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Crambe Repetitia

Student Union Building

Among a number of the zealots it is felt that the Students' Executive has done little, or nothing, in connection with a new student building. This is far from being correct, and it is desirable that a resume be given of the spade work which has been accomplished.

Two committees are to be set up which for purposes of convenience may be called the Permanent Committee and the Students' Committee. The former will be a small committee comprised of representatives of the Association, College Council, Professorial Board and past students. The function of this Board will be to evolve ways and means of raising approximately ten thousand pounds. The College Council and Professorial Board have agreed to appoint a delegate and at the time of writing the Executive is negotiating with a number of past students with a view to obtaining representative, influential and enthusiastic supporters from the ranks of the men and women who obtained their Universal education at Victoria College. This committee will probably meet for the first time in November. A big issue they will be faced with to begin is the question of holding an art union. This is too big a matter to go into here. Sufficient it is to say that the scheme is favoured by many as a quick and easy way out of all our financial difficulties.

The second committee, a Students' Committee, will be larger in number, and have as its aim the infusing into the students of an enthusiasm for the project. It will endeavour by various subtle methods such as dances, skating parties, bridge parties and so on, to extract from students the pennies which mount into pounds. In this respect the executive would welcome suggestions as to novel and ingenious (but lawful or nearly) methods of raising money. A number of students have been invited to servo on this committee and up to the present the following have signified their willingness: Misses M. Gibbs. E. Plank, Z. Jupp, Messrs. R. J. Reardon, K. Duff, J. A. Whitcombe, R. East, R. J. Larkin. and G. Crossley. A number of replies have yet to be received. This committee will meet immediately the examinations have concluded, and their labours will begin before the end of the year.

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With this number of "Smad" we reach the end of the first full year of the life of the paper. Towards the end of last session the first number was produced and sold. Since that date the new venture has justified itself. It has served principally as a medium for the expression of current thought and for the airing of current grievances. At no stage has it sunk into lethargic state, and the fact that its circulation never fell below 500 bears witness to the interest taken in it by the students. That circulation compares more than favourably with that of th? journals produced by the other Colleges. In addition "Smad" has not cost the Students' Association one penny. It has been self-supporting and in fact finishes up the year with a credit balance. Therefore, congratulations to the students of Victoria College for the manner in which they have rallied round and made successful this venture in the realms of journalism. We would also remember with grateful thanks the support given the paper by advertisers. We are rather late in thanking Mr. F. W. Whitwell for the cover design which has appeared on all 1931 issues but we feel sure that students will agree that the present cover is a great improvement.

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We make no apology for trespassing on the preserves of "Spike" in regard to this following obituary. The news that Warwick Stanton had met his death alone in the wild bush surrounding Ruapehu was a profound shock to all at V.U.C. For days we had hoped that a miracle might happen and that he would be preserved but such was not to be. The party of V.U.C. students at National Park spoke very highly of Warwick Stanton with whom they had fraternised and on their behalf as well as of the whole student body at V.U.C. "Smad" desires to convey sincerest condolences to the relatives and friends of the unfortunate climber.