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Salient Reporter
Three members of the Political Science department have suggested changes in the form of the proposed liquor referendum to be held later this year.
They are Professor R. Brookes, Professor Roberts and Dr. A. Robinson. Their submissions to the statutes Revision Committee given last Tuesday are as follows:
The main objectives in devising the issues on the voting paper should be: (a) to make the choices clear, so that every voter understands them; (b) not to make the choices too specific. The first point is obvious. The second calls for some explanation.
The committee will be well aware that, if any change in hours is to be made, a wide range of alternative possibilities is open. If a uniform closing time is to be maintained over the whole country, that time could be fixed at 7pm, or 8pm, or 9pm, or 10pm, or later, or at any intervening point; later closing could mean that the duration of hours of sale would be increased by the additional period, but it need not do so, since the increase could be offset in whole or in part by providing for one or more Periods at other times when bars would be closed; these in turn could be stipulated (e.g. a 6-7pm "meal-break"), or they could be left to the discretion of each licensee subject to an overall limit on the duration of his hours of sale and to the specification of the earliest hour at which he might open and the latest at which he might close.
Even if the licensee was not granted such a wide discretion, he might be allowed to opt either to retain the existing hours, or to use part or all of the permitted evening period: and permission to use part of all of the evening period might be subject to the fulfilment of certain conditions which might be imposed e.g. by the Licensing Control Commission. And if the assumption of nation-wide Uniformity is relaxed, then the range of alternatives is even wider, both as to the closing time, and as to the provision of intervening breaks, while further questions arise as to the definition of areas or regions within which hours would be uniform, and to the authority responsible for fixing the hours.
It is obviously impossible that the voter should be asked to choose between all these alternatives; nor is it desirable that he should be. Technical as well as moral considerations are relevant (e.g. the practicability of enforcement, the economics of hotel operation, the willing-ness of hotel staff to work at the times specified), and it is unreasonable to expect the voter to develop an informed view on these aspects. The Government, or one of its agencies, would be much better qualified to do so; hence the ballot paper should be so designed that the voter can choose between the mainten-ance of existing hours, on the one hand, and approving in principle some extension, on the other, leaving it to the Government and Parliament to settle the details if new legislation is required. This is the more important in that it cannot be assumed that any of the alternatives, even if it commanded support at present, would continue in-definitely to suit a changing society, and it is surely not desirable that the Govern-ment should need to conduct another referendum to amend that alternative, as it might feel obliged to do if the ballot paper now is specific.
And while some might maintain that the public attitude can only be gauged if a; specific proposal (e.g. 10pm closing with a meal-break) is presented as an alternative to the present situation, there is a case at least equally strong for the contrary view: that there may well be a widespread feeling that some change is desirable, and that such a feeling would justify an experiment with extended or staggered hours, but that until some such experiment has taken place and been evaluated by the public it is unreasonable to expect a consensus on any specific change, and therefore unfair to make the possibility of change conditional on a present commitment to a specific alternative, especially if there is a presumption that the selected alternative would only be alterable by a further referendum.
Admittedly, if the Government has definitely resolved that (should a change be approved) it would be in the public interest that it take the form of 10 o'clock closing with a meal-break, and with no increase in total weekly hours, then that intention should be made abundantly clear during the referendum campaign, so that the voter will know what the immediate consequence of a vote for change would be. But it is equally important that the voter should know that the effects of the change would be reviewed after a trial period, and that Parliament should clearly have the right to amend the scheme in the light of experience, without laying itself open to the charge of flouting the wishes of the public as expressed in the referendum. Accordingly, we suggest that the first issue on the ballot paper take the following form:
One
Please strike out from the following pair of statements the one which you wish to reject:
A further question of principle may justify the inclusion on the ballot paper of a second issue, on which the public may well feel they are entitled and competent to express an opinion, and on which Members of Parliament may well wish to ascertain the public's views. Should a uniform closing time be maintained over the whole country, or should the hours of sale vary according to the needs of particular localities (and possibly according to the wishes of licensees) within such limits as to total hours and permitted periods of opening as Parliament may fix? Once again, the issue should not be confused by including matters of detail, though if uniformity were abandoned these would immediately arise. (Within what areas should uniformity be maintained? How much variation should be permitted?) These matters could be better dealt with by the Government and Parlia-ment, and the details might well need to be changed from time to time without thereby incurring an obligation to hold a further referendum. Accordingly, we suggest that the second issue on the ballot paper take the following form:
Two
Please strike out from the following pair of statements the one which you wish to reject:
One student to serve as Treasurer of the Students' Association from July to December this year. An appointment will be made at the Annual General Meeting of the Association on June 29.
Salient Reporter
A present members of the staff of the Asian Studies Centre, Mr. Willian J. Hall, is leaving Victoria through "total disagreement" with the future policy of the Centre as recommended today to the Professorial Board.
The report signed by Professor Anu or the East-West Centre)" in Hawaii.
Mr. Hall objects to this "Americanisation of Asian Studies. This is absurd." he says. "It's like an American going to India to study France, it's impossible to study the economics, history and political science — whatever the student is interested in the Asian countries in a foreign university, especially American."
Professor Brookes told Salient. "Of course the student must do his research in the appropriate country but certain problems arise," he said. For instance, if the student is insterested in the development of a Chinese commune, and wishes to research in the field, he may encounter trouble getting into China. He would have to work from Hong Kong, or perhaps Taiwan.
Professor Brookes said that if a student wanted a "western type degree" he would go to Anu or, perhaps the East-West Centre.
Mr. Hall also objects to the proposed course of study. "There is no attempt to specialise in languages. The first to be taught should be Chinese, then Malay, Indonesian and Hindu." This clearly conflicts with the recommendations to the Professorial Board, which state, "The most desirable arrangement would be an introductory course in Indonesian in the student's first or second year, giving the equivalent of "reading knowledge" credit. (though oral work may be of prime importance) following by a further year of study giving unit credit, while during his Honours year, it should be sufficient if he either maintains proficiency in Indonesian (eg by classes in conversation) or acquires proficiency in Malay."
However, the report argues "one reason the University introduced Asian Studies programme was to enable a substantial proportion of undergraduates in relevant faculties to acquire some informed awareness of the major cultures of Asia and of the characteristics and problems of major Asian countries.
This is being achieved mainly by the further development of relevant courses in disciplinary Departments. It will be appreciated that some department (eg Geography) have been teaching about Asia for years. The development of the Centre has made it possible to initiate or to expand Asian courses in Economics. History, and Political Sciencs. As the development continues, it is expected that additional Departments will be encouraged to do so."
"We are now in what is a very odd situation in New Zealand politics where the Government is taking rather more drastic measures to restrain domestic spending than an economist like myself." Professor Holmes told students and public in a lecture on University Day.
"In the first, Government had been reluctant to use budgetary measures to restrain inflation. For instance, in
Professor Holmes said there was "a serious political resistance" to what he saw as an important element of good budgetary policy. This was the assumption that, even if inflationary pressures were strong it was political suicide to raise taxation.
"The poor reputation of budgetary policy was the result of the tendency of govern ments to avoid using it until a crisis occurred, when measures were necessarily harsher than if more moderate action had been taken earlier." Professor Holmes predicted that if this 'political suicide' theory remained then it would be accompanied by continuing fluctuations.
"If overseas spending is to fall, this year's problem is to expand output on a reduced supply of capital. To rely entirely on internal disinflation would be a mistake."
On devaluation he said there were possible inflationary effects.
However, after inflation was chucked this could be the best remedy, he added.
Salient Reporter
Oratory Is flourishing strongly at Victoria. The 61st annual Plunket Medal will be held on June 23 in the Concert Chamber.
Plunket Medal oratory was first held in 1905. That makes it the oldest oratory competition in New Zealand, and it is widely regarded as the foremost.
The Medal is an endowment from Lord Plunket, a former Governor General of New Zealand. He hoped it might prove a link binding the various Universities of the Empire. Trinity College Dublin has a similar medal, in memory of the first Lord Plunket, Irish publicist and orator.
Previous winners of the medal include Sir
Other competitors have been Sir Guy Powles the Ombudsman, Professors
Opposition to referendum 3
Birth control seminar 4
Sludge 5
Middle East and A-bomb 6
Ulysses review 9
South African students 10
Letters 11
Ski club expansion 12
Piggy Muldoon For King! This offbeat campaign financed itself—and left a couple of pounds over for charity.
Money from the button sales paid for them, and 1250 "paid Muldoon for King" posters as well.
For the statistically minded, there were 1000 buttons, 25,000 "Cappicade" posters. 1250 other posters, and various free boosts in Extrav and Procesh.
Thus, for a total expenditure of £36. it seems that the name has stuck.
* * *
So The City Council wants executive to find out about damage to their property during Capping Week, does it?
If executive does its homework, it might find some rather interesting things to tell the City Council.
For example, the locking of the cable car gates. One bright evening, four youths descended the cable car carrying padlocks and chains.
The public stood and gaped as they calmly began to chain the cable car gates shut. One bystander actually helped with a difficult door.
They then strode off into the night, leaving a bewildered crowd on both sides of the doors.
It was nearly 5pm. Forth stepped a trusty citizen, weilding a hacksaw which he had borrowed from the locksmiths next to the cable car. Shortly, the chain would be broken . . .
But, good friends, here entered the City Council Bureaucrat, in the form of a Cable Car Man. "Thou shalt not cut the chain," he told the Trusty Citizen, "for the constabulary have been contacted, indeed, sent for."
There he stood, barring the way of the hacksaw man, watching as the queue stretched down cable car lane, out into Lambton Quay, on down past the Tab ...
* * *
And The Police Did Not Come! (They refused.) At 5.20, a full half an hour after the gates had been locked, an angry crowd pushed the little Cable Car man aside, and the Trusty Citizen with the hacksaw attacked the chain.
Five minutes later, the cable cars ran again.
* * *
One Of The Delightful things about Salient is that they never Really tell you who writes it.
Thus last issue's eulogy of the law students' law conference was written by the '66-'67 president of Anzals.
And that delightful letter about the elections from one P R Rapp was written by Salient's executive reporter, Peter Rapp. Come now, Peter, surely you understand the elections a bit better than that!
* * *
So Now House Committee is going to find us some paintings to brighten the Union Building.
Not so many years ago, a sub-committee was appointed with an even more important aim—to try and find a way to get rid of the "hospital - corridor"look which the Union building has always had.
This committee never met— and the antiseptic look continues . . .
—Cynic
NZSPA
The proportion of university students living away from home could increase from the present 28.4% to 50% within the next five years, the Minister of Education, Mr.
The student accommodation seminar was held in Christchurch over the May vacation. Mr. Kinsella said that by 1972 there would be 5492 places in halls of residence for students living away from home. Otago would have 1514, Massey 978, Auckland 951, Canterbury 893, Victoria 390, Lincoln 424 and Waikato 342.
There were also other proposals before the University Grants Committee but none of these were likely to be completed before 1972.
Building these halls of residence would require public funds of £4 million over the next five years. Of this, £260,000 had been spent on halls already completed, £1.2 million would be required for projects already under way, and projects already being planned would take another £2.5 million.
However, even with this increase in the number of places in residential halls, the number of students seeking accommodation elsewhere would be the same as it was today, Mr. Kinsella said.
Some adjustment would also have to be made in the number of places planned at Auckland and Canterbury. At Auckland 200 places would be lost when the school of engineering transferred to the Auckland town site from Ard-more and at Canterbury many of the existing places were connected with the town site of the university and would be of no further use when the move to the Ilam site was completed.
The trend towards students living away from home was probably due to increased opportunities for pupils from rural areas and semi-rural areas for sixth form study.
Mr. Kinsella said that although ideally internal students should spend part of their undergraduate years in a hall of residence, the pressing need was to provide accommodation for those full-time students who were living away from home.
Another speaker who looked at the present accommodation situation was Professor
He said that more than 30 per cent of New Zealand university students were at present unable to get accommodation in halls of residence, university flats or church-organised houses.
In general the universities had not done a great deal to care for students who came from other towns and were the "denizens of private flats, shared houses and lodgers at private homes."
Some effort had to be made to find suitable homes for students and to get students to meet desirable standards of conduct.
At least one university (Otago) had gone as far as prohibiting students from living in flats and houses which inspection had shown to be unacceptable, Professor Phillips said.
For as long as he could see, 75 per cent of students would be living privately in homes or flats or lodgings.
"It seems to me," he said, "that a great deal more talk and a great deal more money have been spent on the minority. All that has been done for the majority is to build student unions."
In its final session the seminar urged the appointment of fulltime accommodation officers in all university centres. This would alleviate the serious problem met by students in finding suitable private accommodation, the conference was told.
While halls of residence should receive the main emphasis, development of flats for students on, or near the university campus, was also advocated by the conference.
It was felt that these should be provided by the university or any other body in cooperation with it. Active cooperation should be given by the universities to anyone prepared to make such flats available.
The conference also recommended an annual review of the present maximum Government subsidy of £1800 a bed for hostels in the light of the current building costs.
Donations towards the cost of building student accommodation should also be made tax deductable up to £50, the conference said.
The conference was attended by university administration officers and students from all over New Zealand.
NZSPA
The State Legislature of Alabama has called for the resignation of the president of the University (Dr.
Four years ago, Governor Wallace defied Federal marshals and refused the admission of two Negro students. Now the number of Negroes on campus is 298, but Mrs.
Last month she called on all educational leaders in the State to defy the Federal Court order for racial integration and only Dr. Rose refused to sign. This has provoked student demonstrations, for once in favour of the law of the land.
But the former Governor, Mr. Wallace, has remained silent on the whole matter and although Dr. Rose's position is very precarious, as the State controls the allocation of university funds, indications are that this could mean the end of the Deep South segregation policy.
One should never trust a woman who tells one her real age. A woman who tells one that, would tell one anything,—Wilde.
A cynic—a man who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing—Wilde.
Irrationally held truths may be more harmful than reasoned errors.—
There is nothing the matter with Americans except their ideals. The real American is all right; it is the ideal American who is all wrong.— Chesterton.
NZSPA
Christchurch had to go without a pirate radio station Planned for Capping Week, but up until the last moment plans were well under way for the launching of "Radio Unicant" as a stunt.
What went amiss, according to one of the organisers,
Intent on broadcasting for 18 hours a day for the first three days of Capping Week, the pirate radio was to have operated from three miles out in Pegasus Bay. It is now officially dead.
Salient Reporter
Bipartisan approval is necessary before a referendum on its term of Parliament is held, Professors Brookes, Roberts and Dr.
In Their submissions they expressed support for a four year term but claimed a defeat this year would delay change for many years. They said:
"Is it appropriate that a proposal to extend the term of future Parliaments to four years should be put to the public in a referendum? In general, we believe that a government should govern, and that the proper role of the public is to record a judgment on its performance at a general election, not to make specific decisions on individual issues: but constitutional changes, especially those affecting the nature or frequency of general elections, are a special case. This has been recognised in the Electoral Act 1956. which prevents the government from acting unilaterally to make certain constitutional changes; these require either a 75 per cent majority in the House of Representatives, or approval by referendum. We consider it most desirable that, whenever possible, bipartisan approval should be obtained for constitutional changes, This need not preclude the submission of such a change to the public in a referendum, if both major parties agree to that course of action, but in such a case the voters can be given a clear lead, and it is possible to avoid any suspicion that either party is attempting to gain an advantage for itself.
"Provided that there is bipartisan support for the present proposal, we see no objection to the proposed referendum. If there is not, we question whether the time is ripe for it. We feel that a constitutional change, sponsored by one major party and opposed by the other, can be justified only if the issue is one on which voters have had a good opportunity to develop a flrm and informed opinion, and on which they are likely to render a clear verdict one way or the other. We question whether these conditions are yet satisfied in the case of the present proposal.
In arguing this, we must make it clear that personally we are in favour of a four-year term for Parliament, for reasons which we shall explain. It would be a pity, however, if a desirable change was defeated in a referendum, and set back perhaps for many years, because of an error in timing. We doubt whether enough voters have yet given enough thought to the matter to come to a firm judgment, and in the absence of a clear bipartisan lead the proposed change might well be defeated.
"If general elections are infrequent, there is a risk that the government may pay too little regard to the views of the voters; if they are frequent, there is a risk that the Government may not have an adequate opportunity to implement policies on which the voters can properly pass judgment. A balance must be struck such that government is both responsive and effective. Nothing in the experience of government either in New Zealand or overseas suggests that the increased effectiveness resulting from a four-year term would be offset by reduced responsiveness to the public. Nor do New Zealand voters seem to need a triennial opportunity to turn out the Government: in only three out of the last 10 general elections have they done so, and on only one of those occasions had the Government been in office for as little as three years.
"On the other hand, the nature of government has changed markedly since the three-year term was opted in 1879. Today, government programmes represent by far the most important determinant of overall economic activity. The Economic Review of 1966 states: "The Government reached the conclusion some time ago that the traditional system of decision making and control not only viewed public expenditures in an unduly piecemeal way, but also had an unduly short term perspective.' The Review outlines the system of forward estimates, capital and departmental planning and economic investigation that is intended to remedy these defects, but it also demonstrates clearly that the period of three years is quite inappropriate for important areas of public planning. While an increase of only one year cannot be regarded as ideal for these purposes, it would provide a better opportunity for effective programming, and for the development of new techniques of parliamentary control (such as a four-year budget and economic policy) designed to focus the attention of Members and of the general public on major governmental programmes in a more effective way than by debating the annual financial legislation. Progress has al-ready been made in this direction in certain European countries (notably Sweden), and in part in the United States.
"Not only have government policies become more long-term since 1879, they have also become more technical. This trend has strengthened the executive, compared with the legislature: Cabinet Ministers are well supplied with expert advice from their departmental officers, but Parliament, whose constitutional responsibility it is to scrutinise government administration, and to debate government policy in a way that will keep the electorate properly informed. In our view, the constitutional balance has tilted too far, and steps should be taken to increase the power and prestige of Parliament. An extension of the parliamentary term is only one of these steps; an increase in the number of investigating committees (on the lines of the Public Expenditure Commit there has been no comparable; increase in the supply of expert advice to Members of tee) is another, to probe such areas as scientific development, social welfare, education, mental health, and urban pro-blems, among others; and the provision of expert staff to assist these committees, and of expanded research facilities for Members through the Parliamentary Library (on the lines of these being developed by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Library in Australia), and of proper secretarial services, is also necessary if Parliament is to maintain an effective scrutiny of government activity.
"We see an extension of the parliamentary term as a logical part of this process. For three years in every four the MP could devote himself to these enlarged duties, free from the distractions which inevitably arise in election year, and acquiring through greater emphasis on com-mittee work a specialised ex-pertise which would tend to enhance his reputation, and that of the House. But the additional year may itself tend to increase the prestige of the House. It is noticeable that in the United States the Senate, in which the term of office is six years has unquestionably more prestige and influence than the House of Representatives, in which the term is only two years. There are no substantial differences in the powers of the two chambers, but the Representative, forced to devote himself more frequently to the business of re-election, has little opportunity to develop the breadth of statesmanship which is not infrequently found among Senators.
"We conclude, therefore, that an extension of the parliamentary term is desirable, as part of a major reorganisation designed to enhance the power and performance of Parliament. Since such a reorganisation would represent a major attempt to alter the balance of the constitution, every effort should be made to secure for it bipartisan approval. With bipartisan approval, it would be possible to give to the public the clear lead which will be necessary if they are to understand the reasons for the proposed change. Lacking such a lead, we question whether a sufficiently informed opinion has yet emerged to warrant a referendum on the matter at the present time."
Plans labelled "Maximum Security Institution, Paremoremo, Auckland— Entry Block Elevations" were found in Wellington and handed to Salient.
The plans were dated January, 1965.
An Assistant Government Architect said that the prison has been under construction for a year. For security reasons the plans have not been released to the public.
Security Intelligence have looked into the matter. An officer said that the Justice Department is anxious for their return.
During the next fortnight the Film Society will be presenting four programmes covering a variety of film genre. Comedy is provided in an early (1960) Phillippe de Broca film, The Joker (Joker, de Broca has gone on to make a couple of above average comedy-adventures with
For those who appreciate vampire films Blood And Roses (June 21) is excellent fare. Directed by Blood And Roses stars
In recent years Czezchoslovakia has been producing a number of films which feature strongly at international festivals, and in many cases walk away with most of the prizes. Two such films are Joseph Kilian and Jan Nemec's
The Young Savages, has established himself at the fore of serious American filmmaking. Currently screening in Auckland and Christchurch is his cinerama epic Grand Prix and exploits the large screen better than any of its predecessors. Made before Grand Prix, Seconds has yet to be shown in Wellington and has been praised as Frankenheimer's best film. The Manchurian Candidate (June 28) is a political thriller based on an attempt to assassinate the President of the USA. It was showing on first release just before Kennedy's assassination in , November, 1963, and was temporarily withdrawn from circulation. Since then it has been viewed only sporadically, perhaps because of the terse black comedy style scenario by
What A Shattering decision was the Government's in deciding to remain neutral in the recent Middle East crusade!
It was early April (such a long time ago) this year when the Deputy Prime Minister told an SCM meeting. "The idea of neutrality is alien to New Zealand's whole concept of her place in the world."
But then of course what have we to do with those Middle East sands—drenched with Kiwi blood?
A Recent survey reveals that increased water content in mashed spuds is a nationwide trend. Earlier it was thought to be localised, and that other people used milk when mashing the delicacy.
It's Hard to know how he does it. Torro scored again on Saturday. Now, now, it was at rugby. An average of three points a game is doing pretty well. He attributes his success to eating dried pumpkin seeds.
Oh, English, how thou art ravished. What more assaults will these Plunket Medal Orators reek on you?
Soap Box Pimps untutored in the knowledge that he has the greatest command of language who keeps his mouth shut.
One Thing is to be learned from segregated audiences at Ulysses. Such a false atmosphere is only an encouragement to the elements that it is designed to counter. In such an atmosphere the inane comments flowed freely and loudly.
Remarkable thing about the National Club's "minicongress' last weekend was the people who attended. On the Saturday there were about 20, mostly National Party supporters.
On Sunday, however, the number had dwindled to about 10 and Party supporters were out numbered. In fact a well known Trotskyist chaired the less session while Alister Taylor was giving a critique of conservatism.
Other speakers were the Hon
Notice the Chairman Mao badges floating around lately. Apparently the Geography department is in business. The badges cost students 1/-.
Recent political events in Greece will be this Friday's topic for the new left meeting. Speaker is Dimitrios Gounelas a political science student at Victoria.
Those wishing to attend are advised to go to 190 Lambton Quay at 8pm.
Usually reliable sources indicate former VUWSA president,
Who said students could spell. The public were treated to a special demonstration of student spelling in the main foyer of the SUB last Tuesday.
Somehow the word accommodation was spelt in three different ways— accommodation, accommoation and accomodation. Just shows why we must educate the public.
I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just.—
The man's desire is for the woman, but the woman's desire is rarely other than for the desire of the man.—Coleridge
What God hath joined together, let no man put asunder. God will take care of that.—Shaw.
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Four of the five officers on the New Zealand University Students Association Executive are Otago delegates. They were appointed at the first meeting of the new Executive.
Denis Pezaro
For
This now means that of five Executive positions, Otago holds one, and of seven possible Officers' positions, Otago has four. Auckland. Waikato and Lincoln are not represented on the new Executive.
Students will again help the old and needy in Wellington this year.
Gardening, housework or general oddjobs will be part of student activities during "48-Hour Call", In some cases simply providing company will be the order of the day.
"48-Hour Call" is set down for the weekend of June 24. It will be organised on a larger scale, and it is hoped to gain more interest from welfare organisations.
Students can make themselves available for any time during the weekend by filling in a form at the Student Association Office.
NZSPA
Within four days, two overseas students have come up against the immigration regulations of God's Own.
A victim of "Government red tape,"
"They told me they cannot set a precedent. If they let me stay they are afraid that Asian students will get tourist visas and try to stay," he said.
NZSPA
The ultimate confluence of science and religion was inevitable and necessary. Dr.
In a lecture called "Science And Christianity — Changing Attitudes," Professor Dowden traced the views of scientists and churchmen from the time of Galileo, when science began to see its role as secular.
The idea of the universe as a "clockwork machine" had been overthrown with Heisenburg's principle of uncertainty and religion had had to accept the fact that scientific discoveries could make new theological investigations necessary.
Professor Dowden rejected the view that science and theology were independent fields. "Science—by its very nature—is a God-seeking inquiry." he said. "Surely we can learn something of God by probing the universe."
" Cancer is a disease of unrestrained growth, and man has become the cancer of the world," said Mr. R. J. Rose, speaking at a seminar on Overpopulation held in the Memorial Theatre last Sunday. Mr. Rose, a statistician for the World Health Organisation, was the first of five speakers at the seminar, which was chaired by Professor John Roberts.
The seminar was organised by International Affairs Officer,
Mr. Rose spoke of the incapacity of man to prepare for dangers which are bound to happen. "Mankind today is putting on a cap to protect himself from the monsters of war and famine." he said. "We must think in terms of the world."
He emphasised the urgency of the population problem by saying from the beginning of the Christian era until the sixteenth century the population of the world doubled; it redoubled by 1850, and by, 1960 it had trebled—in 110 years. "Today the world contains around 3500 million people." he said. "By the: year 2000 it will contain 7000 million people."
Mr. Rose explained the tremendous increase in population as being the result of a number of factors: the effect of early and universal marriage, as in India; decreased mortality, especially infant mortality: better physical health generally.
He spoke of what Japan is doing to counteract population growth, in the form of legalised abortion, a campaign for sterilisation and castration and for later marriage, and by rewarding people who are judicious in restricting and spacing families. "Japan's birth-rate has dropped from 35 to 17 per cent," he said. The only hope is birth control, and it is urgently needed. Birth control information gives people a chance to have the number of children they want," he said.
"There is no simple panacea like birth control to apply holus bolus throughout the world." said Dr. Watters. He emphasised the need to approach each country's population problems in a different way. In Africa the problem can be blamed on narrowly-based economies, inadequate educational systems, the fail-ure of colonial powers to prepare countries for independence, followed by the excesses of anti-colonialism, which often detract from local development. He spoke of dual economies, where there is great development in the cities and the fertile plains, contrasted with great peasant areas of traditionalism, untouched by modernisation.
"There is a lack of skilled agronomists, to show peasants with their own hands what they should do. Africa must have better international trade agreements, mixed economies, and a measure of socialism, because with capitalism the profits go outside the country. She must also have economic planning, with an emphasis on technical and agronomic education, and protected native industries."
He saw the problem in Asia as a scarcity of resources per head, a problem which can only be solved by massive social change, because the value system is not in harmony with modern planning. "India needs efficient leaders, who will push through genuine agrarian reforms, stimulate development," he said.
"In Latin America the technical solutions are well known: It is a problem of alienation from the masses, and a consequent failure to apply proven knowledge. Social change is needed here also, not just the pill."
"We must look at each country and region and analyse the nature of the problem. Some Latin American countries claim that they need more people, to colonise virgin lands, as in Brazil."
"One dollar spent on family planning is worth twenty times the amount of one dollar spent on any other kind of aid." But she did emphasise some motivation must be offered for people to want to space out their families, in the form of education on family management, and raising the standard of child care.
Dr. Battacharyya, of the VUW Economics Department, speaking about the economic aspects of the population explosion, said "the individual in an under-developed country doesn't feel responsible for social goals—he has to eke out a living somehow, so he goes through the usual processes of life in apathy and indifference and dependence on lack because it is all he knows." He pointed out that it is necessary to show these people how family limitation measures can affect the standard of living—"the success of population control measures is likely to be negligible unless they cover more ground and show the possibility of personal advancement through higher skills, the development of a taste for the amenities of life."
Dr. Battacharyya introduced a hopeful note saying there has been some improvement in the availability of food in India from 1950 to 1960, and experience in India has shown that it is possible that the rate of production growth will keep pace with population growth if the right measures are taken.
Dr.
He prophesied a "second age of innocence." saying "we are entering a phase in which men and women will become partners again." On this basis alone, he said, birth control should be encouraged.
As from Monday, July 10, the cash registers in the Dining Room, Shop and Sandwich Lunch Bar will operate on decimals.
Once the machines have been converted they will be able to operate only with decimal coins or coins that have direct decimal equivalents. Thus cashiers will not accept 1/2 d, 1d or 3d coins.
A change desk will operate in the Dining Room for the first few days following the changeover.
All prices will be converted according to the Decimal Currency Board's official table. Overall prices will remain much the same though students will gain on some items and lose on others.
Milk drinkers will benefit—a bottle of milk will convert from 4d to 3c. The 8d to 7c conversion of coffee tends to balance this.
The main course will convert from 3/4 to 33c, a pie from 1 2d to 12c, and a pie with gravy from 1/5d to 14c. The Student Union Management Committee will issue an information sheet setting out all conversion rates.
"We expect some delays at the cash registers," said Mr.
Warning to Students: There have been increased reports of stealing on campus. Last week three thefts were notified. Evidence suggests that at least one of these was committed by a female.
Indonesian riots—
ASPB
Hundreds of Indonesian students and youths ran wild in their bid to retaliate against antiGovernment demonstrations in the Chinese residential areas. Troops and police opened fire in the night of April 22 on a group of young Indonesians to stop them from marching to the Chinatown district and attacking Chinese homes.
Chinese houses and shops in Harbourtown in south-east Java were set on fire. Charred bits of furniture and goods were strewn over the streets. No casualties were reported.
Youths armed with crowbars, bicycle chains and Molotov cocktails marched to the Chinese Embassy for retaliatory action against the Chinese merchants who staged an earlier anti-Government demonstration. Troops prevented them from forcing their way into it. The demonstrators were forced out of Chinatown at gunpoint.
According to a report published in the Bangkok Post, the violent mob smashed more than five cars and had beaten the Chinese inside senseless. They made no distinction between Chinese who might be Communists and those whose families have lived in Indonesia for centuries.
NZSPA
A Pub Guide for students lost in strange New Zealand cities is a striking feature of the new "Student Guide To New Zealand," produced by the New Zealand University Students' Association.
The rest of the 64-page ready reference guide written especially for both New Zealand and overseas students has solid factual information for the traveller.
A section is provided specially for overseas students and a detailed list is given of Motor Camps, Hostels. Youth Hostels and concessions.
There is a section on each university town, leading the outsider to organisations which can be contacted for guidance, and then some details on entertainment, sightseeing, where to eat, drink or stay.
For students who want to know the essential factors for survival in other centres, for friends from abroad or for those who want a ready reference, this latest publication is worth having.
Copies are available from local students' association offices or from NZUSA.
G.P.C. wrote the first editorial in the last issue and the Anzals did not in fact stage a "gang rape trial" as readers of the article will have gathered.
The Post-Budget Speech Of The Prime Minister
(For maximum effect this must be read on a cold windy night with the rain trickling in through a crack on the reader's head as he stands outside the Wellington City Council Employment Office).
My Lords, Ladles and Henchmen.
It is a great financial pleasure to be here this evening. There's nothing like a good introduction and that was nothing like a good introduction (ho, ho, chiz, chiz, burp, etc).
Well, as you all know by now, my friend and Minister of Finance, the Right Honourable Piggy, has today done a magnificent job of euthanasia on the New Zealand economy. (Kinsella bursts into tears and applauds uncontrollably). It is quite clear to me, and in this I have the full support of Mr. Holland—to name only a few, that the country is bang on the course which I predicted in my own political thesis, "Mein Klaptrap" (published by Titcombe and Wombs, price 4d).
It certainly is enthralling (Kinsella whimpers) to see the Ship of State soaring forward again on all four wheels and all six cylinders even if petrol does cost 14/6 a gallon (Muldoon busts a gut and smoke from pre-budget cigarettes puffs ominously from his left earhole). Some have said that this is a harsh budget. I can only reply that I can remember much worse ones!!! (Respectful silence shattered only by hysterical cries of "February and April '67" from
Certainly the raising of Income Tax to 25/- in the pound was a stroke of genius which could well make the Honourable Minister famous wherever IBM machines are used. Already we have been swamped with requests from Unions everywhere for dartboard-sized-photographs of my colleague Piggy. They shall receive copies in his own image and triteness if we can manage it before the shilling-a-mile surcharge on letters comes in.
Obviously, they are all as delighted as I am that the new Governor-General is to be provided with another Rolls-Royce, one has to keep up with the Lennons after all (
Finally, in conclusion, to sum up, may I state quite categorically here and now that I am not, nor indeed have I ever been, a member of the Paekakariki Glee Club or any of its affiliated bodies. (This startling revelation brings the house down, and as Mr. Holyoake resumes his seat he is given a standing ovation by
June 15, 1967
Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of VUWSA.
The small attendance of National Party supporters at the VUW National Club's seminar on conservatism last weekend illustrates the nature of student support for the Party.
Whereas in contrast to the "Junats" one might expect university National supporters to be interested in politics, this is in fact not so.
The majority are not aware of their reasons for supporting the Party. In most cases they are following their parents—that is they join because it is the thing to do.
They believe the National Party to be more right than wrong, without considering why.
Although many may be shocked by those students who support the National Party in such an undiscriminating manner, a study of the Party in office will explain the absence of politically aware and informed students.
The National Party has no philosophy—it is a party of expediency. Proposals for change are first tested for administrative feasibility and then for political expediency.
The goal of the Party is to gain and retain political power. It must be remembered this goal was determined and is pursued by the parliamentary side and not the activists, who have quite different ideas.
Consequentially the National Government has absolutely no idea or interest in where it is leading the country.
It is not prepared to subordinate its own interests for the national interest.
It endeavours to convince the public the former is the latter.
Thus students who are conscious of the thinking behind National actions And it difficult to attach themselves to the organisation. Because expediency and not a set of beliefs determines the course of action an intelligent and the Party are unlikely to agree for long.
The major reason for joining the National Party should be to protect and promote personal interests.
As the Party doesn't act in accord with its professed beliefs about private enterprise and freedom of the individual, etc., personal material advantage is a rationalisation of membership.
Students have few interests in need of special protection and so the occasion rarely arises.
The only rationalisation left for student activity in the National Party is a desire to enter politics and a belief the "National way" is the path to greater influence and power.
As few students seriously intend entering politics we can expect the VUW National Club will, unlike its opposite number, continue to be dominated by non - thinking National Party supporters.
—B.G.S.
True, there is a large amount of prestige attached to the presidency of the Students Association, but it remains a thankless task. It is time that some thanks in the form of a bursary be attached to it.
If a president is to do his job properly, he will devote about 30 to 35 hours a week to student affairs. This often means (as is the case with the current president and the president-elect) that he must give up a part-time job.
The resulting loss of income restricts the field of presidential candidates. Students who live away from home often cannot stand because of their dependence on part-time income to meet boarding costs.
If there were a bursary we could expect a greater number of suitable candidates.
We should feel free to criticise any president, but when there is no remuneration one feels a little reticent about criticising. Payment of a bursary would provide the required political lever.
With the increase in student business that has to be attended to, it becomes obvious that we require a president who has no part-time commitments. Only when a bursary is paid could we be justified in insisting on this.
There will be difference of opinion as to what would be an adequate bursary. Somewhere around £350 would almost cover it.
Payment of other executive positions is immediately raised. Of these the most onerous is treasurer. With our income climbing toward the £40,000 mark we feel it is time that a professional accountant was engaged.
Some case could be made out for the payment of secretary. Other executive positions do tend to fall outside the area of payment.
Though every executive post does demand much time, often resulting in failing units. Some tangible benefit may not be out of place.
As students we have been an ungrateful lot. We expect our president and executive to work long hours, to accept great responsibility, and to be at our service at all times. And we insist that the prestige and experience are sufficient reward. They are not.
If we want a vital administration, we must be prepared to pay for it.
G.P.C.
Curiously enough, during the Arab-Israeli war, none of the commentators raised the grisly spectre of the spread of nuclear weapons to this volatile bit of the world. The only exception to this was a BBC commentator who referred to the Bomb in passing, on the war's first day.
The rather plausible idea this man put forward was that, with the Middle East "going nuclear" at any old time now, then this was probably the very last conventional war the area would ever suffer. What he implied here was that Egypt or Israel, probably Israel, was due for the Bomb in months rather than years, and that, with this new weapon around, neither side would be so silly as to start anything which could be suicidal to itself.
Reflecting on this as the desert dust settles back, I think this particular commentator was quite wrong in his analysis. Firstly, in the settlement now being knocked out, there is at least a fighting chance of a big-power embargo on arms and related technologies, a regional arms freeze of sorts, and a recognised guarantee of the Israeli borders. But even if none of this materialises and the status ante bellum situation returns to haunt the area, things still do not inexorably point down a blind alley, to nuclear weapons in the area. Take a look at the 1956 and 1967 wars for a minute.
Both wars show that a potentially dangerous regional imbalance in the local arms race had arisen, and both these wars were, in part, preemptive or protective attacks by the side then losing out in the race. In 1955, Russia transferred to Egypt, at ominous speed, some 200 fighter-bombers, hundreds of tanks, guns, arms and support facilities. It was this situation, very tense and inflammable at the time, which exploded when Nasser nationalised the Suez Canal. The Israelis fielded a joint team with Britain and France, and, whatever its faults, it rapidly restored the arms balance by disposing of much of the Russian equipment.
A month ago the identical situation had again appeared—this time in reverse. This time it was the Israelis who had the fighting edge, or gave the Arabs the idea they had it. The Israeli military men have considered themselves predominant in fighting-power since the early sixties. The war proves the truth of this. Offsetting the Arab superiority in arms and numbers, there was the unified and highly-trained Israeli force, high in morale, strong in communications and back-up maintenance facilities and led by that very able tactician, General Dayan. The Egyptians found their Soviet-type strategy inferior in operation and, like the North Vietnamese, have severe difficulties in maintains their Soviet-built combat aircraft. So the Arabs had reason to try to stop things getting worse.
But, even more important than this, for over a year now there has been every evidence that the Egyptians are intensely suspicious of what goes on at the closely-guarded and very secret Israeli atomic complex situated at Dimona in the Negev. Six times since February of last year, Nasser has publicly and loudly warned that if the Arabs ever did get evidence of an impending Israeli Bomb, the Arabs would launch everything they have to "wipe out the means of construction." There is no solid evidence of a Bomb as yet, but we can confidently predict that, had the war gone the other way, these deep Arab suspicions would have seen to it that Dimona was an early casualty.
Now, here, it is vital to note that it was the presence, or suspected presence, of the arms, and not their use, which sparked both the conflicts. Thus, into this situation of hostility as old as history, the weapons were progressively pumped, fracturing the regional stability and creating the nastiness which led to the spontaneous combustion. And here, a pre-emptive attack by the frightened neighbour is at least as real a danger as anything the ostensible aggressor will do. So unless a settlement of this cold-hot war is now devised, or unless Nasser leaves the scene (the agitator-in-chief, in my opinion) the war can flare up again.
Now back to nuclear weapons. If one side is to procure these dreadful things, this dangerous regional imbalance will appear, in earnest, in that delicate period when the Bomb is coming, but not actually come. The other side will do everything it can to sabotage the scheme, while it still can. And there are definite signs that the Israelis, Arabs, Americans and Russians have all been awake to this danger of proliferation for a while. So we have three very good reasons why the Bomb will not enter the area: (1) The open acquisition of these weapons will spark off a preventive war by the other side; (2) Neither Russia nor America are likely to let "their man in the Middle East" be the first to openly procure the weapons; (3) Developing the weapons in secrecy is almost impossible, for technical reasons. Lets' examine what these are.
Technical Problems: Hydrogen bombs create their destructive energy by the fission or combination of atoms of the lightest element, hydrogen. This fission can only be triggered by the heat of a baby atomic or fusion weapon, so atomic weapons always come first in development. There are two kinds of atomic weapon: Those where the fissile material is Pluto-nium-239 (Nagasaki type) and those where the fissile material is Uranium-235. Both derive in different ways from common or garden Uranium-238, the heaviest element, and are broken down in the chain reaction.
U-235 is extracted from raw U-238 by either a gas-centrifuge system (not yet perfected on a large scale), or by a gaseous-diffusion separation plant—described by
Plutonium-239 is a much more attractive fuel. This is a by-product of the raw Uranium-238 which fires the power-generating and desalination reactors. From the used fuel-rods, the weapons-grade plu-tonium, in the jargon, is extracted by a chemical-separation process. This process is still demanding and costly (£50 million-odd) and too much Plutonium in any one place becomes unstable and can explode. Still, Israel could probably construct one such plant in a few months. From there to a bomb is but a short step. The critical amount of plutonium required to sustain a chain-reaction, Beaton says, is about seven kilos, placed In a carefully-designed cocoon of high explosive.
Getting the finished weapon over the target is simple. Ships, trucks, planes and rockets can all be employed. Israel and Egypt both have bombers and airliners which could drop the thing. Both have done some secret but apparently inconclusive development of rockets. But the real problem both face is getting the weapons—grade Plutonium.
Egypt: Since 1963, a small
Israel: Since 1964 there has been the 24-megawatt natural uranium, heavy water moderated reactor built by the French, operating at Dimona. This is capable of producing enough plutonium for about two small bombs a year. In the first place, the fuel came from France and South Africa under strict control. Israel is now about self-sufficient in fuel, as Uranium-238 is being extracted as a byproduct of the Dead Sea phosphate industry. She is now believed to be stockpiling some seven kilos of plutonium each year, and also researching the theoretical basis of plutonium-extraction and bomb-building, without actually constructing facilities for doing either.
The whole project is veiled in secrecy. Almost nothing is published about it. In Israel there is a Government and a press ban on printing any discussion of nuclear spread for security reasons. Explaining this censorship, an Israeli official reported in the New York Times for March 7, 1966, said: "The Arab leaders are likely to mistake free discussion for official policy— as this is the situation in their own countries." But, equally, this moratorium on the facts works the other way: Secrecy breeds suspicion and probably the real Israeli policy is one of keeping the Arabs guessing.
This idea is born out by the Israeli policy of inviting American AEC officials to inspect Dimona once each year for signs of weapons development. This inspection is carried out very quietly, and, as the results are not broadcast to the Arabs, it is obviously done to set American, but not Arab, minds at rest. This, in fact, it fails to do. The Americans have tentatively concluded, "No development as yet," but it is difficult to establish in an annual inspection if any fuelrods have been removed from the reactor for extracting the Plutonium.
Outlook: The Americans now believe that Israel is not currently engaged in weapons development but that she maintains Dimona to keep the option open. Now this, in itself, is a bargaining-counter of some power and a deterrent in its own right to the Arabs. Also, the stockpile stands as the ominous alternative, if America and other to offer her some guarantee of security. However, if Israel ever does take up the option, it will be for military necessity, and not, as in China's and France's case, primarily for the prestige of joining a select club. So the development would be very secret. She might never test the weapon, although a small underground test is very hard to tell from an earthquake.
It is likely that Egypt will only acquire a Bomb if Israel gets one first. Then the Russians will step in (and hence the Americans). Israel has the potential to produce a Bomb in two years, if she works very secretly -but now she almost certainly does not have the urge, with her conventional weapons as good as they obviously are. So if one side gets the Bomb, the other one will too. It would be irrational to use it unless the only choice was extinction, in which case the lesser of two evils would be selected. I cannot agree with the French view that general spreading of weapons —the force de frappe, the Great Equaliser—is a "good thing as the weapon is the ultimate deterrent to its own use." This silly, dangerous over-simplification ignores several vital points. One side will always arrive first and will be inclined to exploit this advantage. A coup d'etat could bring to power people with absolutely no compunction about using the Bomb. And the effects on bargaining are dramatic: the most reckless party always wins.
There are two good reasons for optimism. The first concerns the resignation of Professor Ernst Borgmann in April, 1966, from his post as head of the Israeli atomic development and Chairman of the Atomic Energy Committee. This caused a lot of speculation. Borgmann complained of a "difference of opinion" with the Eshkoy Government over the policy for long-term planning and research. This implies that the Eshkol Government has been much less interested that Ben-Gurion's in nuclear development. It fits in With Eshkol's "appeasement" policy towards the Arabs. There is hope in people who look for political rather than military solutions to problems.
The second reason for optimism concerns the big-power attitude towards effective nuclear control America has always been dead against spreading the Bomb any further. Her plan now is to provide both Egypt and Israel with power and desalination reactors using fuel unsuited to making bombs. There are some good reasons for this not coming off. But the American attitude, and the Russian attitude, is the matter of central importance here. There is no doubt whatsoever that either could stop their respective allies "going nuclear" if they want to— and they want to. The real Middle East problem is not any relentless spread of weapons, but the volatile situation which causes this spread. This requires cooperation all round on an arms and technology embargo, a regional arms freeze and the universal guaranteeing of borders. And now might be a very good time to start trying.
Involved?" they all say to does not concern you so other getting involved?"
I moral obligation to in-
Acts that would be considered normal outside the hospital are here taken as signs of mental instability and further reinforce the idea into the nurses' minds that the patient is truly "mad" and in the right place. Examples of this would be tantrums in the children, outbursts of temper in the adult patients, and defiance of adult authority by the teenagers.
It is presumably a serious offence to use threatening, insulting or obscene language within hearing distance of patients. This is not observed in many cases. The staff take advantage of the dependent, passive role expected of patients and use this as an excuse to speak to patients however they wish, and to address them in a manner that they think appropriate to a mental patient. Many of the patients' wishes are merely brushed aside; the patient is in no position to complain because he is "mad."
Most patients were not violent unless provoked. There was provocation at times and then those responsible complained when the patient reacted in a violent manner, which any normal person would have done. Punishments for females were generally degrading and demoralising. The neurotictype patients had the threat of electroconvulsive therapy, or not being able to go home held over them if they did not do as the staff demanded: the threat of being put into "seclusion" was more subtle, but ever-present. This was specially used as a means of ensuring that the younger, teenage patients behaved.
None of the patients knew exactly what "shock-treatment" was (this is the common term given to electro-convulsive therapy). Most of the patients thought that it waa the injection mark in their arm. Many thought that they were being punished when they appeared on the treatment list. One patient said to me, before being given shock-treatment. "I don't want shock-treatment; I haven't done anything wrong."
The patients used to dread ECT. It is a very inconclusive type of treatment. Once patients had ECT, nothing else was done for them: it was considered a complete treatment. One patient was having her thirtieth lot of ECT in well under a year, and as she was still a patient at this time, this shows only too well the limited use that it has in psychiatric treatment.
The admission ward, Rauta "Kl," is an extremely depressing place in itself. Admittedly, the ward is to be changed over to a renovated one, but meanwhile the same ward is being used. The dayroom is very small and the patients are expected to sit in there all day. There are no group therapy discussions at all in the hospital, and when a Staff-Nurse tried to start some, she was promptly ordered to stop them. Nurses who talked to patients were, on the whole, considered lazy.
The patients' health was generally placed second to such things as window-cleaning, wall-washing and toilet-scrubbing. In the children's ward, as was the case in most other wards, only one nurse was permitted to be in the dayroom at any one time. To try to teach the children something when you have about 40 other, mostly chronic, patients to care for is an almost impossible task. The most junior nurse on the ward was placed in charge of the dayroom and generally she knew less about psychiatric nursing than any of the others. By the time she had learned anything slightly resembling treatment, a more junior nurse would take over and so it would start again.
As there are no toilets off the dayroom in the children's ward, it is almost impossible to toilet train the children and toilet the other patients. Consequently, one's time is spent in cleaning up patients who eat their faeces, or someone else's. In this ward, there is no treatment other than drugs.
A couple of the children do go to a school for the intellectually handicapped, but this training is not continued once they are back in the ward. Also, over the school vacation period, little, if anything, is done towards improving the children's mental health.
If you spent some time with the children and showed them some affection, you were told to stop spoiling them. Once, when one of the children was having a tantrum 'they only had these for the same reasons that normal children have them) 1 was told by a senior nurse. "Don't let him get away with it!" because I was not smacking him. Most of the nurses seemed to think that all of the children were untrainable and that it was a complete waste of time even attempting to teach them anything. They were proved wrong many times. Several of the children showed great potential which few of these nurses recognised and even fewer exploited.
Several of the children have adoptive "mothers" who are also inmates of the villa. They are thoroughly institutionalised and of childish intelligence themselves. They have a detrimental effect on the mental well-being of the children. One of the children was speaking until he was taken over by a deaf-mute and as this "mother image" became impressed upon the child's mind, all meaningful verbalisation stopped. These "mothers" would physically oppose you if you interfered with their "child," so it was hard to teach them anything; the nurses condoned this situation because it meant less work for them.
The children's main meal every day was mince. When I commented that the children were not learning to chew as a result of their diet, I was told that many of the patients were epileptics, and I received no reply when I stated that these children were not. One child would not even eat stewed apple because he could not chew. The children were not given fresh fruit and their teeth were cleaned very rarely. The kitchen in the children's ward is dirty and old-fashioned. Cooking is done on a coal range which does not operate if there is no wind. Patients wander in and out of the kitchen all day.
Only two of the female villas had central heating: the rest had open fires. Nurses are required to collect the coal for these fires from outside, no matter what the weather is like. These fires heated only a very small portion of the ward. In a ward like Nairn (the children's ward) where the dayroom is not closed off, these fires are useless. The old ladles' wards, Waiora, Moata and Montrose, had no heating in the dormitories. The elderly patients complained frequently of the cold. Heating in the dormitories was nonexistent also, in Nairn and "F" ward (for chronic patients).
The majority of the patients were dressed in ward clothing. This was not very pleasing to the eye, but K was clean and practical. Patients in "F" ward did wear canvas petticoats and frocks, however. If a patient was incontinent, she was changed almost immediately in most instances, but it was not uncommon to run out of certain clothing in such wards as Montrose and Nairn. In these cases patients would have to go without such articles of clothing.
Patients in psychiatric hospitals like Porirua lose enough of their sense of identity upon entering the hospital without having their own clothing taken from them. When they are dressed in hospital clothes any feeling of individuality is lost and they become truly a part of the mass.
With mental institutions, it is important for the patient to retain as much of a sense of identity as possible. In such hospitals as Porirua, the patient, because of the custodial orientation present, has almost all of his concept of self destroyed instead of built up. This is the meaning of becoming "truly a part of the mass."
Wellington at present is blessed with an abundance of art exhibitions. In the first few weeks of April there were the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts Autumn Exhibition, and three minor exhibitions of paintings by lesser-known artists and displaying completely different styles, subjects and techniques. In fact, there was something for everyone.
At McGregor Wrights' Ltd, there was an exhibition of paintings by
All the scenic works were done in natural colours—which tended to be rather boring; one might as well have gone to the Tourist and Publicity next door and viewed the postcards, although the artist showed definite skill in his treatment of perspective and lighting. The five abstracts included in the exhibition also concentrated on colours that one could see in the object of inspiration; there were three works entitled Theme On A Sea Shell (1, 2 and 3), all of which had central focal points with no definite form. Bush Impression was extremely pleasant, again, with a central theme but more vitality.
Another art shop, Willeston Galleries, had from 4th to 14th April an exhibition of paintings by
The third exhibition was held in the Centre Gallery from April 19th to 21st of Paintings from France by Plants in Winter and Sheils Encrusted with Salt, Bullets Found On A Dead Pilot, although with no apparent central, unifying theme— had pleasant reds and browns with light touches of sea-greens and yellow. Deep forest greens and browns with good lighting effect made up Bones, and Desert Stones I with its flat brush strokes and bright colours was impressive.
All three exhibitions showed works by artists with considerable technical ability which made apparent their effective use of light. However, their downfall seemed to be in their choice of subjects and, especially in the first two, their colours.
A Mid Winter Garland, by Niel Wright. Published by Pegasus Press and reviewed by Denis List.
Flowers picked in winter are hardy, but their beauty is consumed in their survival. Such is the message of Niel Wright's latest collection of poems, entitled "A Mid-winter Garland, some minor poems by Niel Wright." They are very formal poems, most of them very carefully constructed of rhymes, metre (mostly quantitative) and verses. They fall into three main groups: epigrams, roundels and poems on classical subjects.
Most of the epigrams are rather weak, often built around the rhyme:
The roundels are more interesting. In these, the first line is repeated as the fourth and seventh, and the second is repeated as the eighth. But
These poems, and the above is a fair example, sound remarkably awkward when read aloud (or you could say powerful).
The most obvious and remarkable thing about A Midwinter Garland is that the poetry is preoccupied with what you might call thought at the expense of emotion. The nature of the poetry forces the reader to stay at a distance (so few people will be interested). This is to most poetry what vitamin pills are to food. But there are exceptions, such as:
This, though slight, is far more penetrating (of the reader, not of itself) and at first seems to have more in common with Blake or Lorca than with The Visionary is some-how more involving than the others I've quoted. Most of the difference is that here a feeling of alarm has been added, and readers notice the fright.
So if you like ideas but not imagery, force-fulness more than elegance, man more than nature, and rationality more than emotionality, you will probably like Niel Wright's poetry.— Denis List.
Op? Pop? Kinky?—whatever Extrav 67 tried to be it failed rather sadly.
Of the skits only a few achieved the standard of last year's Extrav and of recent Drama Club revues—and those were the ones where writer
In the hands of others Mr. Hall's scripts revealed themselves as trite or failed, through overacting, to realise their potential. The cafeteria skit with traditional attacks on camel-hair coats, the law faculty, and Wanganui Collegiate (however valid they may be) falls into the former category and the interview with the ambivalent pop singer into the latter—this skit itself seemed pointless, but it may have been redeemed by some attempt at subtlety on behalf of the actors.
The tv satire on Danger Man plodded its weary way for far longer than the material warranted. The supposedly comic attack on the New Zealand man and the kinky aspects of rugby was only relieved by John Croucher's recounting of incidents with tigers. The tv commercials were amusing, but again such skits are becoming hackneyed.
Of the group sketches, the highlights were the Holyoake interview—handled brilliantly by Extrav-regular.
The choreography was a further triumph for Deidre Tarrant's work with untrained dancers at the university over the past few years. The incorporation of male dancers and the connection between some of the dances and the skits were advances on previous usage of Miss Tarrant's work.
The unconnected dances—Green Onions, Railway Train—attributed a buoyancy to the programme (supplemented by the sing-along item) that the skits alone could never have provided.
The music provided under the direction of Extrav an appearance of slickness and vitality, but it was not matched by the quality of the rest of the show.
But what of Allbody? Steve Whitehouse's production Extrav '66 channelled capping concert into new fields and future concerts will likely continue this style of production. The concept of Allbody, although it offers greater opportunity for serious satire than revue skits, is hardly likely to be retained in future Extravs.
This is neither a criticism of Allbody nor of Extrav, simply the two are like oil and water, and as a serious play as opposed to a lighthearted revue Allbody seemed to suffer through its inclusion.
One hopes that an opportunity will arise to see Allbody presented again in Wellington with a more competent cast.
The tone set by the pseudo-psychedelic opening dance was not maintained through-out. The script offered tremendous opportunities for the cast, which were only realised in Roger Hall's characterisation of the money-minded Jew, Luka; by Caroline Harding's presentation of the enigmatic woman who had found another happiness; and by the sustained acting of
The "Cat Ballou" device of the linking balladeers worked well and tended to connect the play with the atmosphere of the first half of Extrav.
It is, I think, the strength of the play that it offers no conclusion and no definitions—particularly of the "Other happiness," but this is also one of the reasons why the play did not thoroughly blend in with the rest of the programme.
Allbody, as a play, deserves far greater discussion than afforded it here. I hope it is performed again, without the topical jokes that tended to detract rather than add to its impact, and perhaps with a greater emphasis on the "other happiness" but not definition.
It is a compliment both to the writer and to the cast that the play was taken seriously by the audience.
Looking at the whole of Extrav 67 it seems that when it was good it was quite good and when it was bad it was lousy. The experiment in the second half did not pay off, but it was worth doing.
Mention should be made of the Director. What he did I do not know, but it was a lovely photo of him in the programme. The production by
The film censor's recent edict that audiences will be segregated for Ulysses must be the most cretinous decision in his extensive catalogue of blunders. There are undoubtedly some people who think that our censor is a pretty liberal fellow in his own way ("After all, we are seeing the film, aren't we?"), and there is certainly something to be said for the view that we are better off in this respect than some other countries. This attitude, comforting though it may be, is not good enough. No matter whether we think of the gentleman in question as an insidious bureaucrat bent on depriving us of our freedoms, or as a conscientious, well-meaning public servant doing his job as best he can, what we cannot escape from is that his actions concerning Ulysses are sufficient for us to question once again the worth (and existence) of film censorship in New Zealand.
First, there is the suspect rationale that I mentioned in a similar complaint last year. I refer to the censor's tendency to be dazzled by anything that smacks of High Art. Suppose the film Ulysses had been based on, say, an "original screenplay by Lady In A Cage, or The Wild Angels, The Balcony, Diary Of A Chambermaid and The Wild One? Some of these may be better films than Ulysses, some of them may be worse, but I think they all deserve the same attention and respect, at least when under the eye of the censor.
Just who does the censor think he is protecting by this decision? Perhaps he envisaged mass orgies in the theatres, or startling increases in the rates of indecent behaviour and rape. This view is so patently stupid that I will be charitable and not attribute it to him. Perhaps he was thinking of all those virginal minds, but if this was so then all he had to do was preface Ulysses with the customary warning, "parts of this film, etc," and any blame for the abuse of precious sensibilities or the perversion of the susceptible could not be directed at him. In all probability Mr. McIntosh was motivated by the thought that our viewing of the film would be less interrupted by sniggers and laughter if the audience were segregated. I think this is a serious miscalculation, in that the manoeuvre, far from having the intended effect, has succeeded only in aggravating the situation.
There is something about the herding together of males to watch a film which reeks of the proverbial "tired businessmen" surreptitiously enjoying a blue movie. Most of the adverse reaction daughter, catcalls, etc) is caused, as in other films, by embarrassment, and this condition is not alleviated for those poor unfortunates who do feel embarrassed by the almost furtive conditions under which the film is seen. I feel that the presence of the opposite sex would have inhibited much of the annoying and disturbing behaviour. I don't mean solely by this that the reaction is repressed—I mean also that some of it is eliminated. There are many parts in the film (and the book) which can be a shared experience, since they deal with some of the most basic aspects of the relationships between men and women. Our feeling of affinity with what Joyce has to say, our sense of communion with the characters and their actions, and the significance and relevance of the situations presented can all be heightened by sharing the experience with those most intimately concerned—a woman or a man, as the case may be. This is what I feel anyway, and I had hoped that the censor might see something in this point of view.
Questions as to whether Ulysses is faithful to the novel, or whether it succeeds as a translation of Joyce's intentions, will be, so far as most viewers are concerned, irrelevant and remote. In one sense this is as it should be, for the film cannot fall back on the reputation of the original or make any special plea because it is a translation, it must stand on its own feet, divorced from the source, as a film worthy of being nought out and admired, and as a film which sustains the normal criteria of judgment. Those whose knowledge and understanding of the novel far surpass mine have assured me that the film is in fact a faithful and complementary translation. I would normally not be concerned if this were the case, or indeed if it were not the case, but the fact that much of the novel is unfilmable, depending as it does on aural rather than visual sensations, makes me almost glad that we can appreciate the verbatim extracts on the soundtrack if not always the pictures which accompany them.
For the most part I find Ulysses an intelligent piece of filmmaking, often gripping, often amusing and, more so for others I suspect, sometimes erotic. If this film is not of the highest class, it is because director
The antics here, although amusing in parts, resemble corny vaudeville and Gilbert and Sullivan, rather than transient and fragmented mental impressions. These scenes may very well be faithful to the novel, but they do not come across with any great conviction. And nowhere in the film does Strick approach the superlative montage or Menilmontant, or even the "stream of consciousness" techniques employed in the excellent B-grade film, The Carnival Or Souls.
Throughout Ulysses Strick is served by some fine black and white photography and a cast which is generally first-rate. The film as a whole is a commendable effort, but I would be inclined to think more highly of it if a uniformly imaginative touch had been applied throughout, specially to the middle section, which sags drastically. Those possessing an abundance of enthusiasm for the novel will probably be more impressed, but I must take the film as it comes and Judge accordingly. As it is, the sincerity and courage of Strick and his team is unquestioned. It is a pity that the finished product is not equal to their intentions. One final word for the censor: now that we have seen Ulysses, how about The Balcony (directed by Strick from
For some time now Wellington cultural circles have felt the need for an adequate and central meeting place. With the official opening on May 31 of the Dunhill Cultural Foundation the wishes of many were granted. Until now cultural activities have been restricted in both number and convenience to the public—painting exhibitions to the Centre Gallery and the Buckle Street Galleries, concerts to the University and jazz and other activities to coffee bars and other places of minor importance.
The Foundation, which is initially being sponsored by a well-known company, is in the Display Centre in Cuba Street and has as its objective the supply of a medium for all cultural activity in Wellington, dedicated to the people of Wellington. Its aim is to Obtain the best of Wellington's professionals and amateurs in both the fine and applied arts and display their talents to the public.
It is hoped that, after the initial sponsoring, the Foundation will be self-supporting and all profits (commissions, etc) accruing to it will be ploughed back to continue and even improve facilities. Entrance will be either free or, especially where there are profes sional artists, at a nominal fee.
Some of the planned activities of the Foundation include bringing to New Zealand later this year a collection of sculpture by Rodin and contemporaries (insured for three million pounds), a
D.J.H
Decca Phase Four Stereo has come of age in New Zealand. Previously only occasional discs were issued and they were invariably in the "Popular Light Orchestras" category. Recently the number of discs in Phase Four has increased dramatically and so has the range of music available. Two notable releases are PFSM 34096—Offenbach's Gaite Parisienne with Charles Munch and the new Philharmonia Orchestra, and PFSM 34098—Gershwin's
Both of these versions are easily the best available: the spectacular stereo sound is almost unbelievable, especially in the Offenbach. Phase Four is described as "New Scoring Concepts Incorporating True Musical Use of Separation and Movement . . arrangers and orchestrators score the music to place instruments where they are musically most desired at any particular moment . ." It sounds rather gimmicky (like Columbia's Studio Two Stereo) but the result is not. A completely new dimension is added to stereo sound. Highly recommended.
A new recording of Beethoven's Ninth (The Choral) is always a matter of considerable interest. An extremely thoughtful interpretation is now available on Decca (SXLM 6233 Stereo). The Vienna Philharmonic is conducted by
Some might consider the reading of the first three movements rather lightweight— Schmidt-Isserstedt elects to play down some of the more ponderous parts. However, a careful listen to the sensitive account of the slow movement should be sufficient to convert anyone—it is very straightforward, devoid of the mannerisms of the Karajan reading.
The vocal work in the last movement is outstanding—all soloists are impressive. As usual the VPO's performance is excellent.
Recentiy there has been a spate of recordings by Mozart: Serenade For 13 Wind Instruments with the London Wind Quintet and Ensemble (Columbia SAXM 5259 Stereo); Choruses From The Messiah (Columbia ASDM 2288 Stereo); and Schumann's Symphony No. 1 in B Flat (The Spring) with the New Philharmonia (Columbia SAXM 52C9 Stereo).
Klemperer's meticulous attention to detail is obvious on all his recordings, especially the care lavished on the performance of the wind sections. The Mozart serenade is a real delight, exceptionally sensitive playing, beautifully balanced. The conductor's direction is firm but at no stage is there any trace of heavy-handedness. A whole two sides of Mozart wind music may not appeal to everyone. However, these charming renditions should make the serenade more universally popular.
This is going to be a 'praise Klemperer' column because the other two discs are equally attractive. The choruses from The Messiah are performed superbly—the record contains some of the best singing I have heard by the Philharmonia Chorus; Just listen to the delicate tonal shades of the tenors and basses. Klemperer's tempi are at times rather sedate but the overall interpretation enhances the majestic nature of the work. As far as I know, the complete set that this disc was taken from has not been released in New Zealand; a pity.
The Schumann is a most welcome release. There is not much I can say without repeating my comments on the other two albums— a most sympathetic interpretation, very good orchestral performance and well recorded. An added attraction is the coupling of the Manfred Overture.
A recording of The Brahms Piano Concerto No. 1 by
At this price the record is a worthwhile buy. Katchen's playing is first-class, he captures the dynamic aspects of this concerto without ever forsaking lyricism. His poetic reading of the slow movement is moving. Monteux is completely sympathetic and the LSO are right on form. Recommended.
"For Certain Because . . ." by the Hollies (Parlophone PCSM 7011 Stereo) is an example of a talented pop group performing fresh, original material. Their tunes don't have the subtlety of the Lennon-McCartney ones, nor do they have the catchiness of the Richard-Jagger compositions; however, they are still interesting. What's Wrong With The Way I Live and their hit Stop, Stop Stop have a most interesting sound—an amplified banjo. Throughout, the most effective aspect of the group is their close harmony. I don't think this is the disc to convert people to pop music (like Revolver or Aftermath) but it is pleasant entertainment. The stereo recording is very good.
The main problem with the Unity Theatre Under 25 group production of Life of the Insects seems to me to be the play itself. Written early in the 1920s the play still presents three acts of intelligent satire but destroys itself by being overly didactic.
The brothers Capek are not content to imply but must underline their every point. They do this through one character, the Vagrant, who dreams the three acts each of which tells a separate story and satirises a different aspect of human folly.
The part of the Vagrant, as seen in this production, appears totally unnecessary to the play for it adds nothing to the satire. "Audience identification" Is doubtless his justification but few in the audience could fail to identify themselves elsewhere.
The first act—the butterflies, superficial company at the best-wandered from high camp to heterosexual misadventure. It was amusing, it was witty, its aim was clear; its savage undertone in the death of Victor neatly hinted at.
The second act shows the beetles and the crickets and turns from the high life to the problems of domesticity. The poor beetles spend years building their pile to have it stolen; the crickets finding a new home only to be eaten by a fly. It's funny, it's sick, but then the Vagrant enters to point out to us, the audience, the horror, the violence, the tragedy which anyone with half a faculty could not have failed to notice.
The ant scene, cleverly produced by
And the Vagrant again, now engaged in a dialogue with a chrysalis who for an act and a half threatens to emerge from her cellophane and do something great.
Vagrant then meets the go-go moths who extoll the beauty of life and then fall dead, the chrysalis on finally emerging does the same. I could not help wondering at the relevance of the go-go dance the moths engaged in—what could have been a moving scene with dance underlining the moths predicament is left at the go-go level which strikes me as a little meaningless—unless, of course, life is a whirl in a great discotheque.
Surrounded by corpses Vagrant himself gets the idea and in his own version to the go-go proceeds to die.
But the play which should have finished some fifteen minutes before this point, continues. Death must be hidden from the innocent and the vagrant's body is removed from the sight of a schoolgirl by a passing woodcutter.
One thing that puzzled me was the illusion and reality of the play. The Vagrant enters and befriends (?) the audience and then sees, dreams, or has a vision of the butterfly world, this changes to the beetle and then to the ant world. But all the worlds appear to the audience as visions in the Vagrant's imagination yet when he dies he does so right in the centre of the dream world—is his death also an illusion?
A theatre used as fully as this one was could have kept some distinction between what was real and what was illusion. But that I expect is a minor complaint and the Unity production was as a whole fascinating and it demonstrated the producer's considerable talent.
Rebellious students are in the news — demonstrating at the London School of Economics, striking in California, rioting in Latin America. Traditionally, they are in the forefront of radicalism. But in South Africa, the political system has thrown up a new breed of student—the Afrikaner students, more reactionary even than the Government which created them.
They have held a demonstration only once in their history—a thousands strong march against "liberalism." They are probably the most Right-wing element in South Africa today.
The young Africaner is taught in home, school, and church to absorb the rigid values of Afrikanerdom—a strict Calvinism, an unshakeable belief in Apartheid as the will of God, a sense of almost divine mission as a volk, and also a fundamental conservatism.
The universities mould the future Afrikaner leaders to this pattern. Largest is the Afrikaans university of Pretoria, where the student coun-cil will fine up to £200 any female student caught smok-ing on the campus, "because smoking, noisiness, and the use of alcohol are not in keeping with the Afrikaner womanhood." Folksinging is banned as well because it "pokes fun at existing institutions and is subversive, communistic and threatens the future of the Afrikaner." Political nonconformity among lecturers does not go unheeded either.
In this article Ian Robertson discusses universities where no students protest. As president of the National Union of South African Students, Mr. Robertson was responsible for inviting Senator Robert Kennedy to the country last year. He was later banned by the Government and is now in England.
At Potcherstroom University, even dancing is prohibited, on or off the campus. When one anonymous student penned a plaintive letter to the Afrikaans press suggesting that "little dance parties with soft drinks" might be held, the correspondence column erupted with indignation for a month.
"Liberalism has entered the citadels of Afrikanerdom," thundered a parent. The issue was settled with a professional statement to the effect that "dancing, being adultery, is sinful." followed by an official pronouncement by
Afrikaner students do not participate in the multiracial national union of students: "We are separate nations so we have nothing to discuss, as we have nothing in common."
They have their own Student Bond, a movement so Right-wing that it embarrasses the Government—three years ago, for example it demanded military training for boys and girls from the age of 13. Last year they condemned the American Field Service scholarships as a "liberalistic, humanistic attempt to denationalise the Afrikaner."
Only one crack has been made in the facade—at Stel-lenbosch Afrikaans University, by Senator
"It was as if," said a Kennedy aide afterwards, "he'd electrocuted them!" To many it was the ultimate blasphemy, but to some it was real food for thought, and a rebel group was formed to launch a new student newspaper — admittedly Right-wing in tone, but critical none the less. Kennedy had pierced a tiny hole in the monolith.
To the young Afrikaner, the world seems full of hostile "isms," all intent on destroying Afrikanerdom, which can be saved only if Afrikaners stand united until the world realises the lightness of their cause.
And so nearly 60 per cent of South Africa's university population continues to regard uncritical conformity as the highest virtue, and to treat the prevalent ideology as a national sacred cow.
Perhaps nowhere is the sickness of South African society better illustrated than by the sad spectacle of almost 30.000 young people abdicating the universal student role and hugging instead the very chain that binds them.
Sirs,—Early in the first term I was surprised to see several rather pompous notices stating "The Film Society recommends 'Morgan'." Later on this service was extended: other films were recommended (including, I noticed, "The Great Race" which seemed to indicate a lack of discretion on someone's part).
Am I being cynical, or is someone getting something out of this? If so, let's have every society joining in. The Tennis Club recommends Slazenger Tennis Rackets. The Drama Club recommends Leichner make-up. The Ski Club recommends Government Life Insurance. The Pooh Club recommends Aratiki Honey. The SCM recommends fasting at Levenbach's. Grand Establishment recommends Booth's Dry Gin.
Could be something in it for all of us.
Sir,—The National Party is now in its third term of office; does this qualify the Government to act without consulting the public that it represents?
Since the last general election, prices on consumer goods have been raised substantially, subsidies on household commodities removed and import restrictions increased. So far this year there has been a stop-work meeting by the Federation of Labour and a national railway strike. Does the Government consider these examples of public support of Government policy.
Last year the Government increased military aid to Vietnam. Our country is committed to defend the principles of democracy in Vietnam, but how is the Government supplying troops for this?
All youths of 20 years must register for military training and, if called up, complete this. Those who do so are considered as trained reserves.
Up till now overseas posting has been voluntary, but those who have had such military training are now advised to prepare for possible military service in Vietnam.
The Government has obviously exceeded its limits by: (a)Neglecting to formerly advise the public of this move; (b)Taking into its own hands to do so without public support.
The controversy that exists over the Vietnam issue is well known to the Government and reflects the diversity of public opinion. How can the Government bring in conscription with such an obvious lack of support? How long is the New Zealand public going to accept such dictatorial measures in a democracy?
The universe is no more than 10 thousand million years old, Dr.
In a lecture called "Modern Cosmology," Dr. Davidson, who is Professor of Applied Mathematics at Otago University, explained how any three interpretations of the theory of General Relativity applied to the red shift, a displacement of spectoral lines of distant stars led to a "singularity in the universe this long ago, when all the matter was concentrated at one point."
Fullbright student
Fox has been working on his political science MA thesis for the last 16 months. His subject: State Aid to the Arts in New Zealand.
At Victoria he has been a prominent writer, dry humorist, satirist and actor.
For Salient he has written as an American viewing New Zealanders, and as a perceptive student viewing his contemporaries in their various stances in the Library.
As a sportsman he has represented Victoria in basketball.
For the drama club, he played Moliere. For tv, he has participated in a programme on New Zealand women.
As a parting gesture he comments on the arts on a point of view programme, and once his affairs have settled down he will be writing back to New Zealand, popularising aspects of his research.
But now, he is faced with call-up, after seven deferrals; faced with the prospect of fighting the war about which he has such mixed feelings. He says he is "spiritually uneasy" about the war. "My time has come." he puts it.
His is the dilemma New Zealand students have thankfully so far been spared, but as one who has been prominently among us during the period when so much soul searching about the justice and the wisdom of the war in Vietnam has been held, he presents vividly the meaning of a dubious war.
Sirs,—I wish to correct your columnist "Sludge." in his article in your last issue he inferred that I am either, depending on which translation from the original Greek is used. God or Christ. He is obviously misinformed. As any sell-respecting columnist knows,
NZSPA
New statistics show academic abilities decide primarily which students will pass or fail at university, and these outweigh the background factors such as accommodation, social activities, family background and aptitude for study.
This was brought to light by Dr.
From a study of 99 picked students (first year), of which 33 passed all their units, 47 passed one or more, and 19 failed all their units.
He found that the 33 who passed everything were younger than the others and had good academic records at school.
However, he thought that both this group and those students who failed all their units showed a need for help in their personal lives, the average student being less troubled by personal problems.
While he considered pre-entry screenings and a compulsory examination advantageous, Dr. Small found only 75 per cent accuracy of prediction as to how successful entrants would be at university was possible as the performance of students was so idiosyncratic.
Dr. Small's book shows that standards in secondary schools vary considerably and create unbalanced levels for entry, and too few schools prepare their sixth formers for the study techniques they will need to use at university.
Sirs.—Having only Just got around to reading the April 14 issue of Salient I notice that B.G.S. is still trying hard to poke his head out of the saund—I mean Shand—ah . . . sand.
We got some more of this self-deceptively, well-meaning crapulence about "The pursuit of truth" and the freedom students must have to make this pursuit.
This cliche is peddled out from time to time in order to try and preach to students what they should be at university for. These scrupulously truth-seeking masses are meant to be able to consume knowledge and express informed opinion to the "ignorant masses." Tills assumes a number of things about the attitudes of students and what their so-called studies involve.
Firstly, the editorial did not attempt to discriminate in any way; it implied that all students are pursuing truth! Secondly, it implied that the pursuit of truth is an integral part of studies at university. Both of these statements are bull . . . The examination of accepted standards and beliefs and the pursuit of ideals is a result of the striving of individuals and while being related to studies is not necessarily stimulated by them. The whole university, students, staff, department-heads, chancellor, the lot would have to pay more than lip-service to something more valuable, universally, than the acquisition of a meal ticket before this university could gain any stature as a place of learning and a creator of valid ideas.
The attitude expressed in the editorial also assumes, that students are interested; in the pursuit of truth—more rubbish. Students in this country are encouraged to! specialise early and there are, many advantages in doing so. The Government will come clean with aU sorts of goodies to anyone who says he or she wants to be a teacher but they will be waiting for, and will make sure they get, one way or another, their pound of flesh—and the blood. The need for a well-rounded education is not stressed at any level and so emphasis is laid upon the students getting some qualification for a certain field of employment—and this is what they are interested in at university. If they are undecided about their future they still come to university but their mind is lust as closed as anyone else's when it comes to accepted values because these things are such a closed book at secondary school. How many people can remember discussions in class at secondary school about politics, religion, humanity, ethics or how small a part of education getting a meal ticket really is?
A good indication of the interest of students is demonstrated at tutorials when the broader implications of anything that is being discussed arise. How many students can actually relate what they are learning to the world which is so infinitely greater than the one in the tutorial room?
How many students do we observe who actually do try to form ideas of their own in a subject and how well is this received by other students and staff? How often do we realise that those in the tutorial that get the highest marks are those that have the least to say, disregarding shyness and similar inhibitions? I think one would probably find that the answers to these questions would reveal that there are many things within the organisation of the whole NZ education system that do not encourage students to think for themselves or learn to do so.
The whole system is oriented towards examinations. As a prerequisite to sitting these one must get a pass in class exercises, essays, term examinations and practicals and| one must attend tutorials which are often useless owing to lack of flow of ideas. These things do not produce education; they produce examination-passing which is a completely different thing. After producing an essay a week, or three essays every two weeks as some people have to, trying to keep up with notes and essential reading in order to be able to pass the term ex-animations, and doing three hours of practical each week, there is little time or mental energy left to become interested, in the fullest sense, in studies. With a continual pressure of work university becomes a drudgery which one has to keep justifying to oneself. This is best done in terms of the myth of the meal ticket, specially since most students are completely unaware of any other value of education as a result of the education they have already had so the whole worthless process becomes self-perpetuating.
Some lecturers I have spoken to find that classes in Adult Education are far more interested and receptive than university students. Their attitudes and interests are not influenced by examinations and the only pressure upon them is to learn and this is governed by themselves—not forced upon them. The pursuit of truth is possible under those conditions where there are no artificial spurs to try and force students to asorb and not much else.
While agreeing with most of the ideas in the editorial and disagreeing with Mr. Shand I can understand what prompted him to say what he did. He questioned the purpose we serve by hanging on to academic freedom when such a small percentage of students are interested in the pursuit of truth. Surely, to hang on to it at this stage would be a contradiction of common sense and we are rightfully expected to have that.
No, sirs, for students to claim a right to academic freedom they must be pre- pared and able to put it to its fullest use but under the present system and with the attitudes this system creates, there is not a dog's show of being prepared or able. With regard to the present situation Mr. Shand's opinion is, unfortunately, relevant and this, of course, pleases him and The Establishment as it relieves a great deal of pressure upon them. It is obvious that those who feel pressure as a result of academic freedom are going to take every opportunity of curbing it and that is exactly what Mr. Shand was attempting to do, even to the extent of threatening to cut the universities' money supply.
Clearly, BGS was the one guilty of "woolly thinking" because the ideas he advocated in his editorial are not as relevant to the present tendencies of university students as he made them out to be. While the present system remains, scrupulousness about academic freedom is a waste of editorial space. Only when he has some practical ideas about changing the structure of university education should he start prattling about academic freedom.
In the meantime Salient editors can stop brick-walling their brains out on the trivial and nebulous aspects of university such as "the pursuit of truth" and stick to writing about intensely important matters like how many "students" are in the University senior A rugby side. If BGS carries on along the lines indicated in the editorial I have discussed then GPC will only have to look as far as his co-editor for a perpetrator of another "great hoax."
It would appear my editorial is only peripheral to the argument the writer presents.
In my editorial I referred to academic freedom as "the freedom staff and students have to pursue the truth as they see fit." At no stage did I suggest all or any percentage made full use of this freedom.— B.G.S.
Sirs,—As a warning against taking it too literally, may I point out that the writers of the Bible, unlike Mrs.
This was the reason that the "Holiness Code" of Leviticus took such drastic measures against the male homosexual and ignored the lesbian who had no "seed to waste. Again, the translators of the Bible, knowing nothing of inversion as an inherited trait, or as a condition due to psychological or glandular causes, read all vaguely unusual sexual activity as evidence of perversion.
When St. Paul referred to "men leaving the natural use of the woman" he could not have had knowledge of the genuine invert for whom women would have been an un-surmountable aversion. As a guide to Mrs. Gregorius I would recommend reading Homosexuality and the Western Christian Tradition by
Member of the committee of NZ Homosexual Law Reform Society (late Wolfenden Association).
Sirs,—Mrs.
The modern Christian, however, relies on the New Testament for guidance rather than the Old. The Jewish people of the Old Testament considered propagation of the race of paramount importance and consequently anything that appeared detrimental to this was prohibited.
If this was the modern at-titude the Christian popula-tion would find itself with the poverty and overcrowding present in such places as India today.
Christ Himself made no direct mention of homosexuality. However, Matthew Chapter 19. verses 11 & 12, reveals that there will always be some people who physically or mentally are unable to enter into marriage.
St. Paul in Romans chapter 1 is obviously expressing a personal prejudice and examination of his writings will for instance reveal his low opinion of women.
Women who assert themselves by writing letters to newspapers would undoubtedly come under condemnation from him.
Sirs,—He who removes the panties from H.H. in Bolton Street Cemetery is surely performing an indecent act, what?
Important!
Buy all your meat at
Lambton Meat Supply
254 Lambton Quay
A Business Card
Barry & Sargent Ltd.
Opticians
118 Willis St. Telephone 45-641
Buy your fruit and vegetables at
The Major Fruit Co.
36 Lambton Quay
Reginald Collins Ltd.
Wholesale wine and spirit people Vintners to the Students' Association. Carry stocks of all brands of ale, spirits, table wine (from 5/6), sherry in flagons (16/-) or quart bottles.
Free delivery - Cellars located at
No. 3 Ballance Street
(Customhouse Quay end)
New and Second-hand Dealers
41 Courtenay Place, Wellington
Telephone 50-435
For Flowers . . .
Waughs Flower Shoppe Ltd.
5 Bowen Street
Phone 40-797 (After Hours 44-068)
Hotel St. George
The "Seven Seas Bar" Best In New Zealand
• Nearest to the University.
• Modern comfortable surroundings.
• Cool, bright, fresh beet on tap airways
• Foot available from our "Foot' Bar 11.43 a.m. to 230 p.m.
Entrees, cold buffet, vegetables, hot pies.
Midland Hotel
where all the students meet
Light Lunches Served In The Bars
Cool Red Band beer always on tap
Phone 70-259 On The Quay
Handy to the Varsity and Cable Car
Barrett'S Hotel
At The Bottom Of Plimmer Steps
Have Lunch in Our New Pacific Bar
Remember Our . . .
Free Delivery Service,
Balls, Parties, Etc.
Chilled flagons and 4 1/2 or 9-gallon kegs.
The Sports Depot
(Witcombe & Caldwell)
Half-Way Along Willis Street
Long standing connection with Univer-Sity sport. Every one of Vic's 24 sports catered for.
Margaret O'Connor Studio
Private Tuition Daily
Beginners only every Monday 7-10.30 pm.— Admission 5/-
58 Lower Cuba Street
Telephone 45-818.
Few would dispute that winter has taken up residence in the Capital. If the weather does not provide sufficient indication, the sporting scene surely must. While some codes are just commencing inter-club competition the majority are either licking their wounds or rejoicing as they review successes in the competitions to date. Many are already looking ahead with confidence to Winter Tournament at Auckland.
In this, and successive issues of Salient, the state of affairs of the competitive aspect of Victorian Winter Sports Clubs will be reported.
Victoria is represented in the town table tennis competi-tion by 13 teams spread throughout the grades. This is five less than last year and reflects the decreasing numbers playing the sport at University. However, Victoria is still one of the numerically strongest clubs in Wellington.
Predicted as this year's winners of the 'A' Grade competition, the team of
Waterhouse has recently returned from the World Championships in Sweden where he represented New Zealand. To date he is unbeaten in Wellington interclub play. Cross represented Wellington last season and Hall is new to the club from the Taranaki district.
University table tennis teams are subject to disad-vantages not met by the town clubs. The club necessarily opens later and there is only one night a week (Tuesday) available for organised play in the gymnasium.
Women's Indoor Basketball is benefiting from an unprecedented increase in membership. With competition within the club for positions, in the team and the arrival: of new uniforms, club spirit is high.
Winter tournament is viewed with enthusiasm. For the first time it seems as though there will be an excess of players from which to select the team to carry the colours to Auckland.
For the first time in many years, three teams have been entered in the Wellington Competition. At the start of the season it was hoped to see the 'A' team promoted to the 'A' Grade in the interclub competition. This was not to be, for although not lacking player potential, the grading games were held before Varsity teams were properly organised.
Selection of the 'A' and 'B' teams was difficult because of the talent offering. With only one game lost each it is expected that these two teams will finish the season well placed among the leaders in their respective competitions. The third team which is comprised of first season players started the season a little shakily but is gaining confidence with every game.
The 1967 season started well for the Miniature Rifle Club. It has welcomed 37 new members and although interclub competition has not yet started has already been represented in Wellington teams.
Preparations are under way for the impending interclub season and for the Winter tournament in August. Although only third at tournament last year, Victoria won the Whitcombe and Caldwell trophy for the top club in Wellington competition during 1966.
They qualified for this honour by winning the 'B' and 'C' grade club competitions and running a close second in the 'A' grade after losing on decimals in the 'shoot-off.' Individually members were well placed in the Wellington championship and other North Island fixtures.
Representation was even gained in the North Island Ladies' team. This past record and the present membership augur well for 1967 successes.
Fielding two teams in the Wellington club competition, the Women's Outdoor Basketball club are this year represented in the Senior Reserve and the Fourth grade. These are both one grade higher than has been played in previous years.
In the Senior Reserve Grade, Victoria has won only one game despite the fact that they are playing better basketball than in previous years. The Fourth grade are unbeaten and must be candidates for top honours.
Of the three players selected for the Under-20 trial.
Although individual players deserve praise for their performances, credit must largely be given to the club coach. This is her first season of coaching.
Hopes are high within the Men's Indoor Basketball Club for improvement on last season's performances in club competition. Three teams have this year been entered in the competition.
The 'A' team reached the finals of the annual interclub tournament run by the Marist Hutt Valley club in April. In the local competition only two teams have proved superior, Marist and Tech. The remaining four teams, including Varsity, are of an even standard and these provide the main interest in the competition. Victoria are hopeful of taking third place this year against the wooden spoon of last season. It is still even possible that they may upset one of the top teams.
On their present form, the 'B' team seem likely to run out winners of their grade in the club competition. The prospects for the 'C' team are not so bright. Although those who play regularly are showing improvement with every game, their performances as a team are suffering because of a shortage of regular players.
For the 'A' team Bruce Ramsay has been scoring consistently and has also proved a reliable ball-hawker in the team's zone defence tactics.
Unless more experienced players make themselves available for selection in the Winter Tournament team, the club will be unable to approach tournament with confidence. An NZU team selected at tournament will probably travel to Australia to compete in the Australian Universities' tournament next May.
University sportsmen (and women) seems likely.
Sports Committee have established a sub-committee of
They have approached fifteen companies for quotes but expect difficulty in securing the type of cover required. It is thought a desirable cover would be one providing com-pensation, to a maximum of £50, for such things as Dental and Optical expenses incurred whilst participating in University sport.
Two pounds per year per player would be the likely premium figure. Cover would be available to all on a voluntary basis. Of the £2, it is intended to obtain a £1 subsidy from the Student Association.
Prospects look bright for the "A" and "B" Womens Hockey teams this season. Both teams have won and lost one game.
Victoria "A" had a convincing win over the Evergreens in the first game of the season but did not fare too well against last year's championship winners, High School Old Girls, who beat them 4-0. The "B"s lost their first game 2-1 to YWCA but did well to beat College Old Girls 2-0 in the second game last Saturday.
The Victoria University Ski club enters the 1967 season in good heart. With a new lodge on Ruapehu, a swelling in club membership and additional training facilities at Victoria there seems to be no reason why 1967 should not be a milestone in the club's development.
In the past Victoria has shared a hut on the mountain with Auckland University. Auckland have now begun work on the erection of a new ski lodge and have sold their share of the existing hut to Victoria, who have already made considerable extensions and renovations. The modern kitchen even boasts a refrigerator!
Situated half way up the, first chair lift, the hut is readily accessible and is conveniently placed for good skiing. When Auckland moves out at the end of the year it will become available for use by Victoria club members at all times, instead of the present system of use over alternate weekends.
To support this new independence on the mountain, there has been a rapid growth in club membership. At present the figure stands at approximately 200 and it is hoped to build this up to around the 300 mark. An estimated fifty per cent of these are newcomers to the sport.
The club aims are to provide cheap skiing for everyone on campus. Beside the advice given to new club members by experienced skiers the gymnasium staff are currently running "get fit" and training classes for skiers. These are basically aimed at the beginner, but there are also sessions for the experienced. Mr. Laidler, Physical Welfare Officer, also runs ski classes on the mountain itself for club members at various times throughout the year.
The club's publicity officer, Mr.
Mr. McKenzie said that equipment is available for hire at nominal rental from the gymasium and the amount charged by the club for a weekend on the mountain is all inclusive. It is thought that the charge for the whole weekend this season will be within the vicinity of four pounds.
For the first time the club is approaching winter tourna-ment with confidence, This year it will be entering two racing teams in tournament and it is thought that the club will be reflected in current upsurge of interest in performance.
Although the mountain was only "opened" a fortnight ago, there is already a covering of snow on it. This augurs well for an early season and the commencement of the club tournaments which produces a spiritted rivalry between the huts on the mountain. Perhaps the early season will encourage skiers to avail themselves of the opportunity of greater preparation for the annual beer-bottle slalom?