• Editorial l ... • - SPCA pleads :humanity for animals WHILE watching an elderly measurable. The owner will probably regret man's face light up the other The fact that an unwanted the loss of such a killing ma­ day after simply stroking a animal should enter the world chine, a status symbol, for puppy, I was struck by a in the first place is a crime in about two minutes before they thought. A thought that has re­ itself. When animals can be get another dog. mained with me and which was neutered or spayed for a mini­ The list of animal abuse on an backed up by Karen Thomas of mal fee, there is no excuse. The international scale is shocking the Wellington SPCA. Simple SPCA is here to assist but they and exhausting to contemplate. things matter. Warmth. Scent. cannot do so without our help. Bull fights, endangered ani­ Comfort. These simple pleas­ The society relies on donations mals on the dinner menu, bear ures are the finest things in life. and goodwill to survive. baiting, the illegal and immoral They need not cost, either in I have heard the argument trade in everything from birds time or money. that we should worry about the to gorillas to name but a few. Animals give love unselfishly, human race before animals. We are in a big enough mess as returning it tenfold to those This does not wash with me. it is. Thanks to the work of the who give it to them. All they ask The simple measures that a pet SPCA and other organisations for is shelter, food and a little owner can take to look after an such as Greenpeace, the ani­ attention. Amazingly, some be­ animal do not affect the time or mals are at least voiceless no grudge them even that. What attention given to the people in more. is wrong with these people, that their lives. It is an act of self­ As with a number of valuable a message in their mind tells ishness and ignorance to hit, but futile campaigns, I fear I them it is perfectly alright to starve, dump or otherwise mis­ may be preaching to the con­ dump a litter of puppies or kit­ treat an animal. verted. Those who need to hear is apparently standard practice feathered and finned friends. tens in a sack? I also have a serious bone to the messages, seldom do. If to simply acquire a new pet. Enjoy that privilege, and give If it is impossible to keep the pick with the owners who train they do hear, they are guilty of And if that pet should become a little something back. animals you have allowed your­ their dogs to be vicious killers. an even greater crime - hear­ a nuisance a matter of a few self to be "burdened" with, why Though deaths are rare, ing and not heeding, and wil­ weeks later? The SPCA is not Thanks to each and every one not, for God's sake, take them maulings and dog attacks are fully and cruelly breaking the a Rent-a-Pet service. As the slo­ of the Magneto staff members, to the SPCA? In the unfortu­ so very common these days. I unwritten laws of nature. It is gan goes, a pet is for life, not especially the talented and nate circumstance that homes always feel for the victim, usu­ unacceptable. just for Christmas. Try as they committed (committable?) sec­ cannot be found for the ani­ ally a child or passer-by, but the A practice that has recently might to screen owners, it is im­ tion heads, design editor, busi­ mals, yes, it is a harsh reality dog is also a victim of sorts. A come to light is one that is truly possible for the SPCA to ensure ness manager, illustrations edi­ of life that they will have to be dog is not born a killer. That incomprehensible to me. Find­ they are 100 percent responsi­ tor and production manager. put to sleep. But the difference much is clear. Through train­ ing that a pet is an inconven­ ble. between an animal dying in a ing and a lot more of the stick ience when going away on holi­ The moral of the editorial? Do humane, quick way with hands than the carrot, that dog has day, some people feel it is ac­ not take for granted life's sim­ to soothe it to sleep and that lost the capacity to recognise ceptable practice to dump them ple pleasures. One of those is animal dying in a box beside kindness. The dog will more on the roadside or in a river. Af­ the privilege we have of shar­ Katherine Roby the road is so vast as to be im- than likely pay with its life. ter returning from this trip, it ing this earth with our furry, Editor Contents ... Magneto's strange and stupid ... NEWS....................................................................... .3-8 The Earth's rotation is slowed ever so slightly by the turbulent air in the atmosphere. A big storm in the Pacific will make a WEPSA/SST. .. .............................................................. 9 day longer by such a minuscule amount it is hardly worth mentioning, unlike the fact that most horses are utterly terrified of donkeys. Some believe it is the big ears that flap OPINIONS...... ...... .......................... .... .................. 10-14 when a donkey walks or that the horse thinks it is a mutant alien horse. Whatever it is, even the biggest stallion has been known to freeze, flare nostrils and back slowly away on FEATURES. .i •••••• ••• ••••••••••••••• •••••• ••••••••••••••••••• •••••• •• 15-19 catching sight of a donkey. Why are the Statue of Liberty's hands only eleven inches long? Because otherwise they would be a foot. SPORT. ..................................................................20-23 MAGNETO is a Wellington Polytechnic Students Associa­ tion (WePSA) publication. The views of this publication are VOTE FOR YOUR NEW PREZ not necessarily those of Wellington Polytechnic, WePSA, Magneto is ... September 1-5, 1997 WPSST or the Wellington Polytechnic Journalism Department. EDITOR: Katherine Hoby Polling stations coming to NEWS EDITOR: Maggie Tait a department near you FEATURES EDITORS: Joely Ham I Bess Manson Results announced September 10 OPINIONS EDITOR: Lucy Bennett Meet the candidates on page 8 J SPORT AND RECREATION EDITOR: Nicola Coburn DESIGN EDITOR: Dougal Bell BUSINESS MANAGER: Yvonne O'Hara ILLUSTRATIONS EDITOR: Lynelle Gear PRODUCTION MANAGER: Chris Murray • STUDENT FARES SUB-EDITORS: Jed Baker, Liz Banas, Raewyn Blomfield, Robyn Downey, Greg Meylan, Keri WCTN - PALM NTH $17 PICTON - NELSON $18 Paterson, Chris Renwick, Catherine Walbridge. WCTN-WANCANUI $22 PICTON - CHCH $25 WCTN - N/PLYMOUTH $38 NELSON - CHCH $44 PAGE EDITORS: Patricia Bell, Paul Diamond, Michael Docherty, Jonathan Hill, Miranda Kuiper, Chris Murray, Amanda Sheddan, Brody Sinclair. PHONE 478 - 4734 CARTOONS: Matt Casey BIKES, FURNITURE, SCOOTERS CARRIED 2 Magneto September 1, 1997 News Troubles for Trust In Brief.. ~ EARLY warnings about sus­ employment with the trust had VICTORIA University is unlikely to follow its Auckland pended WPSST Trust executive been suspended . counterpart in plans to sell naming rights of its buildings. director Charles Begg's busi­ "The Serious Fraud Office will In recent comments to the press, Auckland University • ness activities were ignored, it be involved and in due course Registrar Warwick Nicoll said the selling of naming rights was claimed this week. they will be making inquiries .. was part of a $2.5m fundraising drive. This is part of a wider The business activities of Mr which could involve some staff appeal to raise $20M to fund research and scholarships. Begg are currently the subject and the trustees." "' A spokesperson for the Vice-Chancellor's office at'Victoria of two separate complaints, one According to IBM spokesper­ University said despite having minor sponsors for some from the Wellington Polytech­ son Arjan van der Boon, IBM z facilities such as the University's BP Mitsubishi Science nic Students Association Trust initiated legal proceedings§ Education Centre, no naming rights drive was planned. (WePSA Trust), the other from against Pro-Station on July 30 cJ IBM. after consulting its advisors~ MANAWATU Polytechnic's Levin campus was all sympathy Mr Begg's company Pro-Sta­ over an outstanding debt. 5 when it was announced the horticulture department at tion (New Zealand) Ltd for­ He said the company had an 9 Wellington Polytechnic will close. merly leased facilities at the arrangement ·with IBM over~ Levin campus hor.ticulture coordinator John Cud by said the Student Services Centre at leasing and selling computers, 0 closure would help attract more students to its own Wellington Polytechnic. but IBM was still awaiting pay- ~ horticultural courses. .., · Former business associate ment for a bill. Charles Begg "Students would come with the unit standards they gained Douglas McCoy said he had "The bill was not paid and we rently houses the student caf­ in Wellington, many of which would be the same as ours, gone to the New Zealand police are now exercising our legal eteria and bar, a fitness centre, allowing for considerable cross-crediting," he said. in March this year after becom­ remedies," he said. health, budget and accommo- Mr Cudby said he had been in touch with Wellington ing concerned about his busi­ Mr van der Boon was not pre- da:tion services. Polytechnic and would contact the horticulture students and ness transactions with Mr pared to say how·much was WePSA president John explain to therri what Levin had to offer. Begg. owed as this was between IBM Barkess said he had only heard Speaking from Australia, Mr and its customer. about the SFO inquiry about NO matter where you go in the world you will always be able McCoy said he also spoke to He understood there had been two days before it became pub­ to find out what Wellington i~ wearing.