NOW AVAILABLE REMEMBER COMMEM. BALL Spencer: Bseays on £!du< cation 6/6 Cunningham's Manual of TOMORROW NiCtHT BOOKS Practical Anatomy Vol, r. 36/9 FOR YOUR STUDIES Young: A Handbook of IN ALL SUIMECTS Social Psychology . 32/9 M.I.T. Applied Electron­ ics 50/6 are Obtainable from A. McLEOD, A. McLEOD, "Brisbane's Best "Brisbane's Best Bookstore," Bookstore," 107 ISLIZABISIH ST., mtmt 107 ELIZABETH ST., BRISBANE BRISBANE Thfe' University of Queensland Students' Newspaper Vol. XVIII. - No. 8. Kegialered at G.P.O., Brisbane, for THURSDAY, APRIL 28, 1949. tranamtsaton by post as a periodical. Were They Robbed? FoUowing on last week^s criticism of the conduct of the Queensland Regatta and the unfortunate incident which befell the Varsity eight the following letters have been received attempting to clarify the position. Sir,—As one of tl^e supposed "Ned Sir,~"Semper's" description of JCelly's" in the article in "Semper the Championship Eights race on Floreat" of 21st April, I request space Easter Saturday reflects very badly to reply. As one of the umpires in on the sportsmanship of the writer tixe State Ciiampion Eights, and as a involved. I am quite sure he was former President and Coach for many not expressing the views of the fine years of botii the University and Science Display G.P.S.O.B. Rowing Clubs, I (and body of men in the eight. There many others) deplore the aforesaid were many glaring inaccuracies in The Annual Science Display will be held this year on next the account which should be cor­ article for the following reasons:—(1) Wednesday, 4th May, in the afternoon from 2.30 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. it gave a biased account of the race; rected. (2) it presumed to say that Univer­ In the fii'st place, the University and in the evening from 7.30 p.m. to 9.30 p.m. For the benefit of sity was "easily the best crew on the was not robbed of the right to repre­ those who have not read the handbook, it is one of THE events day" and should have won by three sent Queensland in the King's Cup of Commem. Week, put on by the students of the various de­ and a half lengths; (3) it stated that race in South Australia. This right G.P.S. was allowed to go where it did not go to the winning crew, but partments to enlighten, confound and entertain you and your pleased, and thus gained a big ad­ to the crew which the Queensland friends and relations. vantage; and (4) it accused those re­ Rowing Council thought was the best sponsible for the conduct of the race crew on the day. Their unanimous So come, bring your friends, and next "Wednesday. If you are the of robbing the University of the choice was the winning eight—G.P.S. inspect the displays of marvels in the serious type, here is food for championship. Departments of Agriculture, Archi­ thought; if you are not, here is Old Boys. tecture, Chemistry, Botany, Engineer­ science at its most enthralling, mys­ Before commenting on these points In the actual race it is admitted ing, Geology. Physics, Physiology and terious and spectacular. I want to say that I agree with' the that University had the lead over Zoology. The Physiol, display is in See you there! article that "University rowed the first mile (G.P.S. Old Boys fav­ the Physiol. School, corner of William grandly and proved itself to be the our a slow start and a fast finish). and Alice Sts.—don't forget it. Printed programmes will be avail­ finest eight boated by that club since The unbiassed opinion of the men in able. Eric Freeman's crew of 1923." Now This year we have not only the this reflects the very highest credit the boats acting as markers at the popular features of previous dis­ Remember that admission to the on its coach. Dr. Whitehouse. But.Jt first mile buoys was that University plays, the Liquid Air Display, the Liquid Air Display is BY TICKET is presumption and an absurdity Xd had the advantage by one length at million-volt Tesla coil, and ail ONLY. Tickets will be available on say that it was "easily- the best crew this point. (not two lengths as re­ the others, but many new and in­ the verandah in front of the First on the day," for it was racing against ported). triguing exhibits. Be in it! Year Chem. Lab. for the four another fine crew whom the Queens­ Your writer completely ignored Artists, medicos—revisit George St, sessions. land Rowing Council has picked to the fact that a motor boat cut across represent the State, coached by Eric the course at the 11 mile point, Evers, than whom there is no better severely interfering with both G.P.S. coach or sportsman in Australia. Old Boys and Bundaberg, but not The race was rowed with a follow­ affecting other crews. Independent ing tide which was very noticeably observers on the Triberg gave the CAda^io--- flowing up-stream at the start. This University lead at this point at half gave the crew on the south bank a de­ a length. The statement that the The Queensland Symphony Orches­ played later, is really a large-scale finite advantage and University second buoyVas four boats lengths tra has swung into rather leisurely symphonic poem, and not meant to naturally Icept near this bank for as out of place is ridiculous. The buoy action again, but with the onset of be an introduction to a stage pre­ long a time as possible. This gave had drifted, but University's trouble the winter season we may expect a sentation. The plan of the work, the crew an advantage of probably at this point was due solely to bad spate of concerts of various kinds. with themes representing Hamlet several lengths over the first mile Its performance of "Merrie England" and Ophelia, was easy to follow and a half .over the other crews who steering by their cox. The other three coxwains all could pick out last week, in association with the (good programme annotations helped were gradually drawing over towards Queensland State and Municipal here), and there were striking con­ the north bank according to instruc­ the buoys quite plainly. Choir and soloists, was a delightful trasts in tone between the plaintive tions thoroughly explained the night G.P.S. Old Boys increased their foretaste of the year's events, and the "Ophelia" theme, on the aboe. and before. At the point when Univer­ lead over the last mile and won with orchestral playing did full justice to the strongly orchestrated closing sity started to cross over some of plenty in hand. Rowing experts on Sir Edward German's light but very passages. their supporters on the south bank the spot were unanimous m their entertaining score. Vera Bradford played the solo part have stated that their lead was then selection of the winning crew as the "Merrie England," in spite of Eric capably in Rachmaninoff's 2nd Piano not more than one length. best crew of the day. Blom's appellation of "Sham Tudor," Concerto, and the romantic second Had University started to leave the Unfortunately, the article in proved refreshing and charming; for movement was sometimes moving; south bank and come over with the "Semper" has been circulated in what it sets out to be, it is very suc­ but the whole effect had none of the other crews earlier than they did many groups outside the University, cessful, and it did provide a welcome exciting quality that one expected they, would have lost their advantage and the general public's opinion of relaxation from the sometimes ex­ from it. Perhaps the recorded ver­ though not probab^ by so much as University sportsmanship has deteri­ hausting efforts that more complex sion with the composer as soloist they did by delaying to come over orated; works demand. The choir were in spoils our taste for other interpreta­ 'until about a mile from home. I have no affiliations whatsoever good voice, and soloists James Hunter tions, but the vigorous parts need a , The third umpire, who was closely and Sylvia Biddle were outstanding; man's playing to stand out against ioliowing behind G.P.S. and Bunda- with G.P.S. Old Boys, but I give the usual tendency for the orchestra the orchestral background. berg, did not consider that there was them credit for a fairly won race. to drown the soloist rather spoiled The second half of the programme room for both these crews between It is to be hoped that "Semper" finds the latter's singing, which was ad­ began with the "Nutcracker Suite," the inside buoy and the north bank, another writer to describe the Inter- mirably suited to the music, in all and the delicate playing of the and ordered (not permitted) the University race just in case Queens­ its lightness and delicacy. cleverly-written little pieces was a [former to go inside this buoy which land is "robbed" again.—^Yours, etc., Earlier in April, the orchestra welcome respite before the massed they would not otherwise have done, JOHN D. HERBERT. celebrated the anniversary of brass band and thunderstorm effects an'actual difference of a few yards Rachmaninolf's birthday by a of the "1812 Orchestra." The con­ which did not affect the race. It is Tchaikowsky-Rachmaninoff concert, ductor, Joseph Post, succeeded in true that the buoys had drifted Finally, all crews agreed to all the one of a series of popular concerts getting the utmost sound out of the nearer to the north bank than they conditions of the race as decided on which attract well-deserved crowds full! orchestra and organ, and the 'should have been, but this affected the Friday night, and it is difficult to and sometimes over-enthusiastic ap­ final impression as we left the hall all the crews.