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For the first time in many years (if not the first time ever), the President of the Students Association has been elected unopposed. This happening is no doubt caused by many differing factors, but among the most important are the outstanding qualities of President Malcolm McCaw.
Many people will have heard of him as Wellington's Plunket Shield Opening batsman, but he is well known at Victoria for his many useful activities since he arrived in
Malcolm has had administrative experience in Extrav and in Tournament organisation. He was also Treasurer of last year's Congress. His sporting ability is not confined to cricket as he plays a useful five-eighths game in the 2nd XV. Malcolm has not played an active part in many of the cultural activities of the Association but he is always to be seen among the audience at a play or debate and has played an important part in the cultural life of Weir House.
As usual Salient's reporter was on the spot when news was to be found, and takes pride in bringing you this scoop, only twenty-four hours (or less) after it has become public. This is the news that 780 voters have been waiting for: the poll was, by comparison with recent years a reasonably heavy one: the best in fact, since
There were no real surprises in the results: according to an unofficial survey carried out beforehand, the favourites in most cases, headed the field home, though it seemed to be felt that in both the men's and women's committees there were Ave possibles. The exceptions, if any to the rule, were in the positions of Treasurer and Secretary. As far as the contest for treasurer went, neither candidate was very well known, and as a consequence the survey did not prove accurate. Suggestions that Ian Free would split his own vole did not eventuate.
Elaine Foote, who was unopposed and has already served one term on the exec, goes back this year for another period, as does Peter Chatwin, who was successful at the polls against Ian Free. Peter has been one of the most fruitful sources of inspiration on the executive over the past year, but it has alas, been a marathon task to keep his enthusiasm within bounds. That dispenser of cold water. Maurice O'Brien, could temper the idealism with common sense, but Malcolm McCaw. a little has experienced in the art of convincing people of the errors of others, may find it a trifle difficult.
For Secretary, Bernie Galvin defeated Bill Sheat in what is thought to have been a close contest. Figures are never made public but I do not think there would be much to spare between the two of them. My only regret is that it was necessary to choose between them; both are excellent men and both would have graced the executive. However, that is the tragedy of politics.
With two relatively dark horses galloping in this contest, either of them could have won. (A masterful summary.—Ed.). Cliff Terry got the judges" approval.
All those elected to the men's committee were men. Moreover they are all sportsmen: perhaps it is not surprising in a year when Varsity sports clubs are doing rather well. Tim Beaglehole is embarking on a second period of office, but the others. Ian Free (see above ), Denis McLean, and Trevor Turner are all newcomers to office.
"Salient" is pleased to note that Peggy Thorn, one of the two assistant editors, has now been elevated to the Peerage (? ? ? ). together with Mary Williment and Pam Beck. The other successful candidate was Diana Lescher. who has been on the exec, since early this year.
All in all, a colourful and talented array.
Under President McCaw. the Association can undoubtedly look forward to the sound administration of its affairs. Those who know him well have come to be impressed by his ability and his unassuming nature to him and his colleagues, "Salient" extends its best wishes and its warning that it will continue its duty of criticising whatever it believes to be a wrong Executive decision.
This was the motto that the Attorney-General (Hon. T. Clifton Webb) urged law students to adopt in their professional life when officially opening V.U.C.'s handsome new Law Library last week before a large audience of practitioners, teachers and students of law. The Attorney-General compared our facilities with these of the days when he studied and students present realised how fortunate they were, because here was a room in which the College's 8000 law books were readily accessible. Moreover, it is an ideal lecture room and has been designed so that it can be used for moots. Mr. Webb repealed the thesis that he has often presented, namely that public suspicion of the profession stems from the fact that lawyers are too inclined to speak in legal language to laymen and thereby give an impression that they practise a mystic rite which is not intelligible to mere mortals. As he rightly pointed out, the law is "applied common sense." and lawyers should never forget this.
Those who attended this formal opening thought at first that eight speakers would probably bore everyone to tears, but this was not so as al Ispeechcs were brief and interesting. In addition to Mr. Webb, the audience also heard from Dean McGechan, the President of the Wellington District Law Society, and Malcolm Dunphy, President of the Law Faculty Club. The speaking list was large because the Faculty took this opportunity of honouring its beloved "Jimmy" Williams, now Principal of the College. Mr. J. B. O'Regan spoke for Dr. Williams' first students and praised the then Professor's deep interest not only in the academic problems of his students but also in the personal problems of the youth of the depression era who could not find suitable employment while they studied. On behalf of his colleagues, Mr. O'Regan formally presented a fine collection of volumes of the Australian Law Journal to the Library as a mark of appreciation to Dr. Williams. On behalf of class of '51 (Dr. Williams' last). John Selater presented the first volumes of that group's life-long subscription to the New South Wales Law Reports—also us a memento "of Dr. Williams' service.
In a short reply, the Principal thanked all present for their kindness and commented that, in his considered view, the Victoria Faculty was the strongest in Australasia and could stand up with the best in the world.
Under the chairmanship of Mr. T. D. M. Stout. Chairman of the College Council, the hour-long proceedings were both formal and pleasant. Other official guests were the senior Magistrate Mr. A. A. McLachian. and the President or the New Zealand Law Society, Mr. W. H Cunnigham. The officials were later entertained at cocktails in the Staff Common Room by the Law Faculty Club.
The opening of this library shows something of the progressive spirit of the Law Faculty. There have been many innovations in this Faculty in recent years and not all have been initiated by the staff. The Faculty is a closely-knit body of graduates, staff and students and other Faculties and Departments in the College could well ponder on the benefits that such liaison find harmony bring in their train.
This was a typical legal gathering in the tradition of an ancient profession a tradition which once marked the ancient Universities. Here were representatives of the Bench, the profession, the teachers and the students all joining in a corporate activity.
The Law Library will bring many benefits to a Faculty that has a proud record. The Faculty has seen as many as six of its graduates on the same Supreme Court Bench, it has watched its practising graduates become leaders of the Bar all over. New Zealand, and its students, from the first President of the Association in
It is fitting that we should pay tribute in these columns to two brothers who have served the college to well over the past six or seven years. Kevin O'Brian was elected Secretory of (he Association in
Their outstanding merit lay in their administrative ability. Each threw himself into his his job within a
Of the two. Kevin was perhaps the more capable, and Maurice the more approachable. Each seemed to stand head and shoulders above his contemporaries. If one felt, as one often did, that the affairs of the association were dominated by them, one had to remember that it was their ability, knowledge, and energy which put them in a position to do so.
Victoria appreciated them most at N.Z.U.S.A. conferences where their skill placed the Victoria delegation in the enviable position of being more likely to succeed in their endeavours than the other delegations.
We called this the end of an era; the direct influence of the O'Briens on the affairs of the Association has existed longer than most people have been at this collage, and in a university lift, that is a long time. Noteworthy, too, is the fact that it is the first time
We do not say that they are above criticism for we know through our own bitter experience that they are not. We do feel, however, that, at least, we may pay them a tribute which they well deserve.
We end with a note of warning. There is still another O'Brien to come.
Free cocktails are served to students at the beginning of psychology lectures at Bristol University. Acting as "barman" is the Professor himself, who wants to try out on his students the effect of small doses of alcohol on dexterity and reaction aptitude.
A summer university for foreigners is to be established in Villa Fetrinelli at Lake Garda, according to plans made at the University of neo, Turin).
A clubhouse for students of Santiago do Compostein started building a few weeks ago. The house is to become a meeting-ground of the city's university youth, and to serve for cultural and political activities as well as for recreational purposes. (Service. Santiago do Compostela).
The riots in Germany serve to remind us that East Germany is still occupied territory. They also serve to remind us that whatever may be said (usually by communists) in favour of a communist regime, such a regime is to say the least, economically no more satisfactory then a capitalist regime.
Undoubtedly is will be alleged that the riots were caused by enemy agents; we can believe that or not as we choose: fundamentally the revolt had on economic basis. We know that it is wrong to argue from the particular to the general and we cannot say that because communistic socialism is failing in Eastern Germany. It must also fail elsewhere: we can say, however, that as it is unsuccessful in Germany, so it may be unsuccessful elsewhere
Basically the problem to the communists is different outside Russia from inside Russia. The people of Russia may be contented. They have never known freedom or a high material standard of living, but what is most important of all it that, for good or bad, they are not being ruled by a foreign power. To the Germans, the Czechoslovakians, the Hungarians and what is left of the Poles is the knowledge that their rulers are foreigners. While their head of state may have been born within their state, his policy has not. Such intermeddling with another nation's affairs which appears to go on between Russia and neighbouring states, would not be tolerated by the people in a free state. Basically this it the cause of what has become known to the world at "Titoism,"
The approach adopted by the Soviet Union towards colonised states was as brutal as it was transiently effective. We are told by one Roumanian refuges, for example, that her husband was arrested and presumably deported, that the criminals were relased from the jails, given good salaries, and called policemen. Since this has come from one who has been it happen we have no reason to doubt it.
Even so, a generation of ruthless indoctrination could probably produce a nation of fanatical totalitarians. It it not we who have to fear Eastern Europe, but rather our sons and daughters, or perhaps their sons and daughters. We do not believe that the people
What, then, are we to say of the rebellion in Germany? Germany, as well as Czecho. of Eastern Europe are yet Communist lovers. Their greatest danger will come when they are. Slovakia, it fanatically nationalistic. This revolt will, we fell, only stir once more the flames of nationalism. From their own point of view, the East German government acted well: they put down the revolt before it had grown to sufficient proportions to represent a milestone in German history. Had they not done so. Germans for generations might have remembered and hated communism for it. The government, however, made one mistake. They let the Russians loose. If there is one thing really calculated to inspire hatred, it having one's own people killed brutally by an invader's tanks.
The legacy, we think is this: a renewed hatred amongst the Germans for the Russians and a growth of antipathy towards their own government. The letter can perhaps be overcome by reforms, but the former will not to easily be eradicated.
It it easy to fall in to error when one is distant, both in mind and in body, from the subject of one's judgment, and events may prove us wrong, but with this reservation, we have formed the conclusion that Russian communism in Germany has failed.
Sir.—May I suggets that a writer who spells the noun stationery "stationary" (see article "Voting Next Week." issue of June 10) twice in two sentences, and a staff no little interested in reading the article that they allow the error to remain, have all of them no right to represent their organ as one of student opinion.
(The smaller the criticism, the greater the compliment.—Ed.)
Sir,—As a student of Victoria I should like to point out to other students how very easy it is to appear rude and discourteous to our public. The public look to a University for knowledge and common sense. They very rarely get the latter from as and often learn of the former, but a certain section of students spoil things for others by giving the impression that they are "intelligentsia—so watch out!" all means let us have our processions and Extravs, let us boast of our too rating football teams, our wins at tournaments (when we have them) our drama club plays and musical evenings, but at the same lime let us show some consideration to those people who occasionally have the opportunity of an insider view of University life.
Recently, when a debate was held at the Little Theatre on the subject. "Is the Church Divorced from the Public?" there was displayed unnecessary discourtesy to the Judge of the debate, the Rev. Scott Surely it is not right to keep a guest unwelcomed and waiting for half an hour? if students must attend lectures and times arranged for debates do not suit speakers taking part, then why not alter the hour of commencing debates to suit both students and Judge?
This is not the only exhibition of such behaviour on the part of the Debating Society and it seems a pity to have the second occasion go unchecked. Most of us would like Victoria to have the highest reputation in and respects. After all. "Courtesy costs us nothing "
Sir,—As one of Mr. Donovan's select, self-possessed and most reasonable of gentlemen, or more correctly, as an aspirant to such august company I find that forages from my ivory tower are becoming so numerous my friends seldom find me within the portals.
Now this state of affairs has followed my realisation at an early date that man does not live by bread and dripping alone and that the Arts offered a whole new world of experience and enlightenment. I determined to get a thin veneer of culture as soon as possible and so began investigating the various sources available within the University.
The notice board proved the key to everything: here I found I could harmonise with the Glee Club every Tuesday night, argue in the affirmative or negative with the Debating Society every other week, or try my hand at acting, producing or stage managing, not to mention becoming make-up or scenery expert, stage hand or electrician in the Drama Society. Well now, I found all this most stimulating, there being no end to the possibilities.
However, in time I found that whereas most of the main clubs and societies had set aside fixed nights in every week for their meetings, others organised important meetings and lectures in a most erratic manner. Thus on Wednesday evening. June 17. I found I could indulge myself in "Some Moral Paradoxes" with Prof. Hughes, or partake of the Macmillan Brown lecture on the "Novel." delivered by Prof. I. A. Gordon. For one in my position both of these lectures would prove invaluable, as it was I was reduced to tossing a coin in order to decide which one to attend ( man must have a scapegoat).
Must such duplication exist, would it not be possible to establish a liaison between the various groups concerned, with a view to creating some order out of the chaos I feel sure, planned proceedings would benefit both societies and members.
Oh, and there is also the public to be considered I happened to be standing undecidedly at the notice board Wednesday last, lamenting the situation audibly, when I was Joined by a prominent local citizen and critic, known only as H.P. to most.
We commiserated
There now.
Text for the week: The universal gesture is the arm around the shoulder, another is the thumb up to the nose. The Yankees and the Pommies do them both.
The empty box for the Korean students caused much interest. One girl offered to do a strip tease to attract attention to the plight of the box and to give an example of student denial.
Q.: Why didn't you vote for the lender of the herd?
Senior stag doing pol sci: His policy doesn't sit in with my idea of democracy.
First year doc: I didn't like his dew lap.
Second year hind: I've been out with him and he's still got velvet on his antlers.
Seventh year behind: We locked horns once.
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Students and teachers of the Louvain University have inaugurated a "Cultural and Artistic Centre" to provide a common meeting ground between students and Belgian artists At present the Louvain Centre is holding an exhibition of paintings, sculptures, etchings, ceramics, photography and music produced by Flemish and Waloon artists. The artists are invited to the Centre to give informal talks and lectures which are followed by lively discussions. (UNESCO, Paris).
Mr. Bill Cameron in the course of his research into the 18th century poets has discovered a poem which was attributed to Roscommon but was written by Pomfret. This is a minor piece of research but we should hear more about that research that is carried on at Victoria. This would correct the impression that Vic. is a glorified teaching institute.
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The University of Toledo proposes to eliminates from its courses all "fossils." These "fossils" are people who have been around the university for years flunking subjects or doing repeals of the units they already have.
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Rhodes Scholar and ex-President Dave Horsley came to Wellington for the opening of the Law Library last week and was later entertained by some of his many old friends He sails July 11.
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One of our keenest "culture vultures" was noticeably absent from the Wellington poets" recent gathering; his excuse—a previous engagement with a "piece of living poetry." She was too.
Over Coronation Weekend the Socialist club held its annual study school at 32 Kelburn Parade, in spite of Extrav. preparations and other Coronation festivities the attendance was good and the sessions produced much interesting discussion. A wide field was covered in the afternoon and evening meetings chaired by members of the club committee and a visitor from the S.C.M. Guest speakers led the discussions which ranged from the theoretical basis of socialism and its relation to Christianity, to conditions in China today, the effect of McCarthy on American liberalism and problems in N.Z. industry today.
The programme opened with a forum on "the fundamentals of socialism" led by Mr. John McCreary, lecturer in Social Science, and Mr. Phil Armstrong, M.Sc. Both speakers had an Individual approach and gave their personal background to socialist conviction followed by an analysis of socialist theory and its application to New Zealand today. Mr. McCreary dealt with the development of the idea of "a better way of life" from the Republic of Plato to the Utopian Socialism of the 19th century and the dialectical materialism of Marx and Engels whose analysis of the relationships in society of man to the means of production and consequently of man to man formed the foundations of the first scientific theory of socialism.
Mr Armstrong outlined the place of the work in a socialist state, the conditions necessary for the attainment of socialism and the contrast between civil liberties under socialism and under capitalism. Hero measures such as the New Zealand Police Offences Act and the
A lively discussion ensued concerned mainly with the means by which socialism would be brought about in New Zealand. It was agreed that it could only come by the desire of tile majority and that at present most New Zealanders felt no urgent necessity for it. A distinction was drawn between socialism and communism, the former embodying "from each according to his capacity, to each according to his work," the latter "from each according to his capacity, to each according to his needs." It was pointed out that socialism was then a transitional stage in the development to communism but clearly separate from it. Some thought that socialism would come by gradual natural evolution facilitated by socialist education; others held that since there was always a minority whose interests could never benefit through socialism and" who would actively and unscrupulously oppose its introduction; intensive organisation of militant workers' unions must be one of the effective means to socialism and and that although pacifism and socialism wore not incompatible history had shown the value of arming the workers with guns as well as words.
On Saturday evening Mr. Frank Knipe, of the Seamen's Peace Committee, gave an excellent address on "New China." Mr. Knipe was well qualified to speak as he was familiar with Chinese ports during and after the war and had recently visited China as a delegate to the Peace Conference in Peking. The contrast between Kong Kong and the cities of the now Republic was the contrast between the old and the new; on the one hand, poverty' and prostitution, dirt, disease and despair; on the other a people for the first time in their history finding security of existence and the reality of economic progress. In China today there was a feeling of confidence in the future, of co-operation for the public good. The desire for peace and world-wide trade and cultural relations was everywhere evident. Discussion followed on the possibility of New Zealand trade with China, the position of the Universities in China, the structure of the present governing body in China and its relation to the forthcoming general elections.
On Sunday afternoon Mr. J. Winchester. M.A., gave a very well documented account of the influence of McCarthyism in America and its repercussions in New Zealand today. He showed that contrary to popular opinion Senator McCarthy was not a lone witch-hunter but that he had the support of a wide section of the American public in the grip of a Red hysteria. He was a man with strong financial support and a background of unscrupulous dealing; in spite of recent congressional investigation which revealed his misappropriation of Government funds he was stilt a man who could sway public opinion and politically embarrass Elsenhower. The fear of war which he promoted was beneficial to such Industries as DuPont Morgans. The Red scare which he created, however, rebounded and scapegoats were required to substantiate his extravagant claims. People such as Owen Lattimore and the Rosenbergs were victimised and purges were introduced to remove all liberals from Government employment. The teaching profession and universities were investigated and "Loyalty Oaths" introduced; it was even suggested that the books of the Congressional Library be examined for subversive matter. Liberalism as such was frozen. The effect on publishing, theatre and stage was crippling. A man who had published the Communist Manifesto was convicted of subversive action, 700 lawyers having refused to defend him. It was suggested that even here in New Zealand the stage could easily be set for such denials of civil liberties. The popular and erroneous belief in V.U.C. as a hotbed of communism could then lead to all sorts of injustice.
On Sunday evening well-known New Zealand poet James K. Baxter spoke on Christianity and Socialism. He defined socialism in the same terms as Messrs. McCreary and Armstrong had done and Christianity as laid down in the Apostle's Creed. He gave a historical outline of the relationships between Church and State and came to the conclusion that socialism and Christianity were not Incompatible, but that although Christians might accept socialism as a better way of life they could not treat it as an end in itself or as the ultimate aim of man. In the subsequent discussion the possibility of change in human nature following change in economic conditions was dealt with.
On Monday afternoon a watersider. Mr. Don Austin, gave an account of the position on the Wellington waterfront today where, as a result of the
The school was successfully concluded and the club committee thanks supporters for their attendance and co-operation in keeping things running smoothly.
Guilielmus de saint-preux. last survivor of his ancient family scat, was walking through the streets of Paris. Looking up at the sky, he felt plunged into the infinite depths of Non-Being. He tripped over a child, and it seemed to be saying to him "Arc you your Existence? Are you sure that you Are you. . . ."
"Yes," he argued passionately, "for Being is Non-Being. Aristotle and the famous medium Madame Blitheronsky, the prophet of Syracuse, have proved it beyond doubt. And, as my friend von Puffenhauser has taught me, this is the Absurd."
Guilielmus passed the shop Kierkegaaldie et Stains. But biting into an apple he felt a sudden misgiving: is the Absurd absurd ? The ob-jective in-scape of the landscape prevented an e-scape. It was saying to him: The Absurd is the all, but all is not absurd, in fact that is why nothing is absurd. "But Nothing is." Guilielmus said to himself agitatedly, watching a prostitute walk past. Then ho said "Nothing is not, that is, is-not." showing clearly by this that he at last understood the difference between the Existential and the Existentiel and was now realising with all his ec-sistence that Being and Becoming, the En-soi and the Pour-soi, the Ego and the Id, were One.
Saint-Preux followed the prostitute to her house. But at the door he went into a trance. He looked at it for two hours. Never had he been so aware of his in-sistence. He could see it—there, in that door. But what, he asked himself miserably, what was the in-ness of in? Was it in 'in,' "in." or even perhaps in ""in"'? For that matter, what was the whatness of what. . . .
After waiting only four hours more it came on him like a flash. It was the door-bell! Fronziedly he rang it, but as the door opened he could at first say Nothing, for its having-been-openedness was reflecting the what-ness of what. Of what? he thought, but controlling himself, cried aloud. "We must love each other. We must, logically, and we logically must. For only then are we free!"
"Yes, for Being is Non-Being," was the solemn reply. And then Guielielmus remembered: he had met her in the Existentialist Cafe nine days before (nine, the mystic number), while the band had been playing "Hei-jegger Jig." Then, of course, her face and clothes had been completely black, as von Puffenhauser had made this compulsory for all existential embodiments of the Eternal Feminine, which as Goethe said, "lead us on."
"This is loo perfect, said Guilielmus. "This moment is sheer Nothingness. We must vanish into the in-being whence it came."
They did.
Does an appeal for Korean students mean anything to us? This last week we have made a beginning and offered some aid to fellow-student shere.
W.S.C.F. started in
Christian study and worship in university colleges, work within the ecumenical movement, missionary work, a Christian approach to the secular problems of political and economic barriers and relief efforts to countries such as Korea, Africa, India through W.U.S. are Federation activities important to thousands of students. This is why Victoria College S.C.M. has been allocated a quota which is part of the £400 New Zealand is contributing to W.S.C.F. £250 directly to Federation work, £100 funds for New Zealand and overseas conference delegates, £50 for W.U.S. We are asked' to raise £100 at V.U.C.
We can do this with your help and interest in the work we are called to do.
This week, June 22 to 28, is Federation Week when V.U.C. students can help V.U.C.S.C.M. fulfill our urgent duty towards students in less fortunate countries.
After experience had taught me that all things which are ordinarily encountered in common life are vain and futile, and when I saw that all things which were the occasions and objects of my fears had in themselves nothing of good or evil except in so far as the mind was moved by them; I at length determined to Inquire if there were anything which was a true good, capable of imparting itself, by which alone the mind could be affected to the exclusion of all else: whether anything existed indeed by the discovery And acquisition of which I might be put in possession of a Joy continuous and supreme to all eternity.
Every year there is held a drama tournament, for which the four colleges send a team each The fact that there is such a tournament suggests that in the university drams is taken seriously, not merely as entertainment but also as art. And rightly so, because where else are there such obligations. The V.U.C. Drama Club has obligations because it is the representative group of an academic institution.
It is difficult to say if the V.U.C Drama Club has lived up to its obligations. Admittedly it has often produced plays under difficult conditions. But since the building of the Little Theatre the club has, for the most part, aimed higher than any Women's Institute Drama Group. Plays produced during the last few years include "She Sloops to Conquer." "Anno Christie," "Coriolanus," "The Rape of Lucrece." '"The Respectable Prostitute," and most of the credit for those productions must go to Bill Sheat. Paul Treadwell and Gerry Monoghan who, in
Last year the major production was "The Rivals." which received good press notices.
"Cockpit" emerged at the beginning of
The New Zealand Players have Just left Wellington and it is interesting to note that both Richard and Edith Campion received their early training at Victoria. They both appeared in a play that was described in "Landfall" as "the most exacting event of the New Zealand stage." This is high praise Indeed but not surprising when applied to a production by university students. The public expects something good and I feel the present V.U.C. Drama Club is on the road to providing it.
Any sceptic who regarded Varsity's grand performance in the recent Wellington-Masterton relay as a mere flash in the pan was decisively proved wrong: on Saturday when the University club scored a clear-cut win in the Dorne Cup race.
In previous yearn thin race has been hold at Petone, the course comprising mainly road and track. This year it was held at Silverstream over a really testing cross-country course, made very heavy by the recent rain. In putting up such a fine performance under such difficult conditions. Varsity has proved itself a club to be reckoned with not only on the road but also over country. This season shows promise of being the most successful year in the history of the Varsity Harrier Club. The only other year in which the club has shone in inter-club teams races was
The individual winner of last Saturday's race was Brian Derwin, of Scottish, who finished 150 yards clear of Arch Jelley (Olympic). An equal distance separated Jelley from the New Zealand cross-country champion. Noel Taylor (Hull Valley).
An regards Varsity's Individual placings. Dick Gilberd is to be congratulating on running an extremely well judged race to finish fourth only 4sec. behind Taylor. Gilberd, who seemed to revel in the sticky conditions and took the fences effortlessly undoubtedly ran the best race of his harrier career. Should he repeat this performance at N.Z.U. winter tournament, being held this year at Auckland, he should most certainly be in the running for individual honours.
Ross Rawnsley (5th) also ran well, but he is capable of better performances, and it is to be hoped that he will regain his best form in time for the provincial championships which are only a month off. A notable absentee from the Varsity team was Clem Hawke. who, had he been able to run, would undoubtedly have made Varsity's victory even more decisive. Paul Keesing (10th), Colin Candy (14th) and Mike Truebridge (15th) all ran sound races. No doubt Truebridge would have been up with the leaders but for trouble with his shoes. The other runners to count were Tim Beaglehole (22nd). Peter Joyce (24th). Bob Croker (34th). Tony Cow (42nd). and Graham Ward (45th).
It will be interesting to see how Varsity fare in the 10-mlle Vosseler Shield race to be held at Lyall Bay on July 4 over a course consisting of beach, track and road. It remains to be seen if the Varsity runners can maintain the long sustained effort that is required for a race twice as long as the Dome Cup event. Strongest opposition will undoubtedly come from the Scottish Club.
The present relationship between the Church and the people was a debate topic which should have brought forward an analysis of modem social conditions. But, instead, we were treated to, in the words of the adjudicator. Rev. G. Scott (S.C.M. Chaplain), "much loose thinking and dogmatism tempered with occasional sound thought."
The standard of speaking was fairly high. Bruce Brown, the leader of the affirmative, who was placed first, was clearly far superior to the other speakers. He, gave an excellent historical survey of the place the church has occupied in society. The churches' attitude of attempting to reform the individual in preference to the institution was the main fact which he attacked. The lack of any definition of Church from the affirmative side in their opening addresses was a bad fault. If Bruce hod defined the Church in his opening speech instead of in his reply the debate could have been conducted on a more narrow and Informative plane.
Meida O'Reilly, who gained second place, was the lender of the negative side. She Improved on a weak opening. She was extremely fluent but logic was occasionally lost in the flow.
The third place went to J. Catanach, a maiden speaker, He brought sincerity without dogmatism, but his youthful optimism did not go down with some of the more hardened cynics in the audience. His delivery was slightly jerky but this was countered by the fact that he was one of the few who had given some thought and preparation to their speech.
The second speaker for the affirmative. P. Williams, who was placed next, was very impressive. He had "all the attributes of the street corner apple-box orotor." A lively sense of humour and a powerful and commanding manner of speaking and a seemingly limitless repertoire of aphorisms. His main fault was that he had few supporting facta. He based what case ho had on the premise that a scientific age such as ours does not need religion.
The other speaker placed was G. Hubbard, who seconded the case for the negative. He had logical order but was often in danger of losing himself amidst a ream of notes.
Other speakers included H. Whitta who brought a touch of humour, Marjorie Munro, who gave you the impression of not being very serious; N. Gallatc (a new speaker), who continually repealed his main fact—that if the people were divorced from the Church then the Church must be divorced from the people (I can still remember it). Ellwood—be suffered from a continuous stream of interjections which he did not handle very well.
The main argument used by the affirmative was one based on a comparison of this age with previous times—the fall of the Church from the political, moral and social importance it possessed in the Middle Ages. This was supplemented by statements from various Church leaders of the decline in church attendances and the general turning away from the Church as the guiding body in moral matters.
The negative did little to counter the affirmative's case but were content in the main with countering it with an opposing argument—that if there was a divorce then it was not the fault of the Church but of the people. This was mainly an argument as to whose responsibility the separation was. It was allowable because of the rather indefinite wording of the subject and the lack of definition by the affirmative.
The debate developed into a slinging match between speaker and audience. The subject was often for-
When i was approached by a Salient representative to "write something on Extrav" my immediate reaction was to ask. "What can I write that others don't know?" His reply astonished me. "Did you know Ron Meek?" I nodded. "Well," he said. "Write about him." I realised at last that age had caught up with me, that Meek was a name, his Extravs had become legend, that a generation of students existed who did not sing his lyrics in the bath or shout his choruses on tramping trips.
Meek's cxtravs are characterised in my mind by five things: the brilliance of the lyrics; the continuity of plot; their political pertinence (and in some cases impertinence ). their imaginative possibilities for staging and production; and the dullness of the humour in the dialogue. Meek was a clever rather than a funny man and the problem in producing his shows lay in doing Justice to their cleverness and livening up the dialogue to make the period between action and lyric acceptable to the general Extrav audience. Politically Meek was to the Left, at a time when to be Left was right, and his scripts were vehicles for cutting political satire. Few who saw it will forget Meek as Chamberlain, one of the firm of Nev and Hit and Co.. selling the Union Jack to the highest bidder, with patriotic members of the audience stamping out of the Opera House muttering dire threats; nor the reaction of one prominent parliamentarian when, from the audience, he saw himself lampooned by Meek as the Straw when singing lustily
There was one occasion when, in the opinion of some. Meek went too far. This was with the script Jonnalio, which, although designed as a comment on Lee's expulsion from the Labour Party, contained some acrid comments on the suppression of civil liberties in New Zealand during the war. The stage imitation of the then Prime Minister was to sing.
He wan to sing, be it noted, all the other characters were in the past tense also as the show was banned by the Executive. who considered it subversive.
Thinking of past Extravs inevitably makes one remember those incidents not in the script, which occur in all productions. There was one glorious event which took place during a performance of Centennial Scandals. The stage was all set for Professor Freud to spin in to a roll of drums and deliver the lines which would start the main show. The cue was given, the drums rolled. Professor Freud spun, but dazzled by either lights or gin, he spun too far, tripped on the footlights and pitched head first into the orchestra pit, landing with a resounding crash on the double bass. The audience loved it, so did everybody else except Professor Freud and the owner of the double bass. On another occasion one of John Carrad's male chorus was doing a vigorous Can Can. He lifted his skirts higher and higher quite oblivious of the fact that his pants were falling lower and lower until ho ended, skirts under chin, smiling coyly at the audience protected only by a rather gubby athletic support, a little puzzled by the shouts of helpless laughter coming from the auditorium. There was the night also when an Inebriate became lost in the catacombs beneath the stage, found the trap door and, climbing, as he thought, to freedom, found himself facing a group of bewildered actors and an equally bewildered audience, waved a bottle at them and descended again, wearily and uncertainly, into the depths.
One could go on in these reminiscences with a series of Thurber like title: The Night the Curtain Caught Fire, the Night the Baby Lost His Nappies, the Night Confusius Caught the Apple, and so on. But these things are past as all Extra vs. should be because they can have no immortality, they are essentially related to the immediate present, the true chronicles of the time and long may they continue to be so.
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Game postponed.
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Varsity 3. Hutt 3.
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