Arts Festival

At the recent N.Z.U.S. A. Winter Council meeting V.U.C. offered to be host to a university Arts Festival next year. Little enthusiasm was shown by the other colleges, however, especially Auckland, who are apparently in financial difficulties. Eventually the offer was accepted but only on the basis that V.U.C. bear sole financial responsibility. V.U.C. generally is particularly canny about throwing money around—which is quite understandable—and a fair maxim for our delegates to conferences might be; endorse anything imaginative provided it does not cost much. Thus V.U.C. was at no time prepared to bear all the cost of the Festival and at the last meeting of the Exce. it was decided to withdraw the offer. It was pointed out that little forethought had gone into this scheme. . Other colleges did not even know it was in the air, and no one had the slightest idea as to the expenses involved. Moreover, it would have been held during May when V.U.C. were in the throes of Capping ceremonies, and preparing for Winter Tournament for which we shall also be hosts.

The withdrawal was immediately passed on to the other colleges, although it was also stated that V.U.C. would still bear the scheme in mind, perhaps for May. 1959.

It might be well for the supporters of the Festival to consider co-operating with the Wellington City [unclear: estival,] which, we understand, will be held in February or March of 1959.