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New Zealand consists of a couple of islands cast away by themselves in the middle of the South Pacific.
With Australia, it forms a scattered archipelago of transplanted North Atlantic democracy not very far off the Asian mainland. The Asian nations are our nearest neighbours of any significance.
A realistic foreign policy would be directed towards coming to terms with these people, and working out some method of mutually satisfactory peaceful co-existence with them. Our polticians pay lip-service to this goal. The National Party's booklet 'A Record of Achievement' describes one of the Government's foreign policy aims (the third of three) as being "the strengthening of friendly relations with the free countries of Asia."
But in fact our foreign policy is dominated, as it hits been for generations, by hostility and suspicion towards the people of Asia—summed up in the old nightmare of the "yellow peril."
Our contribution to the Colombo Plan is excellent, as far as it goes. It makes at least a gesture of real economic assistance to the under-developed lands on Asia's fringes. But our immigration laws (which are almost as xenophobic as Australia's) have not been relaxed. Asian students can still be summarily ordered out of the country (as the Indian Pat Sharma was only a few years ago), and those who come without 'official assistance have to contend with the ignorant prejudices of New Zealand's professional landladies.
And even such economic aid as we do give is given for all the wrong reasons. Newspaper editorials occasionally give a revealing insight into the nasty motives behind apparently generous undertakings—for instances this in the "Evening Post" (
In fact, the cornerstone of our foreign policy is not in the Colombo Plan, with its emphasis on peaceable aid, at all, but the system of military alliances which has been built up by the United States to counter the spread of Communism (or something else, according to Mr. Clyde Carr), and which is so darkly regarded by not only the Communists, but the vast majority of neutral and uncommitted nations of Asia.
When SEATO was set up in
But as it worked out, the Manila Conference blasted all such hopes. "Teeth" were the big thing to be put into the Pact us far as Mr. Dulles was concerned, and with New Zealand shrilly applauding, Britain fell into line. A detailed machinery was set up to organize the military aspects of the alliance, while the only reference to "economic measures" or "progress and social well-being" (Clause 3) were restricted to finely-phrased expressions of pious intentions.
Every SEATO gathering since then has been primarily concerned with the functioning of the organization as a military alliance.
And anyway, what effect has SEATO had on the nations of Asia—the "free countries of Asia" with whom the National Government claims we have strengthened relations?
There are only three Asian countries in SEATO (Pakistan, the Philippines, and corrupt Thailand), as against five white countries—Australia. New Zealand, and three even more utterly un-Asian: Britain, France, and the United States.
At its foundation, one Wellington editorial writer ("Dominion,"
The mass sentiment of the Asian people in the present conflict between the Kremlin monolith and the old Western colonial powers (which includes the United States, who had their colonial foothold in Asia up till the last war) is "a plague o' both your houses". India. Indonesia, Burma, Ceylon, Laos, Cambodia, and active minorities elsewhere, all reflect this attitude.
They want constructive economic assistance from more fortunate lands for the development (as opposed to the exploitation) of their resources; they want long-term peace in which this development can take place freely, and which is threatened by the two great military power blocs overshadowing the world.
The H-bomb, in particular, is regarded by them with revulsion as the epitome of the power impasse which the great blocs have reached. And remember, it was against an Asian people (not the military misleaders of that people, but the people themselves) that atomic weapons were used the only time—may it remain the only time—they have ever been used.
New Zealand's participation in the Christmas Island tests, with her participation in SEATO, and the Malayan
The only really constructive proposals put forward in the recent foreign affairs debate in Parliament were made by Mr. Warren Freer, who recommended that New Zealand should (even after being party to Britain's recent tests) take the initiative in a non-nuclear-nation move to break the nuclear deadlock and effect a ban on H-weapons; and that we should limit our defence measures to New Zealand (the place we are after all, meant to be defending) and use the money we are spending on sending forces to Asia on economic assistance.
But Mr. Holland was too busy explaining the "necessity" for Britain's bomb tests, and Mr. Macdonald was too full of the need for our "front line" to be in Malaya, and Mr. Eyre was too ecstatic about the rightness of what Sir Anthony did in Egypt, and Mr. Gotz was too fascinated proving with his Geiger counter that his wrist watch was more dangerous than an H-bomb, and all the fatuous rest of them were too narrow of vision and small of mind to heed the voice of sanity.
We are living in a momentous period, when the decisions taken in the sphere of foreign relations can mean the destruction or the survival of civilization.
We believe that, not only because it is the only morally defensible policy, but for the very expedient reason that a few well-aimed H-bombs could obliterate New Zealand entirely—the sooner we adopt Mr. Frcer's practical suggestions the better.
A small item in the "Evening Post" of
A motion by Mr. Robinson aimed at making the Council "dissociate itself from the poem" was buried when the Council carried a motion of Professor Willis Airey's to move on to the next business.
Many VUC students are quite unfamiliar with the bitter fight that has rent Auckland over the question of the site of Auckland University. The present site in Princes Street has long been patently inadequate for immediate expansion needs, and a variety of solutions have been plugged for.
Ten years ago, the popular idea was to move the whole institution out to Tamaki where there was a plentiful supply of wide open spaces—but this was always resisted by those students and staff members who believed the University should be an integral part of the City.
Another suggestion—which would have netted a fortune for the only contractor in the country with the means to do the job—was to fill in Hobson Bay and site the University on the reclamation.
At last the Government—with, it must be admitted, considerable support among staff and students—has plumped for expansion on the present site by dint of taking over several adjacent blocks now covered with old residential buildings approaching the day for their destruction.
Unfortunately the City Council's town plan had zoned this area for "intensive residential" purposes, in the' fond belief that the University would be safely away in the backblocks. Big blocks of flats would, of course, net a substantial rake-off to the Council in rates—whereas land used for educational purposes is exempted from rates.
This is the background to Mr. Curnow's "scurrilous" poem. The business interests on the City and College Councils have resisted the scheme to keep the College in the city at every possible turn.
Mr. Curnow'.s ballad—which was read publicly at the Auckland Art Gallery on 24th May, has since been printed as a broadsheet—is a biting satire on the altitude of these business interests. In the vibrant tradition of English satire, it names those it deems to be the guilty parties, and gives no mercy.
The poem is entitled "The Hucksters and the University", with alternative sub-titles "Out of Site, Out of Mind", or "Up Queen Street Without a Paddle!"
We give a selection of excerpts:
What des It matter if Learning and TruthMust beg for a Seat In the Town?For sour greasy ha'penny worth of RatesYou'd pull your Churches down."With one Fish-Eye on the Invoice-SheetAnd the other one on the Rent—So long as the Truth stood out of their Way'Thy didn't care Where it went."And the Queen Street Business Mongrels yelpedTo be in at the Death at last,There was ringing of Tills and thumbing of BillsWhen the Council Vote was cast:While the rent-roll Rats laid plans for FlatsTo fatten a Queen Street 'Shop,And Fletcher figured his Contract PriceAs a Hangman tests his Drop."
Printed by The Disabled Servicemen's League, 21
"I make no rash promises." was the theme song of candidates for Exec in the recent elections. This was a great advance on the usual hypocrisy of candidates. But it was an extraordinary result from "Salient's" recent exposure of the uselessness of past "blurbs". We imagine however, that if in November a similar tactic is followed it would be equally truthful—and equally useless. We did not intend, when we discussed promises to warn candidates against making them. We wanted them to take heed and attempt to offer something positive. This negativism is a fry commentary on the attitude of those who consider themselves worthy to represent the students—people who, if the past be a guide, will consider themselves to know far better than their ignorant electorate what students want. It was revealing to find that on the satirical model offered in last "Salient", candidates thought their character and great worth was best shown by quoting the various groups who had elected them to some office. Don't we all know how these elections take place, and the little value which they have to show the elected's ability? Moreover, surely the important feature should be the work done by these people for their clubs. The office as such is meaningless. How many clubs have suffered grievously from the incompetence of their committee members?
Our fear is that Messrs. Holland and Nash will cotton on to this idea, and state their policy in terms of the many societies that have made them their patrons, the honours accorded them by the Queen—on their advice, and the valiant electorates which have consistently returned them.
Your report on the University Catholic Society Conference ("Salient
Custom and precedent in the College support this request—the Catholic Students Guild has used and been given that title Since its foundation.
The report contains two
I should particularly appreciate publication of the latter correction.
Victoria University College Catholic Students' Guild
[We do nut discriminate in favour of any branch of the Catholic Church.—Ed.]
While agreeing with the general sentiments expressed by "Sal" in his editorial. I regret that the writer did not see fit to read the magazine of smutty repute which he so roundly condemned "Cappicade" was much improved this year. For that the Editor deserves full Credit. It certainly was not the same type of humour as the "New Yorker", which would have been quite out of character for a student publication, but neither was it at all like "Man" "Man" "devotees" would certainly have been disappointed by "Cappicade"—and Extrav". In my opinion it is the "ordinary citizen who enjoys these productions, for the ordinary citizen is (thank God) free from the pious aloofness of such superior students as "Sal"
As a postscript to "Partisan's" contribution on the disintegration of "The Party". I would recommend your readers to try an article by Prof. Hyman Levy in the "New Statesman" of 27th April. It says what "Partisan" was probably attempting to say but it says it much better.
Also, as a postscript to C.B.'s composite review on some articles about "Poland Since Poznan". I would recommend a series of articles, also in the "New Statesman", by K. S. Karol—especially one on the economic situation in the issue of 4th May.
Come to that. I would recommend the "New Statesman" as a whole—in addition to, not instead of, "Salient" of course.
While sitting in a tram lunch-hour on Friday on the Quay, awaiting the pleasure of our youth and beauty to allow us to pass on a wet dirty muddy ball of brown paper came through the window and smacked my hat. I am sorry I brushed it off nearly, yesterday, as I would have liked the clever lads who thought that one up to sec it. They were standing beside 'The Dragon". I feel so sorry for the little Darlings, whose wit and fun is so feeble. No one likes a laugh more than I do. To see the "processions" of today is one of the most boring things a person can witness To be a success people must have a sense of humour, tolerance, so the poor things that
Perhaps this could be read out to them and if possible it might go home to them, what fools they make of themselves.
The spate of essays expected from students in some departments appear to have increased compared with last year.
As last year's grand total put some departments in open competition with the type of education
Can we not maintain our standard without recourse to such un-university methods of study? Must departments, to defend their own standards, increase the number of essays in face of similar increases by other departments? Cannot some general agreement be reached at a faculty level?
The case of one student I know who has some 30 essays to complete in 20odd weeks may be extreme, but an average of one essay every 8-9 days is nothing unusual for a student taking more than one Arts unit at higher stages.
Just when he is expected to gain a thorough general background to the particularised essay topics, or delve into those facets of his subjects which are of special interest to him. I cannot guess. Nor. I assume, can the departments concerned. If this has not been dealt with already by the Professorial Board, may I suggest, through "Salient", that this time is overdue.
If the mad race to increase essay work is not halted soon, we will not need the extension planned for the present site we will be at home, conducting our University education—in a vacuum from all other aspects of University life bar our subjects—by correspondence.—A. C. Walsh.
It is interesting to see that this year's Graduands' supper cost £55 The food, though ample, was not particularly inviting and, indeed, much of it was left over The main trouble was a shortage of liquid refreshments. The supply was "out" very early in the proceedings Much of it was drunk by the students who were acting as waiters for the evening. Some before the function began.
I read, with mild interest, in your issue dated 30th May, of your criticism of "Cappicade" This article prompts me to give you a small piece of advice, namely, if you are so concerned with the standard to which the magazine has sunk, "same odd and worthless tradition." you are quite welcome to write the magazine next year Failing this, of course, you could use some of your no doubt valuable time in sending in a few articles of a suitable nature.
Although you more or less condemn the magazine, you found time to print in "Salient" an article from "Cappicade" As if this was not enough, the article appeared in your paper two days before "Cappicade" was on sale I would (a) like you to be consistent in your ideals, (b) like a suitable explanation why the article "Extravaganza and Society" was printed in "Salient" of the 8th May—M. W. Cullinane, Editor. Cappicade" '57,
[The article in question was found in manuscript amongst copy for the "Salient" Issue of 9th May. There was no indication that a similar article had been submitted to "Cappicade." We consider our action in publishing it right and proper in the circumstance us they were then known to us. Nevertheless a personal apology was extended to the Editor of "Cappicade" immediately the duplication was discovered. We regret that Mr. Cullinane could not see his way to accept our apology or good faith—Ed.)
I note your apologies for some misprints. You make reference to the Fairburn tribute (9th May) arid mention the setting of some verse as prose Compared to another fault in the same article, this is nothing—for you at least get the words right Please correct the following, as it embarrasses me to be credited with gibberish. The published text: "What sort of docketting with academic comfort deman before he is passed on to students?"—should read "What sort of dockettmg will academic comfort demand," etc.—B.B.
The last issue of "Salient" had some good stuff in it and I like the new type-face. But you still have far too many printer's (or are they proof reader's?) errors "Extrav." is accredited with "wealth of talen", and there is a mysterious classification mentioned by the name "catefory" (twice). The S. C. M report degenerates into meaningless noises: "Next term was are continuing the fortnightly talks. " Hell! Have pity on the nerves of someone who, while in charge of "Salient", at least kept words the way they look in the Dictionary.—Ex-Editor.
Sorry (See my letter in your sixth issue, in which I accused you of disloyalty.) I ought to be ashamed of my own disloyalty.
"All offices committees affiliations up ointments awards employments regulations resolutions decisions orders certificates records instruments and generally all acts of authority which originated under the rules hereby repealed...—VUCSA Constitution, section 5. clause
What else is there?
I have given up going out of my way to see the Capping procession I like —J.Sch.
There will be no issue of "Salient" on Thursday. 11th July (when one would be due under our normal fortnightly schedule) as this falls in Study Week.
The next issue will appear on Thursday, 18th July, and will contain the Exec. Election results and decisions of the A.G.M.
The Weitzel ease kept storms brewing at VUC throughout the wenties and the thirties opened with a fresh outburst on the same question: Had students, or had they not, the right to think what they pleased and say what they thought?
The Slump, which hit New Zealand more heavily than almost any other country in the world, had a deep effect on VUC. The Government reneged on its promised subsidy for Weir House. The echoes of the shameful dismissal of Dr. Beaglehole from the staff of Auckland University College set VUC staff members into tantrums of protest or scurrying to their burrows according to character. And the social implications of unemployment, academic freedom, and Government
One name inextricably bound up with this period of the College's history is that of the late Gordon Watson—now commemorated by a very generous scholarship bequeathed to the University in his honour by a relative.
Watson was one of the rare all rounders who, as a brilliant scholar, an energetic tramper, a witty writer of extravs., a good poet, and a very likeable person, exercised a tremendous influence on fellow-students during his years at the College. A committed Marxist from his teens. Watson led a group of radicals in the free Discussions Club and later in the Labour Club, who struck terror into the hearts of downtown respectability.
Their stencilled journal "The Student" was produced chiefly as a challenge to the current official student paper, the monthly "Smad", which they felt to be too pussy-footing towards the tremendous issues of the day.
Commencing publication in the fateful year
There was panic among the'"patriots". 'Truth"—in one article accusing the staff of the College, entitled "Twisted Teaching, and another indicting the whole intellectual strata of the country under the heading "New Zealand Universities Hotbeds of Revolution" (with flames depicted issuing from the letters)—rushed to the attack, seconded by a series of statements by the New Zealand Welfare League ("anti-British conspiracy"), and several sermons by Canon Perceval James, of St. Paul's ("anarchic propagandists . . . flagrant violation of accepted moral standards"). Everything was thrown into the soup—including a recent visit to the College by that "agitator" Walter Nash, and a debate
A frightened Stud. Ass. Exec, ordered 'The Student'" to suspend publication after two issues—so the third was sold on Kclburn Parade, outside the Exec's jurisdiction. A petrified College Council ordered an enquiry into certain student activities—out of which emanated a "Report" which has been justly described as "an ignoble document".
The sponsors of 'The Student" thumbed their noses at their detractors, and boldly took issue with those who had accused them of being "anti-British". Editor Gordon Watson broke into the letter column of the "Evening Post" thus: "The Welfare League reserves the title of 'British' exclusively for those who blackguard the word by their support of reaction and suppression. Is it 'British' to bomb defenceless native villagers from the air? Is it 'British' to increase expenditure on armaments while cutting down to a bare minimum the money spent on education and health services? Is it 'British' to baton down men who are only asking for bread and a job?"
Then—bang! Respectability received its second shock for the year when the
The Professorial Board, taking its cue from the Council, panicked. "Spike
Rival cries of "Academic Freedom!" and "Subversion!" rent the air. The University community was torn asunder. On one side were arrayed a special general meeting of students and another of graduates: on the other side the Prof. Board and the College Council. But there were vociferous dissenting minorities in both camps.
The leavening of enlightenment at VUC suffered a temporary setback. But those harbingers of tomorrow saw their struggle as only part of a wider conflict going on all the world over. It was, after all the same year that saw the clouds of black reaction descend on Berlin, with all the implications that held for the future of mankind. And the Free Discussions Club, not even foreseeing the death of Gordon Watson himself and so many of Victoria's finest sons in the bloody struggle that was to come, no doubt felt they had won some sort of victory when, during a deputation to the German Consul in protest against the Reichstag Fire Trial frame-up, the swastika ensign over the building was mysteriously hauled down and replaced by a plain red flag!
"I'll Cry Tomorrow" tells the story of Lillian Roth, famous singer of a decade or two ago, who became an alcoholic and succeeded in conquering her addiction and returning to stardom.
As the film begins we see Miss Roth as a child being dragged along to an audition by her ambitious mother. This sequence, in its portrayal of the mother as a frightened, ambitious woman, married to failure, desperate that her child should escape the meanness and misery of the world into which she was born, is a superb opening. Its promise is not fulfilled.
Miss Roth grows up and, her mother always the driving force, becomes a star. She marries. Shortly afterwards her husband dies. This tragic event combines with the strain brought about by the responsibility of her mother's ambition, and she begins to break. A kindly nurse gives her a drink to enable her to get a night's sleep, and that is the start of what was very nearly the end for Lillian Roth.
She goes from bad to worse, soon becoming a total and permanent drunkard. After a long period of degradation, resulting nearly in her death, she turns to Alcoholics Anonymous, where a friendly staff of cured alcoholics helps her to throw off her addiction with their understanding and kindness. As well, of course, they submit her to a somewhat uncomfortable "drying off" period.
Susan Hayward won an award for her performance as Lillian Roth; the real star of this film was Jo van Fleet, who played the mother with overwhelming effect. A near-perfect screen actress. She alone managed to rise above the depressing mediocrity of the dialogue.
Susan Hayward, by contrast, revelled :in it, and the various menfolk who formed attachments to her were conventionally sketched and quite uninteresting.
Impressive though Jo van Fleet may have been, she was unable to save "I'll Cry Tomorrow" from being a bad film. I am inclined to think that film as a medium is not suited to biography; at the same time I am sure that "I'll Cry Tomorrow" could have been more successful. The story of an alcoholic's decline and recovery is full of exciting possibilities. The fault lay in the biographical approach. An idea may be taken from an actual life, but the idea should be extended, the end being to produce a good story And any moral should be pointed more lightly—and coherently—than that in this film. To show a person degraded by alcoholism is an excellent start. Miss Roth starts to drink, finds she cannot stop and goes steadily down hill. She finally turns to A.A. and is cured. Thai's nice. It discourages alcoholism and advertises a worthy institution. But where is the conflict, the stuff of which drama is made? This sort of stuff is no good to me: when I go to the pictures I do not wish to be taught the evils of bad habits, nor to learn of the organisations devoted to their cure. I go to be excited, to become involved in human conflict, psychological or social. "I'll Cry Tomorrow". lacking any such clement, presented nothing more than a dull romanticised documentary. No one actress could ever save it.
On Wednesday, the 12th June, students were surprised to find the common room closed. Inside was a quite unimaginably disgusting mess.
The closing was the comulation of a series of warnings against untidiness which began with the admission of men into the former women's common room last year.
A further warning was issued last month, and publicised in "Salient". It was unfortunate that many students were not aware of the cause of this drastic action, nor was the situation helped by the fact that all the notices were toin down. The preceding evening the sweepers had refused to clean the room as a protest at the mess. They locked the room and later the Exec upheld their action. The matter was somewhat confused by the fact that at 'odd intervals pressure from individual students resulted in a temporary reopening. But the common room was generally kept shut until midday on Friday after a special Exec, meeting. Unfortunately, the powers that be have the strange notion that the minutes of special Exec meetings should not be publicised. There was however, little done at this meeting of which the Exec, need have been ashamed. They discussed the general problems of keeping order, and the specific troubles raised, by the obviously deliberate messing up of the room on the Tuesday evening, the tearing down of all Exec, notices, and the removal of the door on the Wednesday night. A Common Room Control Committee with some sort of disciplinary powers was suggested to the Principal afterwards. It was decided to reopen the common room immediately in the hope that greater cooperation would in future be forthcoming from the user of the room (most of whom seem to be second-year students).
But what particularly pleased our reporter was the decision to make a real attempt to improve the appearance and comfort of the room. Previously our reporter had investigated the room, and found to his surprise that:
There were live ash trays for the whole room.There was one enormous ugly rubbish bin—the sort that in any other conceivable circumstances would be left decently-hidden in a back yard.There were two pictures on the walls—the sort that in any other circumstances would have been relegated to the attic.There was only one of the four or so lights working.There were only straight-backed, high chairs, mostly of a glaring red. It is strange that no one has thought of re-upholstering the unused divans in the lower gym.There were no newspapers or any type of literature provided in the newspaper rack. It was our reporter s opinion that it would be impossible to give people any incentive to keep the room tidy at least until adequate facilities were provided. The vandals have at least had the effect of jerking the Exec, out action.
Now there are adequate, and moderately respectable bins and ashtrays: it is a matter of improving the appearance of the room. This could be done by a few cheap prints, perhaps a drape or two, a few chairs both comfortable to look at and to sit, in and provision of daily papers and others in proper tiles on the newspaper stand.
The Historical Society recently held a symposium on the topic Do Great Men Influence History? It appeared that there were a number of differing ideas on the subject though discussion did not always keep strictly to the point However, a number of us came away with dealer ideas about it. The limited time available did not allow a full investigation, though this was in any case inevitable. One vigorous argument concerned the respective places of Hitler and Stalin in history—that the "H G Wells" short history of a hundred years hence will devote three lines to Hitler and three pages to Stalin, because the former was essentially out of the stream of his times and in time went against the strongest forces, while the latter remained in harmony wills his environment and was able to carry out creative work which will give him his three pages for posterity to consider Shortly the Society hopes to have a film evening with appropriate historical films.
The Debating Society held an interesting if not really heated debate on the motion. "That the United Nations, having failed as an effective force in world politics, should be disbanded."
There was much discussion on whether U.N. did or did not include the specialised agencies—F.A.O. etc—and whether the title of the debate allowed discussion on U.N's failure or otherwise politically.
Mr J. Schellevis said U.N had
Opposing the motion. Mr E. Thomas said U.N would strengthen the permanent foundations of world peace. He maintained that U.N. was not the least force in settling disputes in Palestine and Kashmir.
The second affirmative speaker. Mr
The final platform speaker, Mr. Hebenton, said that world peace could only be achieved by world domination by one power or co-operation between the powers U.N was a product of the second alternative. By encouraging unity of public opinion in smaller matters. U.N was leading the way to world peace.
Of a considerable number of floor speakers. Mr Cruden was judged best speaker of the evening (judge was Mr. Highet of the Chamber of Commerce.)
We understand that the speakers drew sides by lot—which may account for the lack of the usual hell-fire.
"I myself saw many corpses including many children lying dead in the streets " Thus spoke one of two masked men at a recent meeting of the Social Democrat Society. They were from Hungary who came to give members their impressions of the resolution, its causes and effects. Both men spoke through an interpreter.
The
"Freedom of religion was non-existent and the national anthem was forbidden" he said The second speaker described the grip exercised by the Government over the people and told of the indoctrination of the children to such an extent that parents were afraid to speak freely before their families for fear that they should be betrayed and of the formation of the AVO., the dreaded secret police. Both placed emphasis on the fact that the revolution was a popular uprising. "Hungary." they said "has been fighting for freedom throughout the centuries of her history. This was the tight of a whole nation for her freedom, for her life"
Their descriptions of the actual course of the revolution were not dissimilar. It began with a peaceful demonstration which had been sanctioned by the Government when over half a million people were in the streets of Budapest—the first time such a thing had happened for twelve years. The Government took fright at the size of the throng but it was too late to prohibit it. The crowd divided into three groups—one went to the radio station to make known to the nation the demands of the Budapest students for freedom of political opinion and assembly and the withdrawal of Russian troops Others attacked the Stalin monument while the thud group raided the headquarters of the A.V.O. from whence the obtained arms. There was fiting over Budapest and the first Russian armoured cars arrived. Martial law was declared and the revolutionaries with their light arms fought the Russian tanks and mines. Armed groups sent out to control the revolt against the Freedom fighters joined them against their oppressors. By the Saturday the Russians were asking for an armistice and promising to withdraw bill while the representatives of the Hungarian people were negotiating the Russian I groups were advancing and on 4th November they attacked in force. The Russians thought they could put the revolution down in a day but they were disappointed Sporadic fighting continued in Budapest and other parts of the country long after it was thought possible for the revolutionaries to hold out.
Over 21,000 were estimated to have been killed in the revolution but the determination to continue the resistance still continues. "Hungary's light for freedom was lost but not the
. . being an account of a recent activity of the highly esteemed Biology Society.
Tramper: As I did stand my pack upon the hill. I looked toward the Catchpool and methought the wood began to move.
Deerstalker:
Tramper: Let me endure your wrath if be not so, within this five mile may son see it coming. I say, a moving grove.
The migration of
The trampers taxied on the Friday night, from Woburn to the Five-Mile (and this is where the story really begins), and slithered along the track aided by the light of glowworms for three hours until midnight when the) reached the Waerenga hut.
The next day, tripping daintily from weed to weed, they covered the full mile down to Green's stream, where several specimens of the rate Prince of Wales and Kidney ferns were discovered. The evening was spent singing nice songs and all went quietly is to bed at an early hour, due to the deadening effect of Dudley's mighty curried stew.
On Sunday morning land this is where the story really begins) a certain shrew was tamed with a
On the way back. Mac operated a shuttle service with his car at one
The students who went were: George. Gibbs. Janice Cowan (stop that Marilyn. Monroe-type-walking) Margaret Mathewson (have you destroyed those shorts yet?). Mary (Laya Raki) Edwards. Moriati Heine (he talked to the trees, that's why they him away). Mac. Duncan. Diana Barke. Tony (500 c.c. twin). Taylor and Di (nosaur) Norris. Tarantula Franklin (Let every member hew him down a bow and
To sum up, this trip of the aptly-named Biology Society was Mirabilis except for the inadequate equipment.
The most interesting leature of the Music Society's students' evening on the second Thursday of term (6th June) was the appearance of no less than three flutes: Richard Watts played an early Handel sonata for flute and harpsichord, Judith Thompson a Sonata by Locatelli, and Mr. Mulagk (the new lecturer in German) a Sonata in A Minor for flute and basso continuo, by Bach Miss Thompson is leaving shortly for Denmark to continue studying flute.
Other items: John Cegledy (piano), playing Mozart's Adagio in B Minor. The newly-formed Choral Club, under Suzanne Green, sang "O Bone Jesu" (Palestrina) and two psalm settings by Schulz. Chopin: Mayme Chanwai, Prelude in B Flat. Op. 28. No 21.
There is more to these Students Evenings than meets the eye in the advertisements.
On Friday, 7th June. Professor Guthrie, of Cambridge University, lectured on Ancient Greek Religion. The scope of the talk was very broad and in the space of an hour this necessitated only a slight touching on the many issues involved. As Professor Murray said. "Whole books have been written on each of the points mentioned." However. Professor Guthrie drew these many aspects together with facility to produce an extremely interesting and in formative talk.
An important factor in the Ancient Greeks' thought was the negligible difference between their philosophy and their religion. Religion had a strong intellectual bias and was fused with patriotism in both its main strains, fertility—the earth, and ancestor worship. Among the Dorians the latter produced the idea of the gods as seen in the Iliad and the Odyssey. In this form of polytheism the gods were ordered into a patriarchal hierarchy. Zeus was the father of the great family which included all the gods and goddesses who ruled over men and earth. Many brave warriors could trace their genealogies back to a god (see, for instance. Achilles in the Iliad) This was the basis of divine power and hence, immortality.
Ancestor worship. Professor Guthrie said, could be regarded as a masculine principle. There was too the
With the exception of the Orphics, who emphasised personal salvation, most Greeks had a corporate religion. Religious festivals were enjoyable affairs, often of a worldly and everyday character, fostered by the city corporation.
After Alexander there was a disintegration of the Homeric and a growth of the mystery religions.
One of the largest audiences ever to attend a meeting of a college scientific society came to the first of the Maths, and Physics Society's student-speaker evenings.
The first speaker, J. F. Harper, spoke on "The Origin of the Solar System". He discussed all the modem theories which, though widely differing from one another, all seemed to end up with some convenient "sticky liquid" holding matter together to form planets.
The second speaker. F. R. Routley. B.A., spoke on "The Nature of Pure Mathematics". He discussed formalism, intuitionism and logicism—theories which have tried to show that all of mathematics can be derived from certain foundations.
Although many of those present got lost at times, the talk was a useful introduction to a branch of mathematics not taught in the Maths. Department.
The next student-speaker meeting will be a discussion on Space Flight, to be held on June 27th.
At short notice there was arranged on Tuesday, 11th June, at midday, a talk by a visiting New Zealand writer from Auckland—John Yelash. Mr. Yelash was down these parts to arrange the selling of his book of short stories called "Forty Thousand Beers Ago", and was prepared to talk to the Society about that, and on such topics. From his personal experience he told us about the Auckland literary scene and something about how it differs from ours in Wellington, a little about the late Rex Fairburn and problems which he knows from first hand which beset young writers today. His book, he informed us, was well over two years in the process of priming—or rather was at the printers for that length of.—D.G.J.
"Religious ideas have continually fallen before the onslaught of scientific ideas, theories and observations. Clashes between the two factions have often ended with the withdrawal of the Church and the modification of biblical interpretations to accord with scientific theory.
The geocentric concept of the Universe was one held dogmatically by powerful Church authorities for many years. Open questioning and doubt as to its validity was painstakingly restricted and valuable scientific views, backed by instrumental observations and the improved recording of planetary and stellar positions, remained obscure and dormant. A challenge, in the form of a new theory on such a controversial matter invited trial and the public denial of the idea by the challenger.
The invention of the telescope, together with a host of observational and theoretical evidence, has now convinced most of us of the validity of the heliocentric idea. (In relation to our own earth (approx, spherical) the Sun and planets.)
Religious authorises have bowed to the Astronomer, accepted his picture of the universe—solar system—star cluster—galaxy—galactic system (?) and in so doing, have enriched their religious outlook, deepened their world perspective, without in any way committing. As was originally supposed, the slightest blasphemy. We must now open our minds to the possibility of life in other worlds in our universe. Rendle Short, in "Modern Discovery and the Bible", convinces himself and the unsuspecting reader (there are many) of the uniqueness of the planet earth by appealing to questionable astro-physical theories on planetary formation. He selects a popular theory which postulates a near-miss in the random wanderings of stars in our universe, with the withdrawal of a filament of hot gaseous material from one or both of the stars which condenses and rotates about the other star. Further mathematical considerations based on abstract concepts (relativity, curved space, etc.) lead us to a rough idea of the number of stars in the universe. Simpler calculations give us the probability of a stellar collision or the near-miss which would satisfy our planetary formation conditions.
The results of these calculations show that the total number of stars in the universe is approximately equal to the reciprocal of the collision probability. It follows that there is only one planetary system in the universe!! Furthermore. Earth is at just the right distance to produce a climate suitable for the development of life as we know it. This further reduces the chance of finding life outside our own earth . .
And so it goes Note that the conclusion, viz,. "The uniqueness of our world", depends on the improbability of the occurrence of certain physical events (careful'). We would not be quite as confident in our own uniqueness if we could formulate a satisfactory theory which implied a physical occurrence of higher probability. If such is the ease, and I assert that such is the case, then there is a chance that there are a large number of living beings on planetary systems in our physical universe, yet beyond the ken of our largest telescopes and most relined instrumental observations.
A theory in which the probability of the events associated with planetary formation is high enough to account for a great number of "stellar systems" throughout space, has recently been forwarded by Alfven. It is based firstly on the property of an atom called its "ionisation potential" (familiar, of course, to many students of chemistry and physics) which is roughly a measure of the work required to remove an electron from the atom, and secondly, the assumption, open, to doubt, until confirmed by the researches of Babcock and his associates, of a general stellar magnetic field (similar to the terrestrial magnetic field which directs a compass needle) and thirdly, a relatively dense and extensive atmosphere composed of a mixture of gases which tend to
Detailed application and proof of this tentative hypothesis is hampered by the lack of information concerning the origin, shape, strength and extent of both solar and terrestrial magnetic fields.
Man has gradually come to realize that his woman, his village, his country, his nation, his earth, his galaxy, are not the centre of the universe. Has he yet to realize that "himself" also, is not the centre of all things? Can he consistently "hate himself?"
The Marxist-Lenimist interprets history in the light of a merciless class-struggle between the capitalists and the bourgeoisie on the one hand, and the proletariat on the other. He firmly believes that class is naturally hostile to class and that the property-owning and property less divisions of society must engage in a titanic struggle Eventually the exploited proletariat will emerge triumphant and establish the classless society. The capitalist imperialists will he liquidated, and the workers will all live happily ever afterwards.
Far from seeking to promote a class struggle Catholicism seeks the solution of class differences in conciliation and the achievement of harmony. The notion of an inevitable class struggle is seen to he radically false and in its place is offered the doctrine of the community of interest Catholics seek to end all conflict between classes and to foster and promote harmony between the various ranks of society. The representatives of Capital and Labour must learn to sink their differences and establish a modus vivendi.
The Catholic solution is not one of securing the liquidation of a class and the establishment of a classless society. Experience has shown that such a course leads to unnecessary blood baths and purges and completely fails to eliminate class differences. As soon as the Capitalist class is vanquished a new party bureaucracy emerges to take its place in society. Instead Catholicism seeks to obtain mediation between the "haves" and the "have-nots" and to break down this broad gulf by securing a more equitable distribution of productive property. The working class must be assisted in acquiring a section of the shares in the business they work for and in gradually increasing their percentage of stock until Capital and Labour become synonymous.
The first steps in this direction are to secure labour participation in management and compulsory profit-sharing schemes. Shop committees consisting of representatives of employers and employees should be established and endowed by law with effective powers, so that working men are given a substantial say in the control of industry and commerce. As time goes on the proportion of employees representatives should be increased until eventually industry shall largely assume the character of co-operative production. The employees should also be given a share in the surplus profits of business, and their share of the profits should be compulsorily reinvested in the business so that the workers shall acquire an ever-increasing proportion of the company stock. Such a system has been tried in the past in the English pottery industry and in the famous Zeiss optical glass works at Jena, and has proved an overwhelming success.
Such a course when pursued with Government. Church, and Trade Union support must eventually lead to co-operative production and the replacement of the wage system by a system of dividends for all who participate in industry. In spite of all this the Marxist-I.eninist will continue to promote the class struggle and deepened class differences, and spurn all attempts at achieving cooperation between Labour and Capital If. 'then, we are to achieve industrial harmony and true worker ownership we must seek the solution, not in the liquidation of a class as the climax of a class war, but in the integration of classes so that eventually the terms "Labour" and "Capital" become synonymous.
Once upon a time and a very bad time it was (so we are told) there was no such thing as society. But now there is. And man, having lived in both worlds, has been equipped for both: he is an individual and a social being. Christianity also has this twofold nature; without guidance for other side of life it would be incomplete.
The writer of "Christians Should Take "Their Coats Off" ("Salient". 13th June) has overlooked this completely. Like many others who are more interested in social reforms than in Christianity, he has quite forgotten about the role of the individual. We who are Christians cannot afford to forget it. But we cannot afford to forget the question either—what should Christians be doing?
As individuals, the fast consideration of Christians is the salvation of souls. Nothing is more important than that—not all the cars in Detroit nor all the rice in China—for "What shall it profit a man if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul?"
As members of society, what should Christians be doing? Christians should be exerting their influence for God in every sphere of life. The early Christians did this so effectively that they were accused of "turning the world upside down". It is, alas! an accusation that could not be levelled at Christians today. Yet the world still needs to be "turned upside down".
What are the relevant social issues for Christians in New Zealand today? These have all been ignored in B.'s article with one exception—the H-bomb. The H-bomb is all too relevant and Christians should be praying and working to help to make nuclear warfare an impossibility. But why choose South Africa? is South Africa the only country in the world where there is some kind of social injustice? Or have we no weeds in our own garden that we can afford to weed other people's? Look at them:
The White New Zealand policy—"We don't want this place overrun by niggers and Japs."
The much-vaunted standard of living—"No, we're not having any more children till we get the wall-to-wall carpel."
The excessive interest in sport to the detriment of other equally valuable things—"Gethsemane? Never heard of it and I thought I knew-all the big Springbok parks."
The level of social life—"Gee, it was a good party! I got rotten!"
The drinking habits—in the words of Bertrand Russell's Chinaman. "Me no drinkee for drinkee, me drinkee for drunkee."
The utilitarian attitude to culture—"How are you going to use your degree?"
The divorce rate—"Yes, we've done everything: bought the ring and the trousseau, sent out the invitations, booked for the honeymoon, and we went to see a lawyer about the divorce laws just in case. . ."
And when we've done something about these problems, there are other awkward questions that need asking. In economics—why should people in Asia and Africa starve while this country dumps food at sea? in politics—what can we do to help the peoples of Eastern Europe against Communism? in culture—if books or films or plays are offensive why don't we condemn them strenuously instead of burying our heads in the sands like ostriches? In education—why don't the basic facts of our birth gel their proper place in the curriculum? And what about juvenile delinquency?
It is possible that we shall make ourselves unpopular by plunging into action; it is possible that we might even suffer for it. What is certain is that the Church of God would once again become a living and effective force for good in the world.
Mr Woodfield (V.U.C.) has been appointed by Resident Executive to administer the ordering and distribution of COSEC Publications for New Zealand. With the cooperation of college executives, it is hoped that these publications, attractively produced and covering many aspects of student activities throughout the world, will be available to all students to read in common rooms and libraries Students and clubs wishing to obtain their own copies of "Student" (monthly). "Information Bulletin" (monthly), or any of the various occasional publication of the Secretarial should write to Mr. Woodfield. P.O. Box
This season's Senior XV has preserved the University reputation for unpredictable football. A disappointing but on the day merited, loss to Poneke was followed by the impressive victory, on Queen's Birthday Monday., against Petone. A shockingly inept display to lose to St. Pat's Old Boys saw University's relegation to Petone Rec., where, after a disappointing, scoreless first half, Varsity provided samples (but only occasionally) of football reminiscent of the champagne years of the Jarden, Fitzgerald, Fitzpatrick
There has been little cohesion in the forwards. To be outplayed in scrums and line-outs by the strong Poneke pack was not surprising, but it was disappointing to see the University forwards so slow to the ball—traditionally their strong point. After a very good all-round display, for which every pack member deserves credit, there was another lapse against the not very highly rated St. Pat's eight. Only Don Reisterer seemed to have any purpose and vigour in his play that day. The rest of the forwards rarely showed any concerted drive or any desire to cover up errors in the backs. Apart from Reisterer (his imminent departure for Southland will be a seemingly irreplaceable loss both in general forward play and in goal-kicking) other individual forwards worthy of mention are lanky Hanker Dave McDowell and captain Barry Hutchinson.
Varsity has never been short of good loose forwards and this year is no exception. Weir House President Don Trow began the season in brilliant form with vigorous and intelligent displays. When he was injured young ex-Scots College player Don Campbell (an outstanding third first forward last season) took his place for one or two games but as yet is a little inexperienced and gave way to McDowell. Starting with a versatile game against Petone he shared the general lassitude against St. Pats, in the Old Boys game McDowell did some outstanding things without giving the same impression of 80 minute vigour and all-round usefulness as Trow. Still, both are young players with a promising future.
Barry Hutchinson on ability alone could easily have gone into the
The University backs have on the whole shaped very well, bearing in mind the dire predictions made after the loss of the name players at the end of last season. Peter Osborne continues to give the same reliable service at full-back that he has for the last five years and seems to have developed in the ability to elude charging forwards and step out of tackles. Dick Heron has been spoken of as a possible representative winger and he certainly has shown great try-scoring ability this season. Heron's great assets are determination and an appreciation of the possibilities of wing-three-quarter play all too uncommon in Wellington senior football. However, without outstanding pace or Katene-like power it would be rash to push Heron into big football just yet. On the other wing Terry Ryan docs everything asked of him, his defence being particularly sound. A more set and experienced player than Heron, he could well get a run with the rep, team this season. Tony Clark figured in the All Black trials earlier this season but although very fast his handling lets him down badly at times. At second five-eighth Mike Watson seems at last to have found his right position but is still inclined to hold on a little too long on occasions. Unfortunately he has missed a few games through injury. Bill Roberts has the handling ability and quickness Varsity has needed for so long at first five and his covering ability is first rate. However, he could well do with another stone in weight and a more hefty boot—both would have saved him some of the nasty pounding he has taken from such Hankers as Thompson of Petone and Ngalu and Corkill of St. Pat's.
As was well demonstrated in his absence against St. Pat's. Col Henderson controls the Varsity back line. Although young Paul Jones tried very hard and threw out some good passes University badly missed the variety and ruggedness that Henderson showed so well the next week against similar tactics by Old Boys. At his best, Henderson is a very good half-back with more versatility than his rival for the Wellington halfback position, Poncke's Makcham, yet little behind him in ability to tighten up a game.
All in all, this is a good club team, measured by the lack-lustre standards of
And when all's said and done at the time of writing Varsity are at the head of the championship table, although It's anybody's bet who'll be there at the end of the season.
After beginning the season with some good wins, including an 8-1 victory over Miramar Rangers, the Varsity 1st division Soccer team has slumped badly. It was thrashed 5.0 by Seatoun in the first round of the Chatham Cup and followed this by losing to Petone 3-2.
This year the Club has expanded from three teams to five. There are plenty of good players in the lower grades and if some of these players are given a trial in the seniors there should be an improvement in the team's position.
Four Varsity players. W. Aldridge. W. Blue, D. Jones, and P. Naidu, played for Wellington against Canterbury. Perumal Naidu was easily the best Wellington player on the field and must stand a great chance of getting in the New Zealand team. He and A. H. Preston played well for Wellington against Otago.
Club teams have visited the Wairarapa at the invitation of the Masterton Club. It is pleasing to see that a Winter Tournament team is already being organised from among those players who are eligible.
No doubt many students of this college wonder just what democratic socialism is. As I am a supporter of the Social Democrat Society, which pursues such policy, I think it would be well for me to attempt to provide a definition. For this purpose I wish to quote the distinguished Catholic writer, Emmanuel Mounier. This is what he has to say:
"It is within the full-grown body of capitalism itself that the embryonic forms of the socialist world first appear, and it is these forms that we have to extend and develop, if by socialism we mean the following: the abolition of the proletarian condition, the supercession of the anarchaic economy of profit by an economy directed to the fulfilment of the totality of personal needs; the socialisation without State monopoly of those sectors of industry which otherwise foster economic chaos; the development of cooperative life: the promotion in rejection of all paternalist compromises; the priority of labour over capital; the abolition of class distinctions founded upon the division of labour or of wealth; the priority of personal responsibility over anonymous organisation. "Prom the adoption of socialism as the general directive idea for social reorganisation, it docs not follow' that one must approve every measure that may be approved in its name. "Sometimes socialism goes to sleep, and sometimes it loses its way, or becomes perverted under bureaucratic or police systems. All the greater is the need for re-edition of socialism, rigorous and at the same time democratic."
I hope this makes it quite clear what democratic socialism really is.
This Issue of "Salient" and the greater part of the last issue have been set in Times Royal type-face. This face was evolved in the printing house of the famous London newspaper "The Times" who have only recently exhausted their exclusive rights to its use.
We understand that "Salient" is the first New Zealand periodical to make use of this type-face.
Other distinguished British periodicals using it include "The Spectator" and "Tribune."
"Experts, said Mr. Gotz, had informed him that he would be in more danger from the dial of his watch than the fall-out from all the nuclear bombs ever exploded."—"Evening Post." 14th
"You must see the New Zealand Players in The Mousetrap."
—Bookmark picked up in College Library recently.
"Constable L. A. Cockburn said that on the afternoon of April 12 he was on duty at the opening ceremony of Lever Brothers' new building in Jackson Street, Petone and there were between 400 and 500 people present. The ceremony was being performed by the Minister of Industries and Commerce (Mr. Halstead). While the managing director of the firm. (Mr. J. R. Mann) was making the opening speech, a piercing scream came from on top of a building under construction on the opposite side of the street.
"The constable said he saw the defendant in an old hat, his hair all over his face, a soap carton round him, and carrying a long stick with his underclothes on either end of it. He was jumping up and down like a maniac, and screaming. The witness went over to the building to see the defendant, who at first refused to give his name and address, and witness added that for some time he got no co-operation from anyone working on the building.
"In reply to Mr. A. T. Rolling, for the defendant, the constable said his main concern was for the important people who were present at the function, and he did not think he had seen worse examples of behaviour in students' capping parades."—"Evening Post,"
"It is a dirty bird that fouls its own nest: and the vandals who over the weekend so viciously defaced the Kelburn cable car installation are extremely dirty birds. They have not only grossly besmirched the city in which they live, but they have caused a distinct danger to human life. . . .
"Whether or not students were, in fact, responsible, in whole or in part, for the affair, the attitude of those who yesterday cat-called and found amusement in the vandals' 'art' gives reason for concern and dismay."—"Evening Post" editorial,
"The Marquess of Lansdowne, speaking during the Suez debate in the House of Lords, said that when he was in New Zealand recently he had attended an official lunchcon at which the Minister of Agriculture (Mr. Holyoake) had referred to 'England right or wrong.'
"This, he said, had been very moving to hear, but he had felt he had in all honesty to reply that the spirit of 'England right or wrong' was not really quite good enough."—"Evening Post,"
A welcome increase in the use of the mobile X-ray unit recently at V.U.C. was shown this year. But only c. 290 out of over 2000 students is still but a drop in the bucket. The possibility of compulsory X-rays is being investigated.
Paul's Book Arcade, Hamilton and Auckland, publishers of "Company Law," by Julius Hogben, are anxious to find a student who will sell this book to lawyers and accountants on commission. Would anybody interested please write to:
P.O. Box 928, Hamilton.
Paul's Book Arcade,