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Salient. An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria College, Wellington, N.Z. Vol. 1, No. 15. July 13, 1938

Sport

page 4

Sport

Both the men's and women's hockey competitions were suspended on Saturday on account of the visit to Wellington of the English Women's hockey team. At Basketball, the Senior team had a bye. The leading V.U.C. footballers were engaged in a trial match between Senior A. Second Division, and Senior B representative teams, the ordinary competition games in these grades being postponed. For Harriers there was the important Vosseler Shield race, in which 'Varsity fared none too well.

At the Hockey Tournament at Dunedin the Men's team did fairly well. A victory was gained at Massey's expense, and drawn games were played with Canterbury and Auckland. Otago defeated us 7—3, and we also lost to the Otago B team. The Dunedin men won the Men's section, with Auckland second. Victoria tied with Massey for third place. Three Victoria men, S. Braithwaite, W. Johnston and F. Newcombe, were included in the N.Z. University team that went close to drawing with the Indians. Otago also won the Women's section, with Auckland runners-up. Victoria was a bad last, scoring only one goal in the whole Tournament.

Women's Hockey

All those who look part in the Hockey Tournament at Dunedin are in agreement. I think, in that they received two [unclear: distinct] impressions during then stay: the first, concerning the weather the second, all other aspects of the Tournament. Of the second, everyone has brought away the happiest [unclear: i collection] of the first, the wondering thought, "How do they live though it?" The weather, in [unclear: shoot] was shocking; the rain had turned the hockey fields at Logan Park into a [unclear: quagmite] where any step might land player and ball into ankle-deep mud or water, and at the conclusion of each game, one mud-bespattered face and gym-froek was very like the next. When apologizing for keeping the Stick at Otago, the Captain of the Otago girls remarked. "But don't imagine we have given you nothing. Think of the mud, think of the liberal helping of good Otago soil you are taking home with you!" The chilly reception of the Dunedin climate, however, was soon for gotten in the [unclear: warmth] of proverbial Scottish hospitality, Otago [unclear: entertaining] its visitors royally with [gap — reason: illegible]. Dinner, Picture Party, and Ball.

The form displayed by the women's teams win much the same as Iast year in Auckland, with Otago in the lead, closely followed by Auckland, and Canterbury and Victoria considerably further down the scale. "Salient" of last week, in speaking of Victoria's chances at the Tournament, announced: "The prospects of the women's team cannot be regarded hopefully." and so it turned out. The Victoria girls, in spite of their best efforts, were able to do nothing to [unclear: refute] this mournful prophecy, the only consolation being that so inured to defeat have they become, that it can do nothing to spoil their enjoyment of the games. Joan Bacon's energetic defence work gained her the place of emergency to the N.Z.U. team but the remainder of the team [unclear: return] to Wellington [unclear: no] more distinguished than they left it. Throughout the standard of play was spoilt by the poor conditions.

The Hockey Tournament is an event in which the 'Varsity as a whole takes very little interest; its representatives do not gain the [unclear: distinction] that attaches to participants in the Easter Tournament; yet of later years it has widened and developed until it has become what [unclear: seems] an almost perfect form of University entertainment. Once, inclusion of hockey in the Easter Tournament sports seemed a desirable thought impossible, object; but so enjoyable and finished an event has the Hockey Tournament become, that all hockey players would be very [unclear: [gap — reason: illegible] to lose] individuality and then Tournament thus. Otago, [unclear: acting] as hosts for the first time, ably cannot on what has now become the tradition of Hockey Tournament—to grow "belter and better."

Scrymgeour Fifth

Vosseler Cup Race.

D. R. [unclear: Scrimgeour] winner of the [gap — reason: illegible] at Tournament, was the most successful of the eleven Varsity Club harriers who competed in the 10 mile [gap — reason: illegible] for the [unclear: Vosseler] Cup.

It was a hard curse and [unclear: Scrimgeour's] performance in [unclear: running] fifth was full of merit. [unclear: O'Flynn] and [unclear: Farguhar] also [unclear: can] well. Once agin the [unclear: Scottish] Club finished first. Varsity being fifth. Scottish also provided the winner in [unclear: Riddington] second place being filled by Mckinney, a 'Varsity student who runs for the Methodist Club.

Weather conditions for the record field of 142 runners were very fair it was a cold afternoon but the rain held off.

Basketball

The Senior "A" team drew a bye on Saturday, but gained two points through Training College defaulting the hold-over first round game. At the end of the round Victoria was third with eight points, the leaders being Wellington East Old Girls and Kia Ora with eleven points each. The V.U.C. nine are expected to beat the leaders in the second round—at least, that is the currant "down-town" opinion.

Against the strong Kia Ora combination the Senior "B" team gave by far its best display of the season. With their first victory yet to be registered the team was hardly expected to run a leading team to 21/18. The experience of Joy Osborn is telling in the forwards, and we look towards the second nine to register some points in the next few games.

Wellington Reps.

The choice of three Victoria College players for the Wellington Senior Representative team to play in the New Zealand Tournament at Timaru in the vacation is gratifying to a team that has played consistently and trained thoroughly. Of the three picked after searching trials two are now to rep. Basketball. Neither [unclear: Evice] Overton nor Marie Walker have participated in a New Zealand Tournament, and the experience there will stand the College well in future N.Z. University contests. Janet Grainger is no newcomer to the reps. Her forward work is outstanding in Wellington and her combination with [unclear: Evice] will be of considerable value at Timaru.

"Salient" has ascertained the playing records of the representatives, who, by the way, make up one-fourth of the whole team.

Janet Grainger represented V.U.C. at Tournament in 1934-35-36, being given an N.Z. Blue in the last year. In 1937 she captained the Training College team and was awarded a Blue. Wellington Reps, in 1934-35 earned Janet a place in the. North Island team in the latter year, when she was the outstanding forward on the field. Had she not refused selection to the Wellington team last year it is very likely that she would bo in Meg [unclear: Matangi's] N.Z. team to Australia this year. She is very fast in positional play, combines with strange players as well as she does with her team-mates, and is a most accurate shot. Incidentally, Janet has an N.Z. Hockey Blue as well.

Erice Overton represented V.U.C. in 1236-37-38 at Tournament, the first two years as a defender. Owing to the shortage of forwards of talent this year she undertook the strange and difficult work of goal-throwing. Her [unclear: sucress] in this third of the field can best be gauged by her selection this week. No player in Wellington is speedier on the count nor has better hands. At Auckland this year [unclear: Evice] paved the way for goal after goal, and her captaincy and popularity were no mean factors in the team's holding of the Shield. The pleasing feature of her play recently has been a high percentage of accuracy in shooting, and this was the deciding factor in her choice for the [unclear: reps].

Mario Walker played in the University Tournament for the first time this year. Illness prevented her [unclear: travelling] in the two previous years. Her contest with Meg [unclear: Matangi] in the Auckland game and her fitness and consistency earned her a Blue. In defence Marie is indefatigable, combines excellently, and gives the fewest of penalties. She has earned her place against, the hottest of competition.

Victoria College feels proud of those players, and "Salient" wishes them well when the North Island team being chosen.

Rugby

A Narrow Win.

In the annual mutch against. Massey College, Victoria scored a rather lucky win. 13—11. As a spectacle, the game was nothing to enthuse over. Combined back play was lacking for the greater part of the game, Victoria providing what little there was.

McVeagh played a very good game at full-back, fielding and kicking well. His defence was very sound, and he had a lot of rush-stopping to do in the second spell. Eastwood used his speed and strong running to gain big stretches of ground, but was rather starved of opportunities. [unclear: Tricklebank] did some good line-kicking and made several good bursts on attack. He was, however, inclined to attempt too much on his own a mistake with two fast wingers like Eastwood and Harpur outside him.

Harpur provided the highlight of the game by intercepting when Massey were attacking hotly and raring the full length of the field to score. The inside backs were very subdued, but this was probably due to the very slow heeling from the scrum. Bridges hooked very well, but after securing possession the forwards allowed the ball to hang in the back of the scrum. When it was heeled, the opposing loose forwards gave the inside backs no option but to pass the ball on quickly.

The forwards played with plenty of dash, but were rather overshadowed in the second spell by the vigorous Massey vanguard. [unclear: McNicol], Russell and Blacker were in everything, and Corkill played a lively game in the loose. In the Massey forwards Terry played a good all-round game, and Thurston (ex Victoria) was prominent in the loose play. Campbell, the Massey fullback, was very cool and steady, and his line-kicking was good.

Trial Match.

Senior A. Second Division and Senior B. Championship games were suspended on Saturday for the purpose of allowing a representative trial match to be played between teams from these two grades.

In this game V.U.C. was represented by nine players—Tricklebank. Eastwood, Wild, Bry ers, Bridges, McNicol, Hansen, Harpur, and Armour.

Tricklebank had little to do at fullback, but played soundly. The Bryers Wild-Eastwood combination went well, although Bryers was inclined to overdo the cut-in at times. Wild made an occasional burst, but was not as prominent as usual. Eastwood played a fine game, and his performance must have brought him before the notice of the selector. Whenever he received the ball, he ran strongly. Harpur, in the 'opposing team, had a heavy day trying to mark Eastwood, but managed to get in one or two dashes on attack.

Our four representatives in the forwards showed form to justify their inclusion in the trials, McNicol possibly being the best.

In the Senior B. team, Armour went well in the line-out and the tight play.

Weir's Part

The Defeat of Massey.

That there are more ways of killing a cat than choking it with cream was again evidenced when the co-operation of Weir House was sought in the effort to repulse the visiting Rugby players from Massey College. Blissfully ignorant of the plot, the primary producers partook liberally of the hospitality extended by Weir. Yet though the noon meal shortly before the match almost administered the coup de grace to the visitors, the hosts were not content that their work should finish there: they supplied for the game itself three men in Larkin, Corkill and Harpur who well and truly played their part in the V.U.C. victory."

Larkin, as speedy as ever, assisted in the amassing of points by his conversions; President R. [unclear: Corkill], in the front row, proved his worth in hooking and vigorous forward play; and Arthur Harpur supplied the dramatic. Both papers described Harpur's try as spectacular. It was a fine effort resulting from a quick interception, a breakaway, and a long fast run down most of the field.

The players appreciated the [unclear: encouragement] from the side-lines given by the large band of Weir residents, many of whom must have cut lectures in order to watch the game.

Table Tennis.

Years ago Weir had a table tennis table and ladder. During the presidencies of W. M. Willis and H. R. C. Wild, the game enjoyed some popularity, but damage to the table and the loss of all the balls available in the neighbourhood brought the game within the precincts of the House to old table was in the murk of the interest has flared up afresh. The with fittings, has been procured, and an untimely end. Now another table, basement; the new one graces the Recreation Room. It is a superior structure too, for it has a grained top in addition to the regulation six legs. As a matter of historical fact, play on it started some three weeks before the Table Tennis Club at 'Varsity commenced its activities.

A tournament is in strenuous progress at present. No player is outstanding, but there are some who favour, the chances of the wily Tuck, whose strange styles and customs are rather disconcerting to opponents.

Tramping

Mr. Butchers was met by some of the party on the way up to Kime Hut, soon after leaving Field Hut. Sleet was driving up from the south, yet he had the temerity to mumble, "What are you going up to Kime Hut for? There won't be any snow. I'm going back to Field's!"

There was, however, snow in abundance from West Peak onwards, with enough snow and hail thrown in to make the prospect of Kime Hut a cheerful one. Of the 38 members on the trip, 24 stayed Saturday night at Kime. As the hut is 1,000 feet above the bush line, no fires can be had, so primuses were kept busy for hours on end melting down snow to slake mighty thirsts, and food in great variety and profusion was produced as if by magic the whole week-end Despite the cold wind, which was accompanied by snow and hail, a very comfortable musical night was passed.

Disappointing Conditions.

On Sunday morning Messrs. Oliver and Young pushed off into the sleet determined to ski or die. Skiing predominated, but only by the narrowest margin.

Conditions were slushy, with a bitterly southerly wind, but some more or less sheltered slopes at the south-eastern end of the hollow provided thrills and spills for all concerned [unclear: thfoughout] the day. Other enthusiasts soon ventured forth, but six or seven was the greatest number out at one time. As time passed the surface hardened noticeably, and became fast enough for several of the more advanced skiers to practise Christiania turns quite successfully.

We can only console those who had visions of fun and games in the clear mountain sun high above worry level by saying, "Better luck next time," and by reminding them of the Holds-worth trip later this month. The good performance of some of the newer members of the Club, despite the bad conditions, deserves recognition, and augurs well for the success of future big trips.—A.P.O.

Hardship In American Universities

(Press Bureau special Service.) University of California, May 1, 1938.

A Pamphlet from The Student Workers Federation of the University of California reveals that one half of the University's students are either wholly or partially self-supporting, that most of the students receive less than 40 rents an hour, and many, even below 25 rents an hour.

Their University Calendar stales that 55 dollars a month is a moderate expenditure, so that a student must work 34 hours a week at 10 cents an hour to eke out a bare existence. But most of the wages received are lower than 10 cents an hour, according to the statistics of the Labour Board. Compare this with the minimum wage of 75 cents an hour for organised unskilled labour.

Worse is the fact that students can work only 12 to 25 hours a week without serious Interference to their studies. It follows that many who are self-supporting are living below an adequate standard.

In their own words, they "realise that these conditions are detrimental to the pursuance of an education, harmful to health, and demoralising. The conditions exist because the students are not organized to bargain effectively with employers. They must take what conies or leave College.

What is the solution"

The working students have founded the "Student Workers' Federation." which is the mouthpiece for their collective bargaining to gain the following:—
1.Decent working conditions.
2.Regular hours of employment.
3.A minimum wage of 50 cents an hour.

Can striking analogies be found nearer home?