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Salient. An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria College, Wellington, N.Z. Vol. 1, No. 5 April 6, 1938

Rebuke

Rebuke

Foreigners often sneeringly designate the British reputation for sportsmanship as existing only in the British imagination. After observing such an exhibition as "Salient's" attack on Count Von Luckner last week, one begins to think that perhaps there is something to be said for this view.

The essence of sportsmanship is respect for an antagonist, whether past or present, but such respect was noticeably lacking in the article mentioned, which was a childish burlesque, making"no attempt to treat seriously of the Count's viewpoint, and merely exposed"him to ill-considered ridicule. If, as stated in the article, the Count himself introduced the subject of Anglo-German relations, the least that could have been expected was a sober analysis of the question.

No attempt, however, was made to treat the matter intelligently, "Salient's" correspondent evidently considering (If a politically one-sided mind can ever be said to consider) that the idea of an amicable relationship between the two most powerful and racially most similar countries in the world, was beneath his contempt.

"Salient's" insulting treatment of a distinguished foreign visitor has seriously offended a large body of rationally-thinking students. May I suggest that, to avoid a recurrence of such an unpleasant incident, the correspondent in question refrains from allowing his immature political principles to lead him into another exhibition of vindictive childishness and [unclear: apijullingly]"bad taste.

—U.G.H.