Since 1949 the New Zealand University Students' Association has held a congress at Curious Cove every summer. For a week this delightful holiday spot not far from Picton is taken over to capacity by a large number of students from all over New Zealand, and a group of guest speakers. Each Congress committee endeavours to obtain the best speakers in various fields of knowledge and thought, for it is upon these people that the real value of Congress depends. Victoria's Congress committee this year is arranging for a distinguished group of lecturers, mostly from the Wellington area. Chairman for Congress '61 will be Professor K. J. Scott, acting head of the School of Political Science, who will also speak.

Sinclair A Star Speaker

Among the others to be included in the programme are Professor Keith Sinclair from the University of Auckland, who will be one of our star speakers. Professor Sinclair has recently written a history of New Zealand published by Penguin books in its series of the Pelican History of the World. He has also done a great deal of specialised research into earlier periods of New Zealand history. His talk Will be something along the lines of "history is a sacred cow" A well-known theatrical producer, Nola Miller, will lecture in her chosen field. Miss Miller was associated with the New Zealand Players in its earlier years, and was productions secretary to Richard Campion. She edits the Drama Council's magazine, and is in the process of writing a history of the theatre in New Zealand. Miss Miller has produced for a number of Wellington groups and at the moment has a small company of her own of young players who are producing Shakespeare for secondary schools. A lecture on Art and its meaning will be given by Margaret Garland. Mrs Garland knows a great deal about both the theory and practice of her subject; she has studied at art schools and produced her own sculpture. She has visited China twice in recent years and studied art and cultural life there, not to speak of other countries. Mr L. G. Lang, Chief Research Officer at the Treasury, is to speak on the European common market and free trade area and its impact on New Zealand. Mr Lang is a graduate of Victoria University of Wellington, and has been Economic Counsellor at London, and represented New Zealand at many overseas conferences. Mr Athol Hafter, who is Director of the Division of Nuclear Science of the D.S.I.R. will lecture on "What have we gained and what have we lost in this nuclear age?" Toby Hill, a trade unionist, will speak on trade unionism in New Zealand. Antony Alpers, a writer of very wide interests, recently studied at first hand the Cook Islands, and he intends to speak on either the anthropological, political or geographical aspects of his subject. Mr Alpers is probably best known for his biography of Katherine Mansfield which appeared 10 years ago. A book on the Cook Islands is in progress, but before this appears, an authoritative work on dolphins which will contain not only accounts of Greek and Polynesian mythology but also up-to-date scientific data. Congress Chaplains will be Father E. R. Simmons from Auckland (Catholic) and Rev. Lance Robinson of Wellington (Protestant).

Congress Committee:

Victoria University is running Congress this year through the Controller, Cecilia Frost, and assistant controller Hector MacNeill. Secretary is Merle Boyle, and others on the commitee are Elizabeth Mirams, Daphne Roberts, Doug. Waite, Roy Murphy, Don Jamieson, Surrey Kent, and Don Kendedine.

Eleven Lectures

The final Congress programme will consist of 11 lectures spread over the week, with various other functions, official and unofficial, taking place in between, At the the end of the week there will be the annual congress forum which gives students the opportunity to discuss problems of particular interest to students. Resolutions emerging from this forum are referred to N.Z.U.S.A. for action—if any. The opening of the Congress will be a talk by Sir George Currie, the Vice-chancellor of the University of New Zealand.

Among the entertainments planned will be an all-day cruise to Ship's Cove for a picnic, and in the evening following there will be a fancy-dress dance, and then a barbecue. While the cruise and picnic are on, there will also be a fishing trip for those who wish for more variety. A couple of films will be hired, and it is hoped that a short one-act play will be presented. It is also hoped that members of the Victoria Jazz group will be able to entertain at Congress. As for the rest, there will be ample time for swimming, sunbathing, bush walks, sports such as volley ball and archery, probably water skiing. Accommodation and meals are very good, and most civilised amenities are available.

Curious Cove is managed by Mr and Mrs Manning who have catered for Congress since the beginning, in 1949. The Cove is a secluded spot, about an hour by launch from Picton. The dates are January 20 to 27.

Watch for posters, and apply at your executive office for application forms. Only a limited number of students can be accepted, go make your plans early.

Varsity Life Not Worry-Free

College life is not the worry-free, good time it is believed to be by most people, claims Dr. Melvin L. Selzer, University of Michigan psychiatrist. He said that few people are aware of mentally disturbing problems from which many college students suffer, Responsible for the public's lack of knowledge on this subject la the myth that everyone in college is having a wonderful time and that campus life is a series of parties and games attended by a carefree and irresponsible student body. He commented that because of this myth many of the students' problems are attributed to "social," "academic" and "family" factors instead of to symptoms of emotional illness. Of 506 students interviewed at Michigan, 35.4 per cent. were deemed to be psychoneurotic, 24.5 per cent had personality disorders, and 21.7 per cent were schizophrenics.