Students

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32308, 28 May 1970, Page 14

Students

Sir, —Mr Guthrey refers to the privilege of being a student It is we, the ordinary people of New Zealand, who are privileged to have young men and women prepared to give up the best years of their lives to acquiring the knowledge, skills, and sense of proportion which this country so desperately needs. Students are prepared to forgo the pleasures of easy money in their pockets, and a carefree youth. They have to scratch along for years, counting every penny they spend, having every springtime for eight to 10 years overshadowed by the spectre of examinations, spending their summers working 12 hours a day at heavy, dirt-money jobs to make up the leeway between their bursary and the actual cost of attending university. While others of their age-group can have a happy spending spree at boutiques, they have to pay large sums

of money for expensive textbooks. They deserve our support and gratitude.—Yours, etc., SYBIL WOODS. Timaru, May 26, 1970. Sir, —May I applaud hardhitting Mr Guthrey’s courageous stand on the University Council? As a taxpayer I invest several cents a year in students and I expect value for my money. Any student who thinks he is at university to think ought to think again. —Yours, etc., TRUE BLUE TWIT.

May 26, 1970. Sir, —A few individuals sometimes demonstrate their anti-social behaviour in the Square, particularly near the post office, thus making it a somewhat hazardous if not frightening journey for anyone wishing to use posting facilities late at night. If the Government hinted that it might slow up the building of the new post office unless this unruly minority is dealt with, would Mr Guthrey agree (and I quote from his statement in reply to Professor Phillips) “that the Government is entitled to say that councils would do well to note the growing trend of public impatience and remember that public funds can be slowed down if necessary in the taxpayers’ interest?” — Yours, etc., SAUCE FOR THE GOOSE. May 26, 1970.