parliamentary steps, and being stared at by the members of both parties. The source expressed regret at their inability to carry out their full programme, but was satisfied that with their horse and all they had taken quite an impressive part, as Varsity parts go, and what with all the photos taken of them, and the refreshment afterwards——
A report presented to the Finance Committee by Exec. Secretary Marc Poole covers a wide range of topics from club grants to cafeteria. The finance condition is apparently far from happy, and it appears possible that a raising of the Stud. Ass. Fee will have to be moved again.
Maintenance for the Gym. this year will amount to about £30-£40. and will probably increase in time. The men's common room is urgently in need of a complete repainting and installation of additional furniture, now too inadequate for the number of students. The men's common room would require an expenditure of £50 to make it habitable; some or this the Council may meet. The women's common room have about £15 in their funds, and may require more.
The time has come for the evolution of a policy to be followed in making club grants. Is the Association to be the fairy godmother to all clubs? In my opinion it is time that the clubs did something to help themselves financially and not rely on the Association to foot inflated applications for grants. However, that is only my opinion and need not concern members of the Committee other than this year's Finance Committee to formulate a comprehensive financial policy.
We should also consider under this heading our policy towards subsidies for the Winter Tournament this year and the Easter Tournament next year. The maximum subsidy per person the Executive can make is £2, but this figure will certainly not he granted. Nevertheless, we will have approximately. 60 players going to Dunedin this year and will also have to foot our contribution towards the legitimate Tournament expenses other than entertainment, which is met by Otago. Also are we to supply our representatives with representative badges? The Faster Tournament ones were given to the representatives at a charge of 10/- each.
Medical Scheme.—As it would seem that we can expect no contribution from the Council, we will be unable to institute a compulsory medical scheme by reason of the excessive cost. If as the Medical Scheme Committee suggests, the scheme can only be curried on voluntarily, then how much will this cost?
Building Fund.—In the last few years approximately £1,000 per year has been added to the Building Fund, and while this is satisfactory, even larger sums will need to be added to increase more rapidly the size of the Building Fund. While it is not our province to discuss the ways and means for raising funds, we should nevertheless be prepared to foot some substantial cost to raise sufficient to erect the building.
These are indications of the problems facing the Executive on the financial side, and for my part I cannot see how we can keep our head above water without raising the Students' Association fee. It might be possible to scrape through this year, but next year our financial problems will be to easier nor the time any more opportune, for raising the Students' Association fee.
The announcement in the papers of a publication entitled "Research and the University" seems to have occasioned another of those bursts of public interest in University affairs. This pamphlet, prepared by Professors Fordor, Allen, and Eccles, and Drs. Popper. Parton, and Packer, contains little with which anyone will disagree. In brief, they do not accept research and teaching as separate functions of a University teacher or student. In fact, what they are proposing is merely the application of the principles of the Reischel-Tate report of
And the result, they say, is the loss to New Zealand of so many of its graduates. With all this students will agree, but this happy state represents an ideal, and to achieve it a complete reorganisation of the structure and syllabus of the University would become necessary. The present student is required to learn only specifically assigned sections of work as defined in the University calendar, and it is considered wasted effort to go beyond this. Hence the outlook will be mainly towards teaching, since that is what gets the degree.
Experimental training is in reality so weak that the difficulties of independent research only become evident on reaching honours standard, at a stage when they should have been put far behind. Nor can we expect the staff of the College to carry out investigations if they have to prepare for anything up to fifteen hours of lectures a week on a constantly developing subject, or organise and supervise laboratory classes for over two hundred students. Professor Florance, to whom we are indebted for our copy of "Research in the University," told us that during his period at Manchester, there were eight members on the lecturing staff of, the physics department for as many students as there are taking physics at Victoria College today.
To quote from the pamphlet: "There are certain basic requirements which must be fulfilled if the University is to play its proper role.…These are (1) the University must be supplied with adequate finance; (2) the academic staff must be large enough to ensure individual members sufficient freedom from teaching to undertake serious research…; (3) the provision of the necessary space…apparatus, and…assistance; (4) the provision of…periodical literature on a greatly increased scale; (5) a break with isolationist tendencies, that is, the recognition for the need for contact with colleagues within and without New Zealand by attendances at conferences, congresses, etc.; (6) the provision of means of publication of research by means of a University press; and (7) the recognition by controlling bodies that research activity should receive due reward in such matters as status and promotion."
We see, therefore, that the solution depends solely on finance. Graduates can hardly be expected to remain in a country where there is no recognition and repayment of their work. The arguments that there is no scientific tradition in the country, that the population does not warrant it, or that the staff are unable to cope with it, all reduce to this. The University of New Zealand has the reputation of being the leasr costly University in the world, and it is time we lost this pride of place.
I have been pondering for some days on how I should review Uncle Harry, Training College's major production for the year. Should I, I have asked, be kind because I know some of the people in it, and am sympathetic to the work of the College; or must I be quite frank? I have decided on the latter course: I think and hope TC will agree. Frankly, then, the production was terrible; it is quite one of the worst plays I have ever laid eyes on. I am aware that almost insuperable difficulties faced the producer with the leading man unwell, and the production not quite ready, but we in the audience, while we are sympathetic, have to judge the play on what is presented to us. If the difficulties are too great, then the production should be postponed. The two most outstanding faults were that Uncle Harry was under rehearsed and that the actors were simply not good enough to do the play.
Why was this particular play chosen? I had a glance at it briefly and thought it quite a sound, actable Job, but quite obviously it is not. TC was, in effect, wrestling with something unplayable except by most skilful actors. The opening is bad, and the writing uneven. There are far too many cliches used and some of the characters seem a trifle unreal. However, I honestly do not know whether the play suffered because of the actors, or vice versa.
With two exceptions, the acting was uniformly poor. Mr. Henderson, as Uncle Harry, had a tremendous task to portray the development of a young man mothered by his two acid-tongued sisters into a calculating murderer, and from there into a psychopathic. He was not able to do it Mr. Henderson's chief difficulty is that he looks far too pleasant a young man to do anything of the sort, and his makeup was so very sketchy that he had nothing at all to help him in his efforts. (I may say here that the makeup was one of the worst features of the play.) The part of Uncle Harry is intensely dramatic, and calls for great emotional reserves, which were not available. The two sisters, played by Brenda Jane and Aileen Casey, were extremely undistinguished. I don't think they knew their parts well enough, and I surmise that they had not thought about them a great deal. The scenes between these two women give considerable scope for good acting, and it is a pity that advantage was not taken of that scope.
I am a trifle intrigued about the young lady who played Miss Phipps. I found it difficult to decide whether she was really trying to act, or whether she is like that in real life. It must be the latter, because surely arms akimbo and sultry sidelong glances with the lips curled aren't really the essential attributes of a suspicious barmaid. However, she looked fine. Nona (Julie Matson) I found a curious character indeed, but this is largely the fault of the writing. I didn't know what she was doing most of the time she was on the stage, and the poor girl obviously suffered with the paltry props and doorways she had to work with. David Hempleman as George Waddy and Peter Coleman as Ben I found very acceptable because they didn't try to be anything except their cheerful two selves. Mr. Coleman was fortunate in being able to drink what appeared to be two handles of real beer, a thing I never thought to see on a Training College stage. Mr. Albert Moore as Mr. Jenkins I found indescribably tedious, The play has a bad opening, but with a little thought it might have been jollied along a bit and the worst bits passed over. Mr. Moore had the unenviable task of appearing in this opening scene as a sententious successful small-time commercial traveller.
The two exceptions I noted above were the Blake of Brian Brimer and the Governor of Warren Thompson. Mr. Brimer, who is
I must add to this doleful tale a word about the sets. Why have them if they are going to be so terrible? Drapings would have done just as well, and wouldn't have made the audience so acutely uncomfortable. A door had to be made into the kitchen, and the result looked like the little portal in Alice in Wonderland. What is the use of having a door through which every entrance must be made sideways like a crab? The wierdest effect of the evening was the entrance with a loaded tea tray of the maid, through the curtains leading to the rest of the house. When she had set the table, she went out through the kitchen door, which she hadn't been able to use before, as it was too small for both tray and maid to come through. I have to criticise also the placing of the furniture. In the six acts there were three different sets, but each one had been arranged so that there was a table with chairs on the prompt side, balanced on the o.p. side by another group of piano, or sofa, or easy chair. It was rather a strain to find the same type of set in each scene.
I hope that this review will not cause any heartburnings at Training College, but it is made necessary because of the difference between this play and the major production of last year, Our Town. TC will no doubt remember that I thought this the best production in many years in Wellington, and I find it saddening that the drama club should slide so far in twelve months. For heaven's sake pick a decent play next year.
None but the Lonely Heart is a lengthy film of a type very popular of late—all about Life. It is supposed to be about life in the slums of London, and it has lots of emotional acting of the breast-clutching brand. The slums portrayed have, however, been cleaned up a good deal in their translation to the screen. Readers of Llewellyn's book will remember the slime oozing from the cracks in the floor and the scum floating on the surface of the water in the basin, and generally the sordid hell of the East End. There are some of the most revolting descriptions of actual physical living conditions, and I was rather surprised to find
Now, this film is a beautiful example of what happens to novels about Life which go on to the screen. They are nearly always long, and usually sordid, and Hollywood tries to get everything in. This, of course, is impossible, and so we are presented with the big moments tied together with a very tenuous thread. The effect is very disconcerting. I dizzily asked myself several times how some sequences could possibly have anything to do with those preceding them. One could almost suspect that, having got tangled hopelessly in one particular scene, the producer just started all over again on another tack. I was particularly struck by the scanty tracing of Ernie from a no 'count bum to a small-time crook, and I would like to question also the fifty pounds a week which Mordinoy was supposed to be paying him; it appeared very easy money indeed to me; what was the gang doing? A single brief reference to a "job" in a fur warehouse doesn't seem to me to indicate the real big-time crookedness.
Mr. Cary Grant is, I think, not very good as Ernie Mott. I had a sneaking feeling all the time that he wasn't Ernie, but just Cary Grant pretending to be Ernie. Ethel Barrymore plays Ma, and I regret to reveal that she is rather bad. Ma has A Cancer, see, and Miss B. has it in the stagiest possible manner, with The Tablets, and the grinning-and-bearing-it and all the accompanying fal-lals. (I trust, by the way, that the British Medical Association has noticed the miraculous effects that yeast tablets appear to have in relieving the pain associated with cancer.) I was distressed to see Miss Barrymore actually simpering at times, and her coy sideways looks were frequent. It seems to me that the Barrymore family would have done very-much better for themselves had they stayed on the stage. Diana, who has made some very bad films indeed, is evidently quite competent on Broadway; John, one of the finest actors America has aver produced, was involved in some very unfortunate film ventures before he drank himself to, death; Lionel—well, if Lionel had stayed on the board we wouldn't have had the Doctor Kildare films, would we? and Ethel, in my opinion, has not increased her stature as an actress with the film under discussion.
Barry Fitzgerald is His Own Lovable Self, and when you've said that, you've said everything. June Duprez acts in a very peculiar fashion, and Jane. Wyatt is good in a role with not a great deal of scope. The best character, whose name I did not catch, was the actor who played Mordinoy.
All in all, this is a very unsatisfactory film.
"None but the Lonely Heart"
•
Dear Sir,—I desire to object most strongly to a report of a concert by the Music Makers Club which appeared in the last issue over the initials W.K.O. This individual should be reprimanded for his revoltingly patronising tone. May I ask why he went along (more from a sense of duty, he grudgingly admits) expecting to hear "Mozart mangled and Beethoven bashed"? Is it axiomatic that cultural activity at the college should be of a low quality? To his surprise, he states, the programme was tasteful, well played and a delight to listen to. Why it should be surprising that University students should be possessed of some talents I do not know.
The whole report is tasteless and supercilious in the extreme. It appears to have been written by what is usually known as "a typical fresher" (much as I deplore the term), as I cannot think that any student who has watched the praiseworthy activities of such clubs as the MMC over a period would dream of writing in such a strain. I might say that I object equally to the exhortation in the last paragraph. Most students realise that their education does not stop outside the classroom, and we do not need to be impertinently reminded that the clubs at the college are here for our benefit, nor yet lectured in our duty.
Does this young person not realise that it is his own suspicion that Mozart might be mangled that causes Victoria to be, as he styles it, "the most backward of all the NZU's" (whatever they might be) in support for cultural clubs? I trust the Editor will not permit any further such patronage.
SCM members turned up in large numbers to support their speakers on the question of whether Christianity is the only solution to present-day chaos in society. A very lively debate, during which many speakers defended their ideas and many interjections kept the audience amused, ensued. Several solutions, other than Christianity, were put forward and these were ignored rather than refuted. There seemed to be some difference of opinion on the question of the right of Christianity to monopolise all the better traits of human nature. Following are precis of the various speeches:—
John Miller: The subject is more suitable to meditation in the silent watches of the night.
Roy Jack: Christianity implies recognition of a god. To suggest that Christianity offers the only solution is intolerable. Chaos did not disappear with the appearance of Christianity.
Alby Moore: Ethics a part of Christianity and cannot be separated from it. Faith is necessary to life. Man is a little organism crawling about the planet. "What is man without God?" Men are only equal in that they are brothers in the sight of God. The best man can do by himself is to get into scrapes. In the Victorian era Order was due to Christianity.
Tom Cockroft: With quotations proved to his own satisfaction that Christianity was a bad thing from a biological, sexual and psychological point of view. An "Ethical Jesus" is of no use to the church—belief in a god is fundamental to Christianity.
Kevin O'Brien: This so dynamic speaker maintained that Thomas Aquinus produced five…(rest of sentence was drowned by laughter and so is lost to posterity).
Jim Witten-Hannah: Leaning heavily on a stick, he changed the tenor very rapidly by speaking quietly and convincingly. "Let us take the ant hill (or bees), although there is no suggestion of Christianity here there is equally no chaos."
John Ziman: What matters is what Mr. Jones does to Mr. Brown (interjection—or Mrs. Brown).
Nig. Taylor: We must change world affairs by changing the individual outlook—Buddhism and Confucianism (interjection—"Who say?)…Remedy must work with men.
Margaret Ross: Woman needs a belief in the essential goodness of Man! A woman without faith is a danger to society. Woman needs faith to have the strength to say No (chaos!). She has nothing to teach her children if she is one of these wishy-washy women.
Maurice McIntyre: The Bible is a vicious circle. A materialist can do as he likes. There is nothing to stop me hitting you over the head with a hammer (interject: "You try). Spiritual…(interject, hopefully: "What's that about spirits?"). God does good for us (Australian interjection: "Conspicuous by his absence on our boat").
Mr. Neuberg: When Christianity was tried in the Middle Ages it was as near to the totalitarian Gestapo as anything, of the Inquisition. Christianity is the nearest route to Buchenwald.
Jackie Patrick: The affirmative say that personal redemption by God is necessary; that Christianity and ethics are identical. Ethics and religion are not synonymous. The goodwill claimed by Christianity is a myth. Christians fight like everybody else. The version of Christianity of any one man or church depends on the interpretation of the teachings of Christ. These differences make it impossible for Christianity to set out to make an ordered society.
Peter McKenzie: Christianity is the final end of society (interject: "Too right"). Christianity is the ultimate; material progress is subordinate; science serves the cause of Death.
Brenden O'Connor (in pulpit style): The peurile philosophies of today…Communism, Freudian Idealists, etc, and then Christianity. (Another running battle with interjectors ensued.) There is a law higher than man himself which he must obey. (Voice from audience: "I'm converted.")
Bill Newall: The only speaker who approached the subject, on the affirmative side, with practical as well as philosophical suggestions. Christian communal society…Social problems can be solved by active Christianity.
Alec. McLeod: Present day chaos will never be removed without adjusting material status. The only improvement has been brought about by the peurile philosophers reviled by Mr. O'Connor.
Roy Jack (summing up): Christianity apparently provides women with strength and men with inspiration (interjection: "Contradiction").
John Miller (ditto): criticised Roy Jack's remarks and said: "Man would be no longer responsible for his actions."
As a large body of the SCM was present, the motion was carried when put to the house.
Rev. J. M. Bates, who recently delivered a talk to the SCM on Modern Mass Society, was the Judge, and he placed the affirmative as the winning team. The following speakers were placed in this order: Jackie Patrick, Maurice McIntyre, Roy Jack, Kevin O'Brien, Nig. Taylor.
In their third meeting for the year (Chem. Soc. please note), this society was recently privileged to hear Mr. W. Jones, of the Seismology Division of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, lecturing on "Seismic Waves." The mathematical theory of earthquake waves is extremely difficult to devolp without making many assumptions, it seems, and Mr. Jones did well to keep to a purely descriptive study of the various types of waves. His repetition of "this rather complicates matters" deterred even the keenest mathematicians, but they had their chance during the customary spread at supper.
•
Dear Sir,—This fostering of a "party spirit" between certain college clubs, notably the Chem. and Maths, and Physics Socs., is without purpose and should cease immediately. It is unbecoming to such serious clubs.
(We print without comment the following report of a recent SCM discussion. We print it so that the religious may thank themselves they are not as other creeds, and that the non-religious may reoffirm their rational security.)
But though we may not realise it, whether consciously or unconsciously, we all base our lives on some ultimate attitude to life, some faith, some hope, some religion if you like. For instance, the Curies had a sort of faith when they placed the hopes of all their labours in the discovery of radium. Again, at a casual glance it seems that New Zealand's chief religion is horse-racing.
Faiths may vary, indeed be diametrically opposed, or we may hold a mixture of faiths; but they all have in common the power of satisfying man's desire for an integrated outlook, something which will give to life a meaning and significance. Whether we believe them or not, then we should analyse other faiths and compare them with our own.
Firstly, Brahminism. This faith centres on the baffling mystery of life, the impersonal force from which all things come and go, and which annihilates the individual personality. Its anti-personal thought and its asceticism are found in some modern thinkers.
Buddhim is akin to this. Ultimately Buddilist ethics is a road to nothingness—so is Humanism, or any faith in "Science" which sees no significance in man beyond the material.
Thirdly, the outlook of Fascism is an ancient and apparently satisfying one for many people. Essentially it regards the individual as absorbed in a greater whole (e.g., the nation whether Nazi or New Zealand'), a united body which demands absolute allegiance and acts absolutely above the heads of its individual members.
Next we come to Communism, Marxism or Dialectical Materialism, with its economic interpretation of history. This view sees the world advancing through a series of conflicts or negations, through times of stress under Feudalism and Capitalism, through a Dictatorship of the Proletariat, to the ultimate desirable end of the ideal Communist Society. Though not "idealistic" in the ordinary sense, this outlook is Utopian in hoping for such a radical change without a fundamental change in the nature of man himself.
Christianity has several points of resemblance to Communism in its ideal of community. Both are "Messianic," and are concerned with the historical process. But the vision of Christianity is deeper and more ultimate, and it puts its faith not in coercion, but in the rule of love, in personal relations with God and one's fellow-men. It offers something more than what is in the power of man by himself.
But if any of these faiths is to be really effective in our lives and in society, it must be a totalitarian faith—it must be the basic driving force in our lives. Only when it integrates and orders everything within us does it become a satisfying faith, a philosophy with power in it. The Nazis have given us an example of that.
But have we got a faith better than Fascism? Buddhism and Communism offer faith in man. The Brahmin faith negates life. Christianity offers warmth and life in God. Which do we chose? "What faith for the modern world?"
On Friday night, July 6, ten enthusiastic and high-spirited Training College trampers left Otaki station for the Forks, on the hindquarters of a truck.
The main party arrived at Field at 2.30 Saturday morning. Daylight saw the party as spruce as ever on the track to Kime. Snow was not encountered till well past Dennan Peak. Kime Hut was sighted with cheerful catcalls about noon. Snow was good, and the ski enthusiasts revelled in it all the afternoon. Stew that evening was particularly acceptable, so the party sitting around the kerosene stove in Kime was happy.
Four o'clock Monday morning saw everybody up and busy preparing for the six-mile tramp to the swing bridge where the truck was booked for 8 a.m.
A small party of trampers and a rope spent a Sunday recently at Titahi Bay, ostensibly in preparation for a trip to the Southern Alps next summer. After being hauled over the top of the pinnacle, with only faith in their fellow trampers to assure them that at least one end of the rope is still attached to something resembling Mother Earth, they still maintain that rock-climbing is the noblest of all sports, for does it not build the body, uplift the soul, soothe the mind and strengthen the ties of friendship (bowlines in this case) all in one operation? You should try it sometime.
Acclaimed by those who know as the best ski instructional film seen in this country, is "Fundamental Principles of Skiing," which was screened lately by the Tramping Club.
Between the two showings of the film an illustrated lecture was presented by Robin Oliver and Jim Witten-Hannah on their experiences on Ruapehu a few weeks ago. (See illustration in our issue of July 11.) This was advertised as "How to set foot on a Live Tholoid," but as no pictures were available of this famous circus act, Mr. Oliver outlined the events from a scientific viewpoint, while Mr. Witten-Hannah presented some of the philosophical aspects. The talk was illustrated by lantern slides prepared from Mr. Oliver's photographs.
All Rights Disowned
Time: Sunday morning. Place: Suburban tram terminus.
Cast: (a) Assortment of amazons; (b) Odds and (c) Midge McLaughlin.
Properties: Cook Strait, one beach, silk stockings, dancing slippers, parasols and other miscellaneous tramping equipment.
Act I: This act is far too unique for publication.
Interlewd: Song—"I'm not going to tramp in bare legs for anybody."
Act II: Shameful sololiquies by Salient reporter as his indelicate ego conceives this script.
Finale: The villain abducts two heroines and beats it up the South Karorl stream. They have been heard of since.
Moral: Boy who take Girl to Red Rocks soon get Run Around.
A large number of students turned up to hear Prof. Richardson, who began his lecture by giving a brief summary of the development of applied parasitology since the end of the last century. Applied parasitology covers all parasites of man and the animals and plants useful to him. From about
On Saturday 21st, Mr. C. J. Cutler. Curator of the Wellington Zoo, took a number of keen biology students around the zoo and answered numerous questions. Mr. Cutler gave the students a good insight into the running of the zoo and explained his various duties from extracting a cancer in a lion's back to mending a monkey's arm broken by some irresponsible person. The animals seemed to be well cared for and well behaved, except the tiger, which took a rather marked dislike to a certain member of the party.
Last Sunday a small party of students visited Belmont, and after learning a lot of botany from Mr. Barker, enjoyed afternoon tea provided by Mrs. Barker.
"Salient" offers congratulations to Shirley McLeod, recent winner of the British Drama League's playwriting contest. Shirley is a part-timer with a position on the staff of the "Listener." Her winning play was a one act farce, "Gun Play." Good luck to our future dramatist!
The VUC Swords Club has at last been affiliated and a team entered in the Winter Tournament consisting of Stuart Cathie (captain), Beryl Adams, Bill Ord and Peter Hampton. The team has been appreciably weakened by the loss of Pix Hurrell, who sustained a foot injury whilst playing football, and who (according to our coach) was certain of gaining a Blue. However, we still have high hopes, as Bill and Peter, although comparative newcomers to the club, are shaping well.
The Committee for the year is:—
Club Captain: Pix Hurrell.Vice Club Captain: Stuart Cathie.Secretary-Treasurer: Beryl Adams.Committee: Shirley Cole, Bill Ord, Peter Hampton.
Our honorary instructor is Mr. Dickson, and the club is extremely grateful to him for his unflagging interest and patience (he certainly needs it).
The team is putting in plenty of solid practice and we can guarantee we will not make any contribution towards the Wooden Spoon.
That digests are an important and highly dangerous cultural development was stressed by Mr. W. J. Scott, sometime lecturer in English at WTTC, in a disclssion at Weir House on Sunday evening, July 29. Cultural standards are not now set by men of integrity and intelligence, but by those whose only aim is sales and whose technique therefore is to appeal to the lowest common emotions and ideas of the greatest possible number. The Beaverbrook press provides the best English example of this tendency and the "Reader's Digest" is Exhibit No. 1 of the United States.
Mr. Scott quoted an advertisement in which it was claimed that in an age where knowledge had expanded to such a tremendous degree, the "Reader's Digest" provided a summary of the chief lines of progress and gave the average busy man an integrated view of the various fields of activity. For each edition of the "Digest" 30 editors worked 5,000 hours, selecting the best articles from 500 of the best magazines, and rewriting them in a sparkling, snappy style which gave them new zest and vitality.
Mr. Scott pointed out that the best magazine for which experts write were, in fact, seldom digested. Most of those whose articles were quoted were already in popularised, simplified form and the further abridgement of these resulted in their being so far away from the reality of their subject matter that they became virtually unrecognisable.
From even the "slick" magazines habitually digested, by no means the best articles were taken. Most popular were stock effusions rich in "human interest," and "dramas of everyday life." Snappy biographical sketches, especially of the "Poor Boy Becomes Millionaire" type, which haven't a fact in them, came next on the list. Popular science was still further simplified and thrust into a stereotyped mould of optimism and wonder. All the romantic or sensational elements in scientific research were played up at the expense of facts. Those who obtained their scientific fare in this way began by thinking that all things are possible to science and ended by believing in magic.
In industrial relations and politics, the "Reader's Digest" is an intransigeantly reactionary journal which claims impartiality. Jobbery and corruption are commonly exposed in trade unions, though not in big business. Renegades from Communism such as Max Eastman and Jan Valtin, are employed to give "Inside Evidence" of the "horrors of the Left." Fascism is only seldom touched on, especially before the United States entered the war.
Mr. Scott instanced as an example of the 'Reader's Digest's" political tactics a very subtle combination of two ideas expressed in different articles in the issue of
The book summaries were seldom of worth-while books; those chosen for digestion were usually the second-rate choices of a society standardised at the lower middle class level of culture. Even on the rare occasions when an independent work was chosen—the speaker instanced Koestler's "Arrival and Departure"—its social philosophy or moral foundation was obscured by playing up the more sensational elements. A recent book summarised and saluted as one of the great works of our time, was, of course, "The Road to Serfdom," which may be obtained in bulk quantities from the publishers of "Reader's Digest."
The "New Yorker" has now withdrawn its contract with the "Reader's Digest," one reason being that it discovered the staff of the "Reader's Digest" was writing or commissioning articles, then farming them out to other magazines, from which they were subsequently brought back and digested. The extent to which this was happening rendered possible the danger of the "Reader's Digest" exercising a cultural monopoly.
A figure well-known in Wellington commended the "Digest" as an effective instrument of mass education. On being asked whether he did not think education should be tackled on slightly more meaty lines, he coined a phrase in replying that one could lead a horse to water but could not make it drink, Mr. Scott's own reply is that one can lead a horse to water and make it drink any damned thing one likes. The development of National Socialism in Germany is our best modern example.
Here definitely was "the pleasant place," and, equally definitely, "nothing wanting was save She—alas!" Nothing, that is, provided you are not of Mr. Khayyam's tastes: No wilderness? No book of verse? No jug of wine? Possibly not, but after all, you could have brought your own; the organisers of the session would be glad if you brought a little for them, too.
In spite of this initial difficulty, the session went off very successfully, just as a jazz session should. Neil Mountier gave his usual though largely esoteric commentary on each record, and there were sufficiently few people present to enable complete relaxation. It is to be hoped that the next session (to be held shortly) will be as great a success.
And, in reality, perhaps there was no initial difficulty at all. For although She was strangely wanting, He did not arrive either. And, for next time, watch the notice board, and please bring your own supper—or, preferably, have it beforehand.
From the chair Dr. Beaglehole introduced Colonel Powles who immediately put his audience at their ease with his bright, conversational manner. Introducing his subject the speaker outlined the history of the "trusteeship" doctrine of administrating dependant territories, or to quote the League of Nations Covenant "the sacred trust of civilisation."
The Canberra Pact and the United Nations Charter, he stressed, both specifically state the word "trust" and it is very significant when 50 of the world's greatest states agree that the interest of the inhabitants is paramount. Colonel Powles then referred to the growing belief that joint mandate of the islands would be better than a single nation entrusted with government.
Continuing, the speaker touched on the separate problems of certain islands. In all these South-west Pacific territories the native population was increasing; Samoa the most, New, Caledonia the least. The common problems of all the islands, despite their cultural and economic differences, are easy to find; health is perhaps the paramount one, although the easiest to solve. Education is a serious problem, in fact the missionaries found it necessary to translate the Bible into 324 dialects. It is surprising when we find that of New Guinea's 2,572 schools, only six are Government schools.
For, says Colonel Powles, if the country is to be made self-supporting, Big Business, with all its bad effects, must move in to develop it. On the other hand, the natives will only become "museum pieces" if we keep on paying out to them for ever. Another side of this question is the labour problem. Whence the labour? Indentured labour was inefficient and was stopped by its originators. There are thus only two ways of solving this problem—either the native work's for himself or as a servant of the white man. Farming (in Fiji) and copra production (in Samoa) have solved themselves in the former way, but the industrial problem remains to be solved. New Caledonia with its silver and nickel industries, is a blot on French colonial rule.
However, concluded the speaker, if, as was promised in the Canberra Pact, a South Seas Advisory Commission is set up, the immediate problems of the next ten years, which are health and education, may be handled with some hope of success. England, New Zealand, and Australia, if' they co-operated, would have control of 90 per cent, of the native population, and that would be an excellent start.
•
Tuesday afternoon dawned bright and clear. At about 1.15 the mixed hockey curtain-raiser started, but long before this Kelburn Park had been filling with excited spectators.
This mixed hockey game was very funny. Following the scheme initiated last year, one side wore shorts and the other wore skirts. Viv. Rich again refereed and Ivor Ting, playing for Maths., Physics and Geology, kept the score fairly even as well as looking very dashing in his gym tunic. Chem. Biology won 4-3, and it was just as well, too, in view of what happened to them in the football.
The football match was taken quite seriously. They had a real referee, dressed in those referee's white things, and everything. From the moment Mr. Monro managed to kick off, an expectant hush descended on the spectators. They were all lined up along the footpath and no doubt the hearts of the young ladies in (say) the Physics department went pit-a-pat as they viewed the men of (say) the Physics department, locked with their rivals in combat upon the muddy field.
At half-time the score was 5 nil.
In the second half MPG decided to change sides with CB and it was soon apparent that their new end of the field suited them much better. Except for a few scrums and line outs, they scored pretty regularly. It is felt that no good would come to posterity or anyone, of stating the exact score of this game. Suffice it to say that in spite of the device resorted to by CB supporters in an attempt to save the day, the MPG team were the winners. They were presented with the shining new Kirk Cup by Professor Kirk himself.
But now a few words about the device employed by the CB rabble to confound the victorious MPG team. Towards the end of the second half, the evil geniuses of the Chemistry department were observed getting up to a bit of no good on the southern side of the field. A light southerly breeze was blowing. Suddenly dense white smoke belched forth from some containers placed by the chemists. This spread swiftly across the field and for a few minutes it was very difficult to play without risk of collision. But, alas for the CB side, the breeze freshened and dispersed the smoke screen to such an extent that play continued unabated. Thus the flrst attempt to introduce chemical warfare failed; and it might be fitting to close this report with the pious hope that in future all measures will be taken to see that the game is conducted in the British tradition of fair play.
The Editor regrets that, owing to time, space and overset, he has been unfortunately forced to considerably shorten sports notes to the inclusion of Tournament News only.
The team set down for Winter Tournament stands so far: Phillips, Smiler, Towns, Ting, Laurenson, Nash, Gajadhar, McLean, Osten, Johnstone, Liddell, Griffin.
The absence of Ken. Kiddle will be felt badly in the full-backs, although Osten can be relied upon to do his best when the backs are in a tight spot. The problem of a goal-keeper has yet to be decided. Our regular, Brian Bary, is unable to go, and this gap in our last line of defence will no doubt cause many an anxious moment in Dunedin (for VUC at any rate). However, emphasis on attack will have to be the order of the day, and it will be up to the half line to work doubly hard to keep the forwards moving. Noel Broun, our regular centre, is also unable to travel, but Kamul Gajadhar will no doubt make a good fist of it in his place. Alister MacLean is now combining excellently with the forwards in front of him, and great things are expected of him at tournament. In the forward line, Ian Laurenson is the man we are looking to for the initiation of attacks, and his progress lately has been highly encouraging.
In view of the impending departure of the Women's Senior A Hockey team for Otago, to add to the laurels already won by the Senior B and Junior teams in their games with Canterbury, opportunity is taken to consider briefly the talent available.
Vivienne Rich, as left wing, shows good stick work and consistent form in a difficult position.
Ruth Russell and Julie Flett play a sound considered game, and produce upon occasion a surprisingly fast hit.
Quona Turner fills the position of right wing competently showing good co-ordination and adaptability.
Doris Filmer, in changing her game during the present season from centre forward to right half, has experienced many of the pitfalls of her new position, and has now settled down to a quietly effective style of positional play.
Nan Thompson and Jean Miller play colourfully as halves, and have developed a style and stickwork that halves of lower teams could well study.
Sue Hott, right full back, during her first season in senior hockey, has shown the happy knack of turning up unhurriedly where required. We look to her future with interest.
Margaret Beatty, left inside, has given point to the attacks of the Senior B forwards. Her scoring shot, except for occasional lapses, is notably quick and forceful.
Joy Underwood, to play goalie, is showing considerable promise in that position. Her dash and discrimination as a Senior B half gives her a strong claim for promotion.
Margaret Ross, emergency and Senior B centre half, plays a determined and consistent game.
Daisy Filmer, left full back, makes an able captain, and is largely responsible for the team being the strongest fielded for many years.
It is unfortunate that two outstanding players, Marion Warwick and Una Renner (who have caught the eye of the Wellington selector) will be unable to make the trip, as also Mary Seddon, dashing Senior B right wing.
We wish the team every success and await results with confidence.
A week from today, about sixty students from VUC, representatives of eight winter sports clubs, will be travelling to participate in the first official New Zealand University Winter Tournament. Their hosts will be Otago University, and appropriately so, for it seems fitting that the oldest and the largest University centre in New Zealand should have been selected as the venue of the inaugural Tournament. The sports which will be represented are: Women's and Men's Hockey, Harriers, Soccer, Men's Basketball, Table Tennis, Fencing and Golf. A debating team will also be travelling to contest the Joynt Scroll.
Noticeable by its absence is Rugby Football, which for reasons nament as a recognised NZU event, these clubs will no doubt increase in numerical strength and general status in future years. Ski-ing is also included in the programme this year, but the proposed arrangements for a competition at Queenstown involves so much time and expense tha VUC has found it impossible to send a team.
A superficial examination, however, reveals that the major winter sports are, in general, co-operative rather than individualistic as in Easter Tournament, The mode of competition is such that more time is better known by the NZU football clubs has not been incorporated.. Noticeable by their presence are some newer clubs whose rejuvenation was encouraged by the prospect of a tournament, viz.. Men's Basketball, Fencing and Golf. With the establishment of the Winter Tour-necessary to play out the requisite number of matches for any one particular sport. With only three or possibly four playing days in which to conduct the large number of events, the problem of arranging a suitable programme with the minimum of clashes becomes a sticky one. Further, there is likely to be a tendency to overload the Tournment, if, indeed, it is not already overloaded. Much will no doubt be learnt by the delegates.
The question of dates this year has also presented a problem, but one which appears to be unnecessary. It will be noticed with understandable disfavour, not only by students, but by College authorities, that the date set down for the departure of VUC teams (August 15) is in the middle of the last week of the term. Such overlapping is unnecessary. Although Otago has emphatically set down the dates for this year, it is unquestionably desirable that, if Winter Tournament is to survive as an annual event in future years, it will have to be run (travelling included) over a vacational period common to every College participating.
However, in spite of all the imperfections and difficulties. Winter Tournament,
Ruru Shield.—The annual match. Weir House v. The Rest, for the Ruru Shield, was held in extremely bad conditions on Kelburn Park last Saturday. By a narrow victory of three points to nil Weir retained the Shield for the fifth year in succession.
Any attempt at constructive football was out of the question, and Weir, playing with greater keenness and determination, proved themselves slightly better at the game of soccer into which the game developed. They overshadowed The Rest pack in line-outs and loose rushes, but were decisively beaten for the ball in the set scrums. Nevertheless they contrived to hold a territorial advantage for the major portion of the game, and would, on the run of play, been a little unlucky to lose.
The only score of the game came early in the first spell, when Barraclough picked up the ball near the line and dived over.
Seniors.—Congratulations to J. P. Murphy and R .T. Shannon on gaining selection in the NZU team which played Otago on July 14.
In its club games the team lost to Onslow 3-29 and beaten Berhampore 26-0. No greater contrast could be presented than that shown by the performance of the backs on the two occasions, their play being well below standard on the first day. The forwards, apart from Shannon, Dun and Bennett, an energetic trio, did not seem nearly vigorous enough against Onslow, but against much weaker opposition the following Saturday, they played fairly well.
Juniors.—After a good win, 19-3, over Oriental, the team was perhaps a little unlucky to lose to Woburn 13-14. The general play of the juniors in the last two matches has been extremely pleasing, and at last a good set of backs is making full use of its opportunities. Ackroyd as full-back was faultless against Oriental, and has scored 20 points in his last two games. Berry at five-eighths and Drumnond on the wing, are a couple of first-class men. The forwards are energetic but light, and feel the effect of their lack of weight rather badly at times. The consistent shires is showing fine form, and Wilson and Perkins give him good support.
The team which is travelling south to the Winter Tournament is composed of the following:—Tiny Moore (goal-keeper), played for Training College last year and is one of the most reliable members of the team. He always appears on the best of form.
Roy Dickson (left full-back), in his third year with the club, has proved one of the strongest and most consistent links in our defence and is a first-class back.
Brian Sutton-Smith (right fullback), another ex-TC player, shows plenty of dash in his defensive play, though he has had little experience as a full-back.
Alec Williams (left-half) has played most of the season with our B team where he has shown consistent defensive play.
Colin Richardson (centre-half), a member of the school rep. team which toured Australia before the war, and a Victoria blue in
Bruce Mackie (right-half) is more accustomed to forward play, where he has proved most active, originating many of the Varsity attacks.
Jack Williams (left-wing), a
Ray Trott (inside-left) is a solid forward and follows through well.
Jack Walls (centre-forward) was one of the founders of the Victoria soccer team, was a Wellington rep. last year, and is a blue of two years' standing. His ball-control is exemplary and he has scored most of our goals.
Faiz Sherani (inside-right) has good control of the ball but was unfortunate to injure his knee earlier in the year.
Bruce Weir (outside-right), the writer of the report, is prevented by-natural modesty from eulogising his ability.
Harry Priddey, who generally plays at left half, is unfortunately unable to travel with the team.