Salient. Official Newspaper of Victoria University of Wellington Students Association. Vol 40 No. 6. April 4 1977

[Introduction]

Whitcoulls Booksellers are at the centre of a row brewing at Wellington Teachers Training College. It seems that Whitcoulls are not just satisfied with their captive audience of T.Coll students. They been helped by a willing College Administration acting as debt collectors. Students at Karori are indicating, in no uncertain terms, that they are unhappy about the situation.

At a meeting of the Association on Monday, March 28, the President of the Association, Audrey Young, outlined briefly the facts of the 'Whitcoulls Affair.'

  • Whitcoulls drew up a list of 60 students who hadn't paid their bills. Whitcoulls then sent copies of the letter to Wilbur Manins, College Dean.
  • Manins approached the students concerned, and pointed out that money was owed, despite the fact that it was none of his business.
  • He then published a list of the ten worst offenders in the confidential staff bulletin, accompanied by the following introduction:

"Whitcoulls have informed us that they are unable to extend any further credit to the following students because of their previous credit record with Whitcoulls. When making purchases from Whitcoulls they are required to be made on a cash basis. This information might have some significance for the library, the resource centre and staff who are in the habit of lending out materials."

The irony was that some of the students had paid their bills before the list was published.

Manins, who attended the meeting briefly, stated that he was justified in taking this course of action. After all, how could he stand idly by, when the actions of a small number of students would jeopardise the wonderful credit service that Whitcoulls were offering to students out of the goodness of their hearts.

Members of the audience, however, pointed out that firstly, Whitcoulls were in the business of making money out of students who had to have books, and secondly, that the relationship between Whitcoulls and any student was a private matter.

Manins was then asked two questions: would he publish an apology in the Staff Bulletin to the students concerned, and would he write to Whitcoulls and advise them that in future they should do their own debt collecting.

Manins would not agree to these requests, but stated instead that he would give more thought to the matter if the situation arose again. This statement drew an angry reaction from the audience, and the remainder of the meeting was spent in looking at ways to repair the immediate damage, and to prevent the sordid affair happening again.