Vic. Girls to Aussie

This week three members of the Vic women's Outdoor Basketball Club leave for Auckland, where they will undergo a week's intensive training with the other Member of the N.Z.U team which will tour Australia next month. They are: Winifred Kingma, Jeanette Mason, and Olwyn Frethey. Both Winifred and Jeanette, who key members In Vic's Senior A team, which Is at present joint leader En the local Senior Reserve championship will be keenly missed In the club's endeavour to win the championship. Olwyn has joined up with a Senior club team in an effort to improve her game this season with good results. All three are good attacking players and deserve their positions in the team. We wish them a very pleasant lour and good luck in their matches on tour.

Hostel Investigations

A matter of interest to many students is "halls of residence". Mr Blizard (public relations officer) is compiling a report on the situation. In the course of his investigations he was shown over Weir House. His guide told him to be quite frank when describing what he thought about Weir. After the tour this offer was withdrawn—in Mr Blizard's own words: "he said he would rather I didn't say anything." The reason given was that it might prejudice talks, which are apparently imminent, over "halls of residence."

Mr Blizard did mention 'hat a sheet of Weir House regulations he had in his possession did give the place a Concentration Camp atmosphere.

Exec, considered a reply of Mr Tennent (Minister of Education), to a letter sent by the Provisional Executive. He said, "I think I should add for your information that letters I have received from other Students' Associations have not demanded or even requested a lowering of the new scale of fees." Some Exec, members thought this was not an above-board comment. Mr Blizard said that this merely spoke to the detriment of the other Executives. Several other Exec. members agreed, none disagreed. It was finally decided that the n appropriate treatment of the letter was to ignore it.

After an obviously glorious evening (according to. Exec, reports), a member of the Catholic Students' Guild party put his foot in it. For ten minutes after other party-goers had left, the gentleman struggled out to his parked car and put the key in. He then returned to the S.U.B., having decided adversely on his fitness to drive.

"This is a serious matter." said Mr Corn ford. He knew of a case where a student driver, in similar condition, had hit a lamp-post. One of his passengers was killed.

Mr Moriarty felt that publicity of such student activities could be damaging. A letter is to be sent to the person concerned, about his conduct.

Successful Dance

At the recent Association hop. Women's Hockey Club came out with a profit. Social Controller McKay reports that "everyone had a ball."

The dance had the added attraction of folk-singers and a coffee lounge. The rooms in which the ball was held were attractively decorated.

Weir House Notes

Last Weir House Association meeting passed unanimously a resolution advocate improvements to the House. Much has been heard about the conditions the limited facilities and the poor food at Weir, but little has been done to remedy them. At the meeting, Weirmen voiced the opinion that when the amount of board is considered, the advantages of living at Weir are negligible. So far this year, five members of the House have left because of financial difficulties.

Members also complained that no balance sheet has been presented the House committee for two years, so that it is impossible to find just how the board is spent. The Win House Management Committee was accused of "lassitude and nebulousness." No report from the House Committee can be presented to the Management Committee because the latter has not met yet this year.

The last meeting of the University Council approved recommendations for a change in the system of government of Weir House, the Council's press release states. The eel of the changes is to establish a Weir House Council under the chairmanship of the Warden, and consisting of the Warden. Deputy Warden, Vice-Chancellor or his nominee, Council representative Professorial Board representative, the Registrar, the Matron and the House President. Informed sources say that this will put the management of Weir in the hands of the people who are directly interested in its future.

Only four people went to tea on Sunday night. The rest stayed away in protest at the menu, which consisted of salad, luncheon meat and baked potatoes.

"That Chastity is Outmoded" was the subject of a debate between Weir and Vic. A. Weir, funnily enough, took the affirmative. Perhaps Weir should pay a tribute to Vic. A girls for having the courage to accept this topic.

New Diploma In Tropical Studies

A valuable addition to the academic range of our university is the new diploma for Tropical Stud It is a two-year course for full-timers, but is available to part-timers. Options have been selected from many departments and Tropical Societies with in the university,

Dr. Palmier, Associate Professor the Asian Studies Department, plied further information. The various fields it will cover are implied by the content. Asian Studies 2 and 3, history papers on modern colonial policies and modern India, and the geography of China India will be two others. The economics tropical areas is another important option.

The diploma is available only to people with a degree, or whose maturity and experience in the field would make their studies worthwhile. It is essentially a "post-graduate academic" course.

Professor Palmier stressed that the course was an academic one. However, he said that the general principles of the Diploma would be useful to people concerned with the development of trade between N Zealand and the tropical areas, and that this trade could be a valuable addition to our economy. Political and trade relations could be thus improved, and the New Zealand dependencies in the Pacific could benefit equally.

Student Rights

A group of students feel that there is a growing interest over civil liberties. Following the moo Ombudsman Mill, the students decided to follow sun. An inaugural the "Committee for Student Rights" set up an ad hoc sub-committee

A general meeting of those interested will be held in Room A2. 7 p.m. on August 9.A draft constitution will be considered.

Editor, "A Stinker"

Music Society's well-known Robin Maconie is of the opinion that Salient Editor White was d against him. This followed Salient'S rejection of a Maconie music article, Mr. Maconie's feeling was increased when the paper published a letter criticising the article on Stravinsky.

Accosting the Salient Editor in the caf., Maconie termed White "a stinker." Challenged to make a public announcement. Maconie did so. Calling students to attention, he loudly denounced White: Mr. White has given me permission to call him a stinker. Mr. White is a Stinker!"

Swimming

With some pride members of the Victoria University Swimming Club could look back at the past year of swimming and water-polo activities, when the Annual Report was discussed at the A.G.M. held in the Men's Common Room on July 11.

As well as winning, the Easter Tournament in swimming and water-polo for the first time ever, the club's competition with Wellington swimming clubs at regular carnivals and at water-polo has been as keen and high a standard as ever. The club fielded three water-polo teams with one playing in the A grade championship, and several members obtained places in representative water-polo teams which played at Christchurch early in the year.

Perhaps the greatest indication of the club's high standard are the numbers of swimming and water-polo Blues granted this year. Three Vic. men were awarded N.Z.U. Blues, two for swimming and one for water-polo. It might also be added that Peter Hatch, who received a N.Z.U. Blue has excellent chances of getting into the Empire Games Team for Perth. Four members received Victoria Blues for water-polo, while four men and two women received them for swimming.

Discussion of this financial year's programme centred around the forthcoming tour by the Australian Universities, and the need for continued financial backing. Note was taken of the amount of pre-seasonal training being undertaken by the members at the moment. On Wednesday evenings, under able eye of Miss Jane Maddox, there is a callisthenics class in the Gymnasium. Also there is a training session at the Boys' Institute Baths on Sunday mornings. This will ensure a good turnout of fit swimmers this coming season.

Officers elected were: Patron, Mr. M. J. Mason; President, Mr. C. P. McBride; Club Captain, Mr. M. D. Kerr; Lady Vice-Captain. Miss Kirsty Macallan; Men's Vice-Captain, Mr. M. Sladden; Secretary, Mr. K. Wilton; Treasurer, Mr. P. Hatch; Committee, Miss Pat McColl, Miss Margaret McPherson, Mr. A. Griffiths, Mr. P. Cameron.

Mac's mobile

An old Model A Ford has risen to prominence this year because of a slogan painted on its door. "Prof. Mac's Mobile" is a slogan of strain attempt by a student owner to gain access to Staff parking areas. In many circles the car was thought to be the property of Prof. McKenzie, of Geography Dept. It belongs to Arts student David McGill.

Born in 1929, the car was brought to Wellington from Hastings by; Roger Bosher, a previous owner Mr. Bosher possessed it for five years, and asserts that he has never had to walk home, never has the let him down. Once, however, on the Taupo-Napier road, a big-end broke up. Another was "borrowed" from a nearby Model A and replaced on the roadside. This replacement Is still in place today.

Mr. McGill has enough faith In the Ford to lake it on tour. The old green car was seen at Mt. Maunganui last summer. In previous winters it has been sighted near the lop of the Mt. Ruapehu road.

Prof. Mac's Mobile strikes a blow for student parking difficulties. Car owners rise; and demand more parking facilities.

Debate decides Staff to Go

We should have no confidence in the staff." That was the argument of the representative staff team, comprising Professor Brookes and Doctors Truscoe and Harvey. The staff evaluated themselves as a lot of second-raters and never has-beens. The staff's motion for no confidence in themselves was a giant confidence trick, long planned and designed (as they said) to get the students to leave the university so that they should e no work to do.

The entire debate was light-hearted, neither side very heated, and was a source of great amusement.

Entries for Arts Festival

This year, V.U.W. Music Society's programme for Arts Festival is composed of several neatly-placed is to the generally slow-moving and traditionalist outlook of Canterbury's Music Department.

Nothing daunted, the V.U.W. Music Society Is this year responding to a new surge of Interest in university choral music by sending down a small group of nine singers to perform the magnificent the part Mass of William Byrd. Those interested in Victoria's lead in university music circles will be, able to hear a special trial run performance at tin second Organ Recital on August 8.

Because the enterprising instigator of this new vocal outlook. Warren Bourne, will be unable to be present at the Christchurch concert, the Mass will be conducted by another talented choral musician, Robert Oliver.

Continuing what now seems to be developing into a regular feature Of Arts Festival concerts. Robin Maconie will again be playing piano works by major 20th century composers. The 3 Klavierstucke, Op. 11, of Schonberg, although preceding his first great 12-tone work, the Piano Suite, Op. 25yet constitute a landmark in music by their standing as the first completely atonal compositions in modern Western music.

Mr. Maconie will again be playing only the first movement, in itself a considerable achievement.

Nelson Wattie, the leading singer at Music Society functions, and president of Contemporary Arts Society, will be singing three "Scots Ballads" (1960) of David Farquhar, lecturer in music at this university. This is Mr. Wattie's answer to his performance last year of two fine songs by the senior lecturer. Mr. Douglas Lilburn. And the accompanist this year will again be Murray Brown.

The latter, together with Jenny McLeod, will be appearing also in the type of music that is rarely heard In universities, let alone in concert-halls. Piano duets perhaps bring to mind childhood memories of Dance Calops and Valses Characteristiques thumped out under the tearful guidance of old maidish music-teachers.

Chamber music as such is represented on the programme by a relatively unknown species of Beethoven's opus, compared with the fame of his quartets. Jenny Mel (piano), Sue Smith ('cello) and Murray Gronwall (violin) will play the "Ghosts" Trio, Op. 79, No. 2. This student (and lecturer) trio is another "institution" in the Music Society, and already this year has presented excellently stylistic performances of Haydn and Mozart works for strings and piano.

Two plays, "The Bonds of Love" by Bruce Mason, and "In This Hung-up Age," by Corse will go to the Arts Festival this year. The first is being sent by the Dramatic Society, the latter by the Contemporary Arts Group.

"In This Hung-up Age" is being produced by Con O'Leary. The farce in the royal manner was written by Gregory Corse in 1954. It takes place on a bus that has broken down in the middle of nowhere on the American prairies.

Ralph McAllister who is producing "The Bonds of Love," says that Mason wrote this play to portray "the sex life of the average New Zealander."

Keith and Co. Visit Vic.

The Political Science Department decided recently that students could benefit from lectures delivered by those involved in the day-to-day political processes. According!; four major political figures recently addressed students on their positions, and the duties that were entailed.

They were His Excellency Viscount Cobham, Mr. Keith Holyoake, the Prime Minister, the Right Honourable Mr. Walter Nash, and Mr. Algie, Speaker from the House of Representatives.

Mystery of the Diggings

People in the S.U.B. were treated to some free entertainment recently—The Diggings—four men in Digging in excavations under the path outside the Cafeteria.

One had a large shovel with which he burrowed into the bank, all the whole throwing out large amounts of earth. Another grasped a pick-axe and hacked frantically at the topsoil, occasionally tugging at roots and other obstacles. A third stood on the path, carefully sliding a ruler up and down some mysterious blocks of concrete, while the fourth, who wore a green hat and smoked a pipe, pointed vaguely and gave directions. Interested onlookers were invited to peer over the fence and "have a look."

The Diggings invited speculation. Were they to become an H-bomb shelter, or some kind of sewer, or re they merely a lesson in practical archaeology or geology?

Alas, it was none of these. Investigation revealed that erosion had set in and that the path was thus insecure. The excavations were being carried out so that a supporting concrete wall could be built I prevent a possible collapse.

How very ordinary!