Twins

A recent "Post" advertisement showed a graduate with M. Com. (Hons.) B.A. seeking a position. No, it wasn't our president, Mr. K. B. O'Brien (Hons., First Class) B.A. Still, it's handy to know that there's someone in Wellington who might be fitted to take over when our president reaches retiring age.

Spooning

"Why doesn't somebody tell me these things?" asks the invaluable Students' Guide published by the S.C.M. Dose—one level teaspoon of spelling, before lectures.

Black Bread

When servicemen handled flour and other essentials on the water-front the strikers weren't amused. But they did eat bread made from "black flour."

Bye Bye Election

Brooklyn revisited by a horde of politicians from near statesmen down to private M.P.s busily pushing doorbells failed to arouse much interest in democracy. Undeniably the Government has lost popularity since the election, but the Labour Party still can't roll out the vote like the National Party, whose machine works well even in a no-hoper like Brooklyn.

Magna Charta

"Charta" sported four issues in 1950. With most of the staff and some fellow deviationists assisting Salient Charta's demise seems likely. Still, the Socialist Club could always start up a separate paper "Charta Restarted" by Carlyle and Cameron—perhaps.

Dulles Dishwater

Veterans in the Parliamentary Press Gallery were curious about the identity of Salient's reporter, bristling with reporting equipment. Still the finished job (Feb. 28 issue) needed no apologies to anyone—except the subject!

SSH!

Absence of flamboyant exhortations about worker solidarity in this and other journals arises from the emergency regulations operative during the strike. In effect, a form of censorship closed the press to statements which might lead to the spreading of the strike. For its part, the Government seems to have learnt least said, soonest mended, and while any suggestion of blanket censorship would be abhorrent, the recent ruling avoided the provocation of past disputes, which only lead to a deepening of distrust between the parties, who have to come together sooner or later in arbitration.

Impartiality

"What's What" in Salient issue I labels W.A.Y. (World Assembly of Youth) as non-representative, right wing, no members from eastern or colonial countries. This organisation is now representative having been reconstituted at Instanbul. In contrast W.F.D.Y. is "militant . . . affiliates in every country . . . membership 60 million . . . V.U.C.S.A. was affiliated 1945-50 . . . Hq. Paris.

Main omissions about W.F.D.Y. were that "every country" excludes Yugoslavia (expelled 1949) and headquarters were Paris, until W.F.D.Y. was itself expelled recently. After one of the stormiest struggles at V.U.C. we disaffiliated last year leaving as the only affiliates in New Zealand the Student Labour Federation, the junior branch of the Communist Party and the Progressive Youth League.

Guide to bewildered freshers hardly helped bolster the Salient tradition of the editorial.

What did Happen in Prague?

It's up to the Exec. to make clear smartly its attitude to the report of the V.U.C. observers Alec McLeod and Keith and Jackie Matthews. They were sent there by a previous Exec, and we know that on assuming office some of the Exec members thought that the venture should be cancelled because Bruce Miller was observing for N.Z.U.S.A., but it was too late to interfere with existing arrangements.

With duplicating paper around a penny a sheet, we don't expect the Exec to run off dozens of copies. But no censorship!

Suggestions for the Exec:

That an announcement be made that both reports can be viewed—where and when by those interested.

That those who want to study the reports be asked to sign a lending list.

That sufficient copies be cyclostyled to lend fairly quickly and still leave a few in Exec room.

That the V.U.C. report should bear a covering statement that it has not yet been adopted by the Stud. Assn., but will be submitted to the annual general meeting and that the report by the V.U.C. observers is confidential to the Association. Truth got hold of the W.F.D.Y. report last year when it should not have been published.

Swan Song

"Swan Song," the editorial title of issue one, inevitably calls to mind the question—is the new editor an "Ugly Duckling"? Egged on by this, Prolix lays down his pen.