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Salient: Victoria University Students' Paper. Vol. 28, No. 5. 1965.

Cappicade Collapses

Cappicade Collapses

Cappicade will not be published this year. This decision was made when some copy was already set in type, all copy had been written and marked up for printing, and after advertising commitments had been entered into.

Jonathan Markham, a well-known figure on campus, was appointed editor of Cappicade late in 1964. His was the only application for the position.

Under the normal editorial position, the Editor determines the magazine. This avoided any stereotype result and, indeed, Cappicade has always differed greatly in focus, aim, and impact over recent years.

Particular targets of the 1965 issue would have been political figures, the police, the church, the RSA, and current topical news such as topless dresses.

First hint of trouble came when days before Easter. and just on final copy deadline, Cappicade printers refused to print much of the submitted copy until a legal opinion on it was obtained.

The printers, Hutcheson, Bowman and Stewart, have printed 14 out of the last 16 Cappicades.

Under libel and obscenity laws, the printers, publishers, editors, and distibutors of a magazine are all liable if it contravenes the law.

In the case of Cappicade, editor and distributors would effectively be "men of straw" and legal liability would tend to fail upon the Students' Association and the printers—in the event of a successful prosecution.

Although a legal opinion was obtained forthwith, Easter intervened, and it is understood that the opinion was seen by most members of Executive after they returned to university last Wednesday. "The lawyer rejected 13 pages as unprintable." Association President Tom Rabins told Salient, "but the balance, about 40 pages, was passed."

It is understood that the whole matter was discussed by Executive on Wednesday evening. The discussion was in committee, but it is understood that a compromise was proposed whereby Cappicade was to be published with somewhat fewer pages.

"However this was physically and economically impossible," Mr. Robins told Salient. "Consultations with the printers on Thursday morning showed that even with smaller Cappicade, printing was so far behind deadlines that Cappicade could not be produced in time."

"The gross loss to the Association could be £300," Mr. Robins stated, "but the actual loss will almost certainly be much lower, £300 is a very pessimistic figure."

"Cappicade was the victim of circumstances," said Mr. Robins. "With an increased printing bill forced onto us by overtime and the need to sub-contract type-setting, to go ahead with publication would have meant an even greater loss to the Association."

Mr. Markham has said that he expected that some copy would have been deleted in any event. It is understood that the need to carry out this deletion was the main factor in delaying Cappicade beyond deadlines.

"Events should not be taken as any reflection on Mr. Markham," Mr. Robins continued. "The situation has arisen not through any actions of his but through a combination of events, in particular the dislocation caused by Easter. The greater part of Cappicade is not only publishable, but is good copy — however technical considerations have made publication impossible."

It is understood that publication in a different form may take place later in the year.

The financial effect of Cappicade's cancellation will fall on the Students' Association and on those clubs which normally earn good commission on sales. Compensation will have to be paid to the printer. The absence of Cappicade will also hand over the lucrative Wellington area to Masskerade sales by default.

Massey University increased their print order for Masskerade this year to 35,000—as against Cappicade's planned 20,000. Massey sales have traditionally been good because their capping comes some weeks before Victoria's.

Part-Timers jump from the cable-car on their way to lectures. "Nothing more has been heard by us from the Appeal Authority," said President Tom Robins when questioned last Friday about the forthcoming action whereby the Students' Association is appealing against the level of cable-car fares. Meantime the City Council continues to reap a financial harvest as cars are packed with students. "With the guaranteed monopoly that the Council has, students have no option but to pay—and they are being taken advantage of," one student commented to Salient.

Part-Timers jump from the cable-car on their way to lectures. "Nothing more has been heard by us from the Appeal Authority," said President Tom Robins when questioned last Friday about the forthcoming action whereby the Students' Association is appealing against the level of cable-car fares. Meantime the City Council continues to reap a financial harvest as cars are packed with students. "With the guaranteed monopoly that the Council has, students have no option but to pay—and they are being taken advantage of," one student commented to Salient.