Late! Late!

Extrav is due to open on May?. The executive called for scripts for March 15. It appears that the script or scripts to be used still need extensive cutting or amending as I write this, April 3.

In various years that I have been on the wardrobe staff I have tried vainly to see a script before casting in order to start the job early. As sales are held by the drapers at this time, but have always been ended by casting time the Stud. Ass. has lost money year after year. The same loss may not apply to props, but the loss of sleep and study time is similar.

Of the ?? weeks between the handing in of scripts and opening night this year too many have produced no approved script, no backstage work and no cast.

If the selection committee procrastinate their decision it is probably because four people cannot read one copy of a script at once. Who but Exec. could be responsible for providing four copies, quickly?

In several recent years the Extravaganza chestnut has been extracted from the fire into which the Executive has so wantonly tossed it by the Extrav. officials and cast. Notable among the officials have been remarkably few executive members, but instead several graduates whose obligations to the student body were discharged a hundredfold ages ago when they and others like them made up most of the executive members.

E. G. Martin.

A Critic Answers Back

Being a stupid, childish, pretentious, completely baffled reporter, I'm naturally hesitant to write to a university student publication. My temerity in doing so, frankly appals me. Yet I have to make some pitiful effort to defend myself against the clever, subtle, objective criticisms with which "H," in last week's issue, attacks my recent review of a poetry reading.

I fail at the outset, I know. "H" was so clever as to misquote me on the one score he takes objection to he was so subtle as to attribute me with a high regard for a third rate poet, and he was so objective as to avoid making any specific criticism of my review.

Seriously, cannot "Salient" achieve a higher standard of criticism in its columns? For instance, in writing of a poetry reading, I offered the criticism that "from an entertainment viewpoint, the home artists would hold their own better (with Spencer, Shakespeare, etc.) if they went in for a few more local and topical touches."

Please note (1) that I was talking about entertainment for a theatre audience, which poetry readings try to achieve, and (2) that "local and topical touches" need not be references to our birds and our streets, but rather to our way of living, a not unimportant item with maybe a few aspects to it, not all of them general aspects, but all of them at least "in touch" with the people.

However, I'm not adamant about this. Our poets may soon be able to match their work even with Milton at poetry readings and beat him at his own game. As stated in the review, there is nothing wrong with their trying, "excepting that an audience is more likely to be interested in things of first-hand knowledge."

Incidentally, "H" (whoever he is) makes a fair job of reviewing the poetry reading, although he could have made better use of the considerable space allowed him.

E. H. Belford.

A Voice

The portion of the editorial headed "Stocks Low" in the April 3 issue of Salient is a very clear expression of the attitude of too many students at V.U.C.

First of all it is the Staff which ruin the place, then the Council, then the Staff, then the Senate, and now it's the City of Wellington which is not treating us as we should be treated. Why on earth should we keep on trying to pass the buck? The problem is: what is wrong with the students? The fact that we, over two thousand of us, cannot find billets for three hundred visitors is surely a reflection on our indifference, our complete lack of interest in student activities, caused by the flat refusal of the great majority of students to change from being automatic note-takers for about two hours a day, to being active students at an institution which is, theoretically, a university.

T. H. Beagehole.

(Salient deplores student apathy and has done so for many years. Reader Beaglehole may care to submit an article explaining where apathy comes from. Salient suggests, that there are causes outside the student which also need emphasising.

—Ed.)

Let There Be Light

Might I enquire through your columns exactly when the lighting in room B.3 is going to be improved? Those who have to use this room are starting to wonder why it is necessary for them to sit in the murky gloom shed by two (and only two) dingy globes while most other rooms in the college are bathed in the luxurious glory of fluorescent lighting. Perhaps there is a valid reason for this, or perhaps the powers that be have not noticed this state of affairs in existence over the last year or so?

Or perhaps the person in charge of these things runs an optician's business as a sideline.

"Abest Lux"