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July 6th.—Drama Club Review.
July 10th.—Free Discussions Club address: Mr. D.
W. McElwain.
July 13th.—Debate.
July 14th.—Basketball and Haeremai Club's Dance.
July 17th.—Mr. I. D. Stevenson's Address to the Maths and Physics Soc. on "The Root of Minus One."
July 18th-Dr. Wildman's Address to Science Society.
August 1st.—Dr. Sutherland's Address to Science Society.
The Brightest And Best Of The Year Supper, Orchestra, All Specially Imported From Paris At Tremendous Cost. Watch The Notice Board And Be In At The Basketball And Haeremai Clubs' Dance.
July 14th. - - July 14th.
Editor : C. M. P. Brown.
Sub-Editors : R. S. Odell. J. Aimers.
Sports Sub-Editor : J. White.
Reporters : Miss Gwenda Norman-Jones, K. Tahiwi, H. O. Wansborough.
Business : R. Bradshaw and L. O. Desborough.
The withdrawal of the A.U.C. Capping Book is a timely warning that lewdness is not of itself humour—that it is, in fact, an admission of want of humour. The normal undergraduate is far too liable to see humour in mere references to the crude so that he is unable to appreciate the startling consistencies and inconsistencies of situations and thought that mark real wit. That low jokes can be humorous we admit, but far the greatest amount of crudeness springs from hypocritical self-flattery that likes to consider itself above convention. At Victoria our Xtrav set us an example of wit that was both clean and funny; but we cannot boast that this standard has always been maintained, for we can recollect one or two functions at which the humour has definitely tended the other way. Let us beware.
Victoria is indeed blesed. Affiliated with the Students' Association are 30 clubs, each with its own little secretary and Committee, each tempting the student with dainty morsels to leave dull work behind him. One is tempted to compare this state of affairs with those long biblical pedigrees by which numerous characters trace their descent back to Adam and David. Victoria, with its 30 clubs, could rival most of these chapters of pedigrees. The result is a chaos of clashing functions that does the clubs themselves an infinite amount of harm. A few well-attended functions are certainly preferable to the almost daily meetings of a little coterie calling itself the such and such club.
At present the race to attract students is carried on by blazoning the notice board with gigantic posters and by filling the week with the maximum number of functions possible. As it will obviously be impossible for any of the committees to take a rational view of this matter, we suggest that the Exec, should exercise some control in an endeavour to control some of the more prolific.
A week or so ago the newspapers told us of the engagement of Zenie Henderson and Joe Mountjoy. We wish them all the best of luck and heartiest congratulations.
President R. J. Nankervis has been re-elected for a further term; we congratulate him on the achievement, and know that matters will be as quietly and efficiently managed as they were last year.
Congrat's, too, to Reg Larkin for his Plunket Medal Victory. This is the second time R. E. Lee has been piloted home to victory, for Don Priestley won with him in
We wish to deny all rumours that the biology class gives itself up to "wine, women and song." It definitely was not singing we heard when we put our official ear to the key-hole last Thursday.
The Senior XV. has made the 1st Division. Though it has not yet recorded a win, it has put up some very creditable performances, and we are still hoping for great things from it.
Exposed to rain and snow storms while unable to move freely on account of injuries sustained in a fall down a 500 foot slide, J. F. Lysaght, of C.U.C., ended a memorable vacation. He was accompanied by a first-year student, B. Mason, and together they were making a trip to Hokitika by the Three Pass route over the Alps when the accident occurred. Eventually Mason found musterers, who carried Lysaght back to safety. He was later admitted to the hospital with a broken arm.
On Saturday, June 16th, the Tennis Club tried an innovation in the form of a Coster Dance. The walls of the Gym. were covered with posters, while the majority of those present were in suitable, attire. Finally a plentiful supper of saveloys, with cakes and sandwiches for the more fastidious completed a well organised evening that merited better support than it received.
Talking of dances, we arrived lateish in an official capacity at the Football Club's dance last Saturday night, thinking to start a social chat column. The door-keeper was the first danger point; we were afraid they might have some burly Senior A forward there—but it was only Ted Blacker! So we put a headlock and bosten crab on him and mounted the Stairs. There George Sans-bury and Louis Seifert, in slight deshabille when compared with the formidable array of dinner suits, were looking very guilty new arrivals; so we imagined the party was about to start
Taking our editorial cuff into the middle of the room, we tried to find dresses or something to report, but everyone was more or less reasonably clad, and we couldn't find anything scandalous in the matter of partners or conduct—except perhaps what cheered and detained Captain Roi Diederich, Dennis Carey and George Rae so long before appearing. Disappointed. we retired to solace ourselves, and came back to find Nan Welch and Alf. Katz giving an exhibition—caught cheating in a "ta-ta" dance; too bad!
Some time late in July or ealy in August, two debates will be conducted in Wellingon by the V.U.C. Debating Society against a visiting team of two Americans—Mr. Robert K. Burns and Mr. Lyle M. Spencer, junior, of the University of Washington. These two debaters have an ambitious tour before them, for they have already visited Hawaii, Japan, Manchuria and China, and are at present held up by sickness at Manila. Their next ports of call are Australia and New Zealand, where they will debate with all the major Universities. From here they will pass through India, South Africa, Asia Minor and Europe before returning to America.
The objects of the tour are to advance international understanding and goodwill by providing for the interchange of opinions. The speakers hope to come in contact with every faction of University life in debate or in discussion; for they are also willing to give lectures on certain subjects.
"Less than thirty per cent, of the college graduates in Japan have found more than menial jobs during the last four years," writes Mr. Spencer to the N.S.F.A. " We have had the opportunity of meeting a great many students from the principal Universities of Japan. Many of them are very radical. More than 30,000, according to police statistics, have been jailed at one time or another since the Manchurian outbreak for Communistic leanings."
Mr. Burns, a major student in the economic class of
Mr. Lyle M. Spencer, secretary of the tour, is a major in philosophy, and has had three years' experience in inter-collegiate debate. A graduate of the class of
Unparalleled scenes of revelry were witnessed at Weir on May 31st., on the occasion of the opening of the new Recreation Room. Dr. Sutherland, Warden, Opened proceedings by welcoming the visitors of the evening, and expressed the graduate of the House for the magnificent room which was all round them. Followed a community sing, applauded decorously by the visitors, and voc erously by the House assembled. Musical items by John Hacherly, Herb. Whitworth, and Dick Hutchins were well received, as also were performances by the Wombats, the unique Weir orchestra, accompanied free of charge by an unofficial comb orchestra composed of the more turbulent element.
The chairman of the Council, Mr. Levi, sketched the financial difficulties encountered through the disinclination of a stony (hearted) Government to cough up the promised subsidy (cries of "Shame!"). However, Mr. Levi assured the House of the deep interest of the Committee in its welfare, as witness the decision to construct the addtional be <not readable> at a cost of approximately £2000.
Professor Gould expressed pleasure at the progress of Weir, and Mr. Herbert R. C. Wild, in his official capacity as House President, succeeded in conveying to the Council the thanks of the House, though he did not want them to think they had done too much for us.
Then came an exhibition billiard match between Mr. Robison and an accredited representative of the House. Lastly—supper; in the dining-room a good time was had by all. It has even been rumoured (mirabile dicta) that there actually remained a modicum of fodder unconsumed!
The repercussions of the class struggle that looms so largely in the history of the early thirties, threw the halls of learning into such a state of confusion (and rebellion), and threatened to undermine so much of what my father, Oscar Kingsbeer, regarded as sacred, and my mother, Eulalie Kingsbeer, as "nice," that my enrolment at Victoria College was delayed by them for so long, that I began to despair of attaining the scholastic breadth that has for ever been the heritage, of the Kingsbeers.
"Hamish," said my father—it was a wild March night, and my father's face was a study in rigor mortis as he glimmered gloweringly, one might almost say glumly, at me over the hors d'oeuvres—my mother, tout distrait (French for hot-and-bothered) perched precariously in a paal of bombazine on the chaise-lounge. Occasionally she made little sighing, after-supper noises, which made my father wax bitter. It was getting rather late. "Hamish," said my father, the while doing things to a whisky decanter, "the world as I see it is in a state of flux. Everywhere I see only disruption and despair, and in all this turmoil, only he who keeps his feet will survive." It will be remembered that my cousin. Dolph Drinkwater, was the only man who kept his feet during Capping Procession in the fall of '34.
"Hamish," sa;d my father, unsteadily, his voice thick with emotion, etc., "whatever is. is best." And it was this shining white thought that kept me big and clean in those stormy years when all that one's great grandfathers believed in was assailed on every side. It was the cherished idea of the Kingsbeer women that the world's troubles dated from the advent of Mae West, that opulent figure who breasted her way to prominence through pressure on all sides in the dark years of the thirsty 'thirties.
My father gave me appropriate warnings concerning womankind, and enlarged on the joys of a celibate life.
And such was mine till Fate hurled into my path that adorable Undergraduate. Ganymede Pratt. She was cutting up a rabbit in the Zoo Lab. when I first made her acquaintance, and whether it was the timid side-long glance she gave me or the unmistakeable odour that emanated from her mutilated specimen. I became inexplicably, inextricably aware of her. With blood-stained fingers she scribbled things in a note-book, intermittently snatching feverishly at dark moist strands of hair that fell in her eyes like so many little black asps.
My love for Ganymede, gentle reader, shall never abate, and shall serve as the motif of next month's instalment, entitled "Wanton Boys."
Of the two and a half well-known sorts of Nelson (Admiral Nelson, O. F. Nelson, and the half Nelson) the most significant at the moment is, perhaps, the Hon. O. F. Nelson, of Samoa—a patriot like the Admiral, but somehow not so popular, and lately involved in a case in which the Supreme Court of New Zealand heard the appeal.
The Administrator of Samoa, it seems, thought that the old British sedition laws were too advanced for so backward a people as the Samoans. The Mau, he saw, were obsessed with two extraordinary and apparently incurable delusions—(1) that Britsh civilisation was not the salt of the earth, and (2) that the Samoans could run Samoa.
In the face of this awkward situation, the Administrator discovered the "snail in the bottle" (grub in the copra) case—Donoghue v. Stevenson (
"I do not think so ill of our jurisprudence as to suppose that its principles are so remote from the ordinary needs of civilised society .... as to deny a legal remedy where there is so obviously a social wrong."
This provided the formula the Administrator wanted. The social wrong he saw plainly enough; and now he had only to look sufficiently hard and he would find the legal remedy. In the famous Section 45 of the Samoan Act he found it.
In no time, the Administrator, by Order-in-Council, had convicted the Mau, and proceeded to haul in their judicial net.
This, it. should be added, was by way of an improvement on the method of banishment without trial, so popular in the old days of Tagaloa and Tamasese. Now, the Administrator has found an excellent device for assuring, as it were, that the cream does remain at the top even in Samoa; and the subtlety of "trial by Administrator-in-Council" has been declared by the Judges of the Supreme Court of New Zealand to be the correct and appropriate proceedure.
As one Judge said, almost the only fault which one can find with the administration in Samoa is that it has tried to give the benefit of civilisation to the natives before they are ready for it. And it is indeed fortunate that means have now been found whereby the natives will be constrained to approach more soberly, by co-operation and submission, to the joys of the civilised world that we know, with its alarm clocks, unemployed levies, and appeals to the Privy Council. —Cato.
Some are born great. Others achieve greatness. Others still have greatness thrust upon them. Of few can it be said that greatness comes in all three ways. A glance into history—if as much as a glance be necessary for the purposes of a Plunket Medal Oration—reveals only one man who can merit the title of Trismegistus—one man who was great by birth, by achievement, and by being thrust upon. That man was W. S. Brook.
Wikitoria Salamanca Brook: Brook saw with Argus eye what was given none else to see. He saw it all. He saw it whole. And what a whole it was!
A sleeping College, red in hue, sprawled upon the cheese-tinted slopes of Salamanca. Sleeping students, redder in hue. crawling in and crawling out like worms in gorgonzola. Sleepless professors, absolutely the-colour-of-blood, whose minds clanked restlessly like chains fashioned to hold the gorgonzola morsel to be gnawed at incessantly and ultimately devoured; but to Wikitoria Salamanca Brook (out of whom no mortal was ever known to get a bite) a miraculously-conceived microcosm, alive with
"Germs of infinity, sparks of divinity.
Fire of Prometheus moulded in clay."
For this marvellous man saw the whole, not as 'others saw it, but mystically, as in a mirror of Shalott. To him, by virtue of his intense spirituality, it was vauchsafed to see visions. He saw them mounting the staircase, clustering about the letter-rack, speeding from cafeteria to common-room, retiring to classroom and library to rest after labour, write letters, discuss the dances in the so-called Gymnasium; and it was his directive genius that kept them from going astray. Less than truth is it to say that he guided the stream of consciousness through the maze of Victoria College; for he was, by the invincibility of his persistent omnipresence, the very stream itself. He flowed through that lotus land of learning with the serene inexorability of his insentient prototype which Tennyson personified. He was more than a Brook—he was a fountain of wisdom—the wisdom that is more to be desired than gold. He was the one and only, the original, Pierian spring. And the students drank deep.
Shall I descend to the commonplaces of Plunket Medal Oratory by saying that he was born in a humble cottage somewhere or other at the early age of less than one? Preferable it is to believe that he sprang from the foam of the sea like Venus, whose beauty he resembled (mutatis mutandis) only to surpass. Or that he sprang fully-armed (including finger and thumb) from the head of Minerva—a mould so profoundly shaken by ecstasy over this triumph of productive skill that it immediately shattered and left to the world a Brook without a peer.
How shall I perorate adequately upon this quintessence of Titanic excellence by whom our adolescent eyes are dazzled, at whose slightest gesture (even the clicking of a finger) we slink abashed into tenebrous quietude. Is it necessary? Is it possible? Thou canst not, nor, indeed, Plunketmedalize upon the appalling perfections of peerless Brook, about whose pure, unclouded brow the violaceous and crepuscular glory of the autumnal sky reverently contracts its circumstances to form a halo.
Will Brook be forgotten, that creature of splendid isolation, who was of us yet not of us—
"Who thought not as those thought there Who stirred the beat and hum " ? Asking this, I looked far into the future and, with Thomas Hardy,
"I saw, in wet unbroken, Its history out wrought, Not as the loud had spoken, But as the mute had thought."
And I said and I say, "O lente, lente, curre! Esto perpetuo, wet—unbroken—Brook !"
If that isn't worth a medal I don't know what is.
Misogynism has been thrown over and the social life of Weir House has been resumed, it was misogynism which sent the football team to Christchurch to play Rolleston House, but we owe their return by the right boat to the Goddess of Chance. The football team returned home victorious by 12-6, and universal opinion has it that the tactical genius and coaching ability of Fitz was responsible for the win.
During the month the recreation room was opened. A small function was held, and Pres. H. Richard Wild, in a few words, thanked the Management Committee for all they had done. During the course of the evening Mr. Registrar Robison towled up the Weir House tinbaum, F. J. B. Donovan. The Registrar apologised, and said that he was not as good now as he used to be. Since the opening the table has received constant attention, although we regret the action of the Hockey Club which, after mono-polising the table for one and a half hours, had the consummate impertinence to give us sixpence. This is a bad thing.
On Friday, the 22nd. instant, the first dance of the season was held, and despite the endeavours of the usual Despoilers decorations were duly erected. Everyone seemed to enjoy himself and/or herself, and we fear that the failure of our representatives in the Plunket Medal is due solely to the excellence of the dance.
The Annual Meeting for
The chairman tactfully defended the Treasurer from being compelled to read the accounts. On being subjected to a mild questioning, Bradshaw three times said he thought he could answer the questions, but judging by the mixed reception given his replies, it appeared that the audience did not altogether think so.
The meeting (or rather Chas. Plank) then got down to business. The amendment dealing with the dates for commencement of summer sport was soon disposed of, and the Swimming Club received the reward of its persistence in getting additional blues approved. On Bob Bradshaw advancing as one of his arguments the fact that the Swimming Club had this year exercised greater weight than formerly at Tournament, Mr. Donovan opined that this was due to the inclusion of Mason in the team.
Charlie Plank then dropped a bombshell by suggesting that if there was a reporter present he would move that he be forbidden to record the proceedings on the ground that their somewhat facetious nature could not be regarded as fit copy for the daily papers. Mr. Larkin promptly countered with the view that this was contrary to the principles of freedom for which we had all fought so assiduously, thereby impaling Mr. Plank on the horns of a dilemma, from which precarious position only the dissenting vote of an emancipated audience could extricate him.
Mr. Plank then wanted 18 blues for the Tennis Club, but the audience didn't. Undeterred by defeat, a third attempt was made. At a general meeting some weeks ago, in the absence of Old Father William (as Mr. Plank was affectionately referred to), we had amended the Constitution so as to exclude persons playing for outside clubs in any sport from getting blues in any other sport. But at the Plankian plea we gaily rescinded the motion passed with all due solemnity only a few weeks ago. It proof be wanted as to the plasticity of the student mind, exposed at this impressionable age to every kind of seductive influence thrown before it, we have it here. May the Welfare League never know of this volte face, and may the influences to which we are subjected ever be as pure as those which prompted Charlie's soulful harangue that night!
Incidentally it may be mentioned that the College possesses a capable official seconder in the person of H. Sivyer, who very ably seconded most of the motions moved at the meeting. All present were agreeable to declining Massey's proposal to become one with us at Tournament, while pledging themselves to support Massey's entry as a separate College, if that be possible (knowing that it had already been decided impossible).
The returning officer then had something to say about the system of voting, and a committee was to consider the matter. Election results were then announced:
President-"R. J. Nankervis.
Vice-Presidents-Miss K. Hoby and R. C. Bradshaw.
Hon. Secretary-A. T. S. McGhie.
Hon. Treasurer-R. C. Morpeth.
Committee-Misses T. Gill, H. Hurley and M. Hursthouse. H. R. C. Wild. D. M. Burns.
What solemn boys they looked as they filed into the front row in their black gowns! "Smad," carefully noting this, missed Joey Mountjoy's first little say, and waited for A. T. S. McGhie.
The McGhie started right into his subject. Hoed in would be a better word. Judge Jeffries wasn't spared from start to finish—except for one moment, when the Solicitor-General gave a round of applause—and "Smad" was quite convinced that the Judge was a real bad egg, beside whom Mr. Justice Anger was a mere schoolboy.
Max Brown came next, with John Ballance, from the old home town, for his hero. "Smad," sceptic, couldn't believe it all of an M.P. Plunket Medalists should note that John Ballance made his greatest oration after taking a long brandy.
Then came Kingi Tahiwi, discoursing on that old Salamancan, the Duke of Wellington. Kingi chattered amiably about Spain, omitting senoritas altogether, did not worry about Waterloo, and finished up to the tune of Joey's bell.
Ken Scott carried us off to Ancient Greece, there to meet Socrates, a bow-legged, fat old gentleman who seemed to have read the works of Bernard Shaw. He died a very picturesque death, which gained for Scott a good opening. We always enoy Mr. Scott's deaths.
Ian Campbell spoke about Atahualpa, whose name looks like a misprint, but the programme was careful to point out that he was the Last of the Incas. The Incas had ideas closely akin to those ot Comrade Trotsky, Major Douglas and Mr. Nicolaus—no taxes, no banks and no rent. The judge, in his remarks, said that Mr. Campbell's gestures reminded him of the old song, "And every time he wobbled his chin," or something like that, anyway.
With Mr. Sceats we went to Arabia and followed the fortunes of T. E. Lawrence. The bombs used by Mr .Lawrence were called tulips, which had the effect of making the Turks tip-toe through them, thus making them easy to catch.
One has to go to the States for sobstuff, and "Robt. E. (Reg.) Larkin, his voice thrilling with restrained emotional fervour, succeeded in presenting General Lee to the audience, and to the judges, who awarded him first place. General Lee was noteworthy for having restored a University to a sound financial position.
Mr. Campbell, in his speech, was responsible for bringing the Spaniards to South America. Mr. Scotney, the last speaker, drove them out again, getting Simon Bolivar to do the active executive work. Bolivar was very sad at having lost his wife, but someone left him four million pounds, which quite cheered him up again. Simon was not so simple as he seemed.
Mr. Scotney was placed second, and Mr. Campbell and Mr. Sceats third equal.
That if all the thirsty undergraduates at Weir House were laid end to end they would reach to the Hotel St. George?
That in order to keep the Common Room properly ventilated the Common Room Committee have to pour out hot air every five minutes?
That the police are mystified over the absence of prints on the thumb and index finger of Mr. W. S. Brook?
That the engagement of Miss Z. R. M. Henderson to Mr. W. J. Mountjoy Ltd. came as a complete surprise to the College?
That Miss Shirley Marriott is practised in the art of fortune-telling?
That Prof. Mac. is a warm admirer of Burns? That Mr. F. C. Fussell, Secretary of the Board of Governors of the Reserve Bank, was editor of "Smad" in
As we strolled towards Dick Nankervis's office, we tried to think of some startling heading for the interview, such as "Plough boy to President," or perhaps to West Coasters an affectionate "Local Boy Makes Good"; perhaps we could start "He was a self-made man. . . "'; but none would suit.
"The first 15 years of my life were spent on the West Coast," he simpered sadly and sentimentally. We understood and sympathised; such reminiscences must be painful. We passed as quickly as possible to the next land-mark of his stupendous career. Two years post matric were spent at Wellington College. "Those were the years I swotted," he confided proudly; without a thought of his future accountancy course, he seemed to have plunged into the sciences. Suddenly we had an inspiration:
"Do you agree with Einstein?" we asked. The question seemed a little puzzling, but from the answer we inferred he had read the man, and either didn't understand him, agreed or disagreed with him. Perhaps it was all three.
"We hear you completed your B.Com. in three years," we murmured, "as the swot years were passed that must of course be attributed to sheer innate ability?"
"I wouldn't blame it on to luck," he countered modestly.
M. Com. A.P.A.N.Z.—8 letters he has—we sighed for the two that have eluded us so long!
That the singing of the Biology Class is giving the College the atmosphere of a kirk?
That the Dramatic Club is thinking of following up vaudeville with cabaret performances? But we are authorised to deny that there will be any musical monologues.
That Mr. A. T. McGhie is in difficulties with the Law Society over his denunciation of an ex-member of the judiciary at the recent Plunket Medal Contest?
That Mr. C. S. Plank considers the new Stud. Ass. Executive to be the best of all possible Executives?
That Mr. A. B. Cochrane's famous play is "Saint Joan"?
At the present moment there is a very Interesting series of lectures being held on the above subject. Air. Peddle opened the series; he gave a mathematical and physical conception of the subject and produced a universe posed between one of weight but no motion and one with nothing in it but moving very fast. In other words, Mr. Peddie showed that the universe at present is midway between the Einstein and De bitter conceptions and tended towards Eddington's theory of an expanding universe. He showed us a universe imerging from the stationary compact state of Einstein's conception and tending by increasing expansion towards one "which consists of nothing but is moving very rapidly."
An important point he brought up and which others might have noted was that given unlimited time anything might happen. By giving the biologists unlimited time he has afforded scope for anything to happen. Despite this "unlimited time," Mr. Peddie was too rushed to more than mention the origin of the world as we know it.
Mr. L. C. King, in the next lecture, took us back through the records of the rocks and showed us the forms of life that have peopled the world at a time subsequent to that of Mr. Peddie's explorations. Slides depicting Dinosaurs and the Heidelburg man, etc.. left one with fears of impending nightmares. The lecturer pointed out that fossils, by bridging the gaps between species, showed overwhelmingly the origin of more complex forms from simple organisms.
Professor Kirk, dealing with the botanical aspect. spoke with that ease that only comes from a thorough knowledge of the subject, and with a few well-chosen examples among the ferns and lower sea plants showed that botany no less than zoology can be adduced in favour of evolution, although in a less spectacular manner.
This series of lectures has provided record attendances for the Science Society, and it exhibits the interest which students of every branch of learning take in such an outstanding scientific theory. The series will be concluded with lectures by Dr. Wildman and Dr. Sutherland.
That Dr. Sutherland was led by his experience of primitive conditions at Weir House to warmly advocate before the Native Commission the "maoriization" of the Maori?
The great G.B.S. came, saw, and of course took his conquest for granted. Now that the spate of journalistic comment has ceased, may we not expect some more lasting literary outcome of the Great Invasion of
In a previous generation there came to this country one of equal glory. In due season the visit was commemorated by mention of "broom behind the windy town," and by similar scattered references to our landscapes. On his own admission, however, Mr. Shaw's purpose was not to admire our scenery or even our Maori race—he came to criticise the Pakeha.
Thus the most important literary expectation is, of course, his own dramatisation of his fertile reflections on our society. Will the West End soon be Hocking to see a Shavian Utopia? Will Sybil Thorndike and Company present to the London aristocracy a fable of the far-off Islands of Marx, with their population of vegetarian democrats and their streams of purest Council milk " without money and without price" gushing from geysers in every home—complete with Rotorua waters on tap in every hotel-bar?
Whether or not this be fulfilled, benefit should certainly accrue to our own slender literary store. Kipling's songs merely encouraged a succession of versifiers whose chief stock-in-trade was an assortment of mountain-mists, fern-fronds, and ravishing Maori maidens. Our lake-poets lacked a Wordsworth. But as we know another Kipling whose run " from Cape Town east to Wellington " gave to us the noble human hymn of McAndrew the Engineer, may we not also glean from our latest visitor a harvest of deeper literary worth? Do we not need a glimpse of the Dickens outlook on our social evils? Where shall we find an O. Henry to jingle his gay guitar among the sullen pick-axes of our half-starved battalions of unemployed?—alas! we have not even a " Four Million " of citizens for him to charm and inspire.
The Socratic ridicule of our visitor at times touched deep issues in our social life. But perhaps on account of the well-known danger of taking all his statements at their face-value, we have heard little comment, from a section directly challenged by some of his remarks—the clergy. May not there be evoked under the Shavian stimulus something of real literary as well as human value from our pulpits as from our editorial-desks?
Mr. Shaw's speech at his civic reception in Christchurch deserves careful study by University youth—no, by all our youth. The definition there given of true ladies and gentlemen is far more worthy to be the basis of a great national story than the scenery, sex, and "sob-stuff" so evident at present. Shall we raise a story-teller worthy of the task ?
Strange to say, we were also told by the great Fabian that we needed more real religion. Here, I venture to say, he saw quite clearly that the practical paganism which cankers our business and political circles could offer no effective and inspiring lead to the succeeding generation. Better for us even a vital Marxism than a weak-kneed and pessimistic conservatism !
When, nearly nineteen hundred years ago, another Apostle of such a faith visited a cynical Greek city, piles of books of "curious arts" to the value of fifty thousand pieces of silver were soon consigned to the flames, in anticipation, perhaps, of the celebrated Nazi strategy. Let us dare to hope that such a bonfire of much of our present economic and social hocus-pocus may bring to life a literature which would pave the way for the new era awaited by Mr. Shaw and by all those of every creed who believe with him that " God did not go out of business after He had made the world." It is ours to sow, even if we are not destined to reap.
At the Annual Meeting of the Stud. Ass., Returning Officer Odell said many nasty things about the system of preference voting that is used. Interviewed by "Smad" in his cloistral Weir House retreat, he said many more. As his nose took on a pink glow of excitement he worked himself up to a fine Plunket Medal peroration :
"I propose to amend the Constitution so that the R.O. should think of a number, say raspberries, take its square root, kiss the scrutineers, take away the number just thought of, and the result will be either a lemon or the number of votes cast." Personally we would be on the lemon but he assured us that the electors' wishes would be more truthfully reflected by this method than by the present one, which is "sickening, heart-breaking, grossly unjust.
"Also provision is made for a blind student's vote, but none for the insane." Realising this great insult to the Student body, we departed, leaving his room-mate at the mercy of his rhetoric.
"At no time since
It can be prevented—but only by a broad, united front movement against war—no movement of in dividual protest which can be smashed at the will of those who are preparing for war—but a really mass movement of all those who are opposed to war. This movement must include the working-class, for these are the bulk of the population, and it is they who, by their control of the economic lfe of the country, can decisively put a stop to war. It must include the students and intellectual elements, for these have nothing to gain from a new world war, and everything to lose by the crushing of human culture which a militarist dictatorship brings with it. It must be directed against the small clique of militarists, financiers, armaments magnates and capitalists who are the only class which stands to gain anything from war, and are quite cynically and coldbloodedly preparing it.
New Zealand is not isolated from these worldwide war preparations. The British Empire is plunging towards war at headlong speed, and New Zealand. together with Australia, is drawn in as part of the common war machine. The importation of new torpedo-bombers and anti-aircraft guns, the construction of emergency airplane landing grounds in various places, the reorganisation of the territorials, the close co-operation with the Australian military authorities, the participation in the Secret Naval Conference at Singapore—all these show what is happening. At the same time that all expenditure on social services has been cut to the bone and teachers are asked to teach at £60 a year!
This matter is one which directly concerns the student body. The extra war expenditure is made at our expense in common with the working-class; the proof of this is to be found in the reduced allowances to the Universities and the closed training colleges. The accompanying suppression of the freedom of speech throughout the country affects us, as is shown by the suppression of last year's "Spike" because of an article on the students' fight against war. In the last resort the profit-makers will call on us to fight for "King and Country," or to suppress the movement of those who refuse to take up arms against their fellow-workers in another country.
For this reason it is very necessary to build up among the students a broad movement of resistance to War, and to Fascism, which is a necssary political preparation for War. The Victoria College Labour Club, which has as one of its aims "to organise student opposition to Fascism and War," is taking the initiative in this necessary work. It intends calling a number of meetings against war during the remainder of the term, at which representatives of the various College Clubs and of the staff will be asked to speak. It has as its object the creation of a Student Anti-War Committee totally representative of the students, and able to carry on this work adequately.
We ask all students opposed to war to give us their support, in this work, and to attend the meetings in force, recognising the importance and urgency of the movement against war.
You will remember that in your last issue there appeared an article headed "Architectural Diarrhoea," in which our newly-acquired buildings were made the subject of playful ridicule.
The Management Committee has. since the opening of Weir House, treated us with marked generosity. and we feel that in the circumstances this article may cause the belief that this generosity is not meeting with its deserved appreciation. A meeting of this Association has therefore passed the following resolution, a copy of which I am directed to forward to you.
"That this meeting wishes to disasociate itself from the article in the last issue of
You will appreciate that this motion is in no way a protest against the above-mentioned article, but merely voices our desire that there should be no misunderstanding as to our gratitude to the Management Committee for the new buildings, which are such a distinct acquisition to the House.
("Smad" appreciates as well as anyone the value of the new buildings, and certainly did not mean to imply ingratitude to the Management Committee for the manner in which it has carried out its trust. The article was merely a flippant symposium on the architecture.—Ed.)
There is a menace in our midst, a snake in our bosom! I shall expose it. On a recent .Saturday ofternoon, when the 'Varsity Fourth Grade football team was travelling to Lower Hutt, we had to share the bus with "another team." As you know, we are all young and impressionable, but did the "other team" set us a good example? Most decidedly not.
On the way out they polluted our lungs with that nauseous bacchanalian excrescence called smoke; but on the way in—well, I blush to think of their orgies. Two of them had been drinking, and they started singing songs. As you know, there are songs and songs, but these were songs!! Try as I could to understand them, I was unable to make out more than a few obvious biological inaccuracies; yet they sang with a youthful vigour in marked contrast with the more pensive rendering of "Gaudeamus" and other songs in the Town Hall at Capping time. Perhaps as they sang "Gaudeamus" their mind ran thus: "May be it is the same moon shining on us to-night that shone on Caesar and Cleopatra
But they did not forget to sing when they were in the bus, though they did forget what they were singing and who they were singing to. Surely it is the duty of the Football Club Committee to take this matter up and preserve our morals.
The
On Friday, 2nd. June, in perfect weather, Otago (holders of the Seddon Stick) drew with Auckland 1 all, and under the rules Otago went into the final. In a very fast game C.U.C. defeated Victoria 4—1. The game was by no means uneven, but V.U.C. lacked finish in the circle, and despite desperate efforts in the second half, could not add to their goal tally. Denby was the sole scorer for V.U.C.
Rain on Friday night and Saturday turned the grounds into ponds. V.U.C., however, displayed something like true form and demolished Auckland 6-1, scorers being Denby, Camp (2), Robinson and Struthers (2). Although playing on one of their native bogs, Otago found C.U.C. just too good by 2-1. C.U.C. thoroughly deserved their victory, and we extend hearty congratulations to the
On Monday, the N.Z. University eleven defeated the Wellington representatives in an outstanding game, by 4—1. Ken Struthers was a lone, but worthy representative of V.U.C.
The feminine interest was by no means lacking, and here also a successful set of matches was played.
In the first game V.U.C. was somewhat fortunate to defeat A.U.C. by 4—3. Miss MacBarr, on the Auckland left, was in brilliant form.
C.U.C. v. O.U. was a sterling game, and a better display of hockey than the earlier match. C.U.C.'s individual brilliance was met by fine combination, probably the result of Otago's traditional practice of constant training. At time the 2-all score made an extra ten minutes necessary, and a hardly satisfactory conclusion was reached when O.U. hit the ball over the C.U.C. line.
The final for the Reeves Stick was played in a downpour of rain, and again showing superior combination, Otago won by 4—1, despite the efforts of a line of valiant umbrella supporters.
The Rep. match on Monday was won by Wellington, 4—1, in a game in which both sets of forwards played in "perfect unison." Congrats to Misses Harding and Webber for gaining places in the team.
Social functions in conjuncion with the Tournament were all most successful. A picture party on Friday was followed by the dinner and dance on Saturday—and what a dance! A strong party adjourned later to a well-known legal office, where, amongst others, two stalwart members of the constabulary were entertained. Some of the visitors still think that these "cops" were V.U.C. men in fancy dress. The bus drive on Sunday around the harbour was well attended, in spite of the dance.
Since the St. Pats defeat the 1st. XV.'s record is not imposing. The team is back in the hist division, however, and in the games against Old Boys, Petone. and Eastbourne it was by no means disgraced. Ruru continues to show good form, and "Smad" congratulates him and Burke on being selected to train with the reps.
After some weeks of "country" engagements the famous Third C's appeared at Lyall Bay on Saturday, and defeated Upper Hutt by 6—0. They are now top equal with Upper Hutt. The Fourths still continue to have handsome wins. There are still good teams to play, however, and careful attention to defensive work will be required.
Two matches have been played against Massey. one here and one up there. On the King's Birthday holiday the Senior B's were defeated 15—6. Ten days later, a team composed of Senior B forwards and A backs went up to Palmerston determined to break a series of losses. We did, but only by 15—11, in a fine open game on a perfect ground. Ruru was outstanding. The team was royally entertained at the Massey Capping Ball, after which approximately an hour's sleep was enjoyed before catching the 5 a.m. train to Wellington.
The Weir v. Rolleston match at Christchurch on the 4th June is the first of what is hoped to be an annual fixture. After a very close game Weir won 12—6. Reports were press-associated all over N.Z., and photos of the captains appeared in the papers—Christchurch must have thought it some team! "Canta" gave the match a front-page column, and dubbed George Sainsbury " Manager, Emergency, Treasurer, Secretary, Baggage Man, and Curator of Morals."
Weir has issued a challenge to the day boys of the College, and this battle will be waged when the Rep. games start.
With 31 wins, 25 losses and 3 draws, the Club is now third in the Club Championship. We look to the Senior B and Third B teams to add a few points to improve the position.
Congrats to the Seniors on drawing with Wellington and Karori II., the hardest teams in the grade.
Miss Mary Line left by the "Makura" on Friday last. Members of the Basketball Club were on (the wharf to wave good-bye, and a few days before a farewell party was given at Mrs. Pell's home, when a travelling rug was presented to her from the Club.
The Senior team continues to display good form, as may be seen from the results. Miss J. Grainger has proved a valuable acquisition as defence third. "Smad" congratulates Misses J. Roberts and J. Campbell on being picked for the Senior B Reps.
Two parties tramping during the King's Birth clay week-end struck bad weather. A few members of the Te Matawai contingent did some work on Yeates' Track after a very tiring pull up Gable End on the previous night; while those who went over the Wharekahau had a glimpse of what was to most new country. (Real children of the pioneers!—Ed.).
July 14—15 is the Snow trip to Mt. Hector, and given good conditions should be the best of the year. August 11-12 is the Inter-Club Skiing Championship at Kime—the Club wants representatives, so get in touch with the Secretary at once, all you skiers!
The wrong man apparently won the Sherwood Handicap the first time, so it was run again. F. B. Shorland did well, his time being a noticeable improvement on last year's. Four teams of five men netered for the Teams' Race, but although the Club Captain gave an address on "teaming," not much co-ordination was shown. "Smad" expects some good results at the inter-club race at Hutt next Saturday.