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

Victoria University vs. Whitcoulls

Victoria University vs. Whitcoulls.

For a number of years, both academic staff and students at Victoria had complained about the service offered by Whitcoulls. And, as they held at that time, a virtual monopoly on university texts, they were not compelled by the capitalist laws of competition to better the service. The University bookshop in Mount St, which was the only real competitor to Whitcoulls, indicated to the Students' Association that they were being forced to sell. Whitcoulls moved fast and offered to buy the shop in partnership with the Association. It soon became obvious that such a deal would work heavily in favour of Whitcoulls, so the Association bought the shop outright. There were obviously problems associated with this venture: purchasing buildings, accurately ordering books, and paying and keeping of staff during the summer holidays.

However, the venture has its merits. The most obvious one is that students will get the benefit of the profits, in the form of better students facilities etc.

The implications of this scheme for training college are clear. Firstly, a shop is already available, which removes the initial problem of purchasing premises. Secondly, a sum of around $28,000 has been discovered in a bookshop account, the result of accumulated rent paid in by Whitcoulls over the year. This money is apparently to be used by a committee of staff, students and council for their mutual benefit. It is possible that part of this money could be used to set up a bookshop similar to the one owned by Victoria University.