Tournament

Tournament 1954 has come and gone. With its passing Victoria was victorious for the first time since the contest was officially organised as the N.Z.U. Winter Tournament. Members of the administrative staff and the sports controllers worked hard to ensure the success of this Tournament: but the success of a tournament is not measured solely by the efficiency of the organisation. It is also what the competitors are prepared to make of it. And this year's effort has been heartening to many of the "old hands" of Tournament who are resigned to the events as they traditionally occur and are moved neither to tears nor to laughter. This year at Victoria what has been commonly known as "students' disinterestedness" has been overcome to an extent—but only for those 200 students who are concerned about it. And this is a good thing. For the minority that participate in them, Tournaments provide the main connecting link with students of other Colleges, both the spirit of competition and the social interludes are well catered for. It is my opinion that the social functions of a College provide a good barometer of the intellectual climate prevailing among the students of that College—it provides a guide as to whether or not they have any sense of allegiance to the "Alma Mater" and therefore a guide as to their sense of unity. The barometer at this College has reached an all-time low this your, but two Tournaments have lifted it slightly for some 200 students.

However, the University corporate life is composed of a small minority just as "Salient" represents the views, opinions and ideals of one person. It is unfortunate that this is so, but it is a fact. I make no excuses for student apathy—the causes are obvious to most who think upon the matter for a while and if they resign themselves to it I have no sympathy for them.

has been well worth the pain incidental to the organisation of Tournament.

——B. C Shaw.