The above passage was contained in the first Salient issue of 1952. The alternative the editor and staff of that year were to present to the students of Victoria was not right wing socialism, as might be inferred, but what the writer posed as a "return to tradition". He was in a bit of difficulty making a coherent case, for the tradition of Salient from its inception in 1938 up until 1950 was not the sort of dignified moderation he was aiming at.

Forty years ago this year Salient was born. World war was on the horizon, and Salient knew it. The war in Spain was at its height. Germany had absorbed Austria and betrayed Czechoslovakia; Mussolini had invaded Ethiopia and Japan had attacked China. In New Zealand, the depression was coming to an end and the first Labour Government was in office.

Within the bounds of Victoria College, student journalism was channelled into Smad, a light-hearted magazine covering events in and around campus and appearing six times a year; and Spike, a once yearly publication. A cydo-styled rival to Smad called Student was brought out by left-wing students in 1933, and although it was banned by the Students' Association executive it continued to appear for a while. Spike had its fair share of controversy, but by 1937Smad seemed firmly ensconsed in the idea that "the four walls of the College are the limits of our concern".

By 1938 there weren't a lot of students around who shared this view. Smad was laid to rest, and on on the 9th March, under the editorship of A.H. (Bonk) Scotney, Salient rose from the ashes Proclaimed as "An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria College, Wellington, NZ", it aimed "to link the University more closely with the realities of the world". The Spanish War provided one of the most constant themes (see editorial on this page) while a full coverage was given to New Zealand politics and University issues, sports, books and film. Poetry and lino cuts added an extra dimension.

Salient in 1938 was a four page weekly tabloid, and with the exception of 1940 (when it was gestetnered because of the paper shortage and censorship) it continued in this form for many years.