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

Executive

Executive

four figures at a meeting room table

It's my job to drag something of interest out of bureaucracy (necessary though it be,) silly quibbling and the general crap that goes with exec-type meetings. Most of my predecessors have turned to humour as the sugar to sweeten the exec report. Not wishing to set an unhealthy precedent I shall at least partially emulate my forebears, whose bane it was to write these articles in days of yore.

As I entered the Board Room, Lindy Cassidy was applying the crank which would shortly set the meeting in motion. I cloistered with two Tenants' Union people at the remote end of the table and casting my eyes around the room caught nothing of interest and so entered a semi-stupor in which I remained until I was ejected from the meeting when it entered closed committee.

Reports;

Neil Gray reported that Rob Moore-Jones and himself were dealing with the library cutbacks. He added that, in consultation with the Assistant Librarian, a questionnaire was being drawn up which would be distributed to students in the near future. Lindy said the petition concerning the cutback in library hours had a lot of signatures. A A motion that the Man-Vice-President and the Woman-Vice-President be directed to circulate the library petition was carried.

I am one of the fortunate few who have ever laid eyes on the invisible woman—Catherine Paterson. She gave a brief report of her activities. She is making 'preliminary: enquiries concerning the opening of a licensed club on the middle floor of the Union Building.

Among other things, Steve Underwood reported that a motion was passed that the Council ratified the Professorial Board's decision regretting the current level of finance available.

One of the things Lindy reported on was the "Living with Sex" booklet which had been brought up at the National Exec meeting. Most constituents in particular Lincoln and Massey were not happy with it. They felt that such words as and.... would be shocking to the more genteel members of their Associations. Also discussed at National exec, says Lindy, was Bursaries. It was decided to hold a National Bursaries Action day on June 9.

Kevin Swann started the rush for the till by asking for reimbursement of a taxi fare which he had incurred whilst carrying out Association business. Steve Underwood followed by asking the Association to pay a traffic fine received whilst rescuing women and children from bomb-scared Rankine Brown. The prospects looked good for a general looting of the till when Peter Thrush went overboard by producing 15,000 cable car tickets he said were bought whilst executing Association business. Once these three placed their wallets back in their pockets and climbed off the table, business commenced anew.

Tenants' Union was represented at the meeting and were hoping to get a bit of the bicky. They eventually did Steve Underwood (ably assisted by Peter Thrush) suggested that instead of simply donating a sum to Tenants' Union, the Association should take on some of their debts. That way the Association's money would be safe from misuse and the students could see that their money was being put to a specific purpose. Nice one Steve. John Cranna, a member of VUWSA had spent his last penny ($85 to be precise) in paying off some of the telephone bill. The reason why Cranna had to pay the bill out of his own pocket was that the Association's money had not come through as quickly as was hoped for. The meeting decided that by giving him $85, it would clearly be seen as in fact paying the phone bill. A motion that the telephone bill for the Tenants' Union of $146, plus $5 for the reconnecting charge be paid, and this money be taken out of the Housing Account, upon production of a receipt of bill paid of $85, was moved. It was carried

When the matter was raised of giving $90 to the Wellington Anti-Apartheid Plenary to pay for three different leaflets, Peter Thrush questioned the support the group had amongst students. He said he had attended one function and was 'witness to' another put on by WAAP Both he said were poorly attended. At this point Kevin Swann, Neil Gray and Co. entered the fray arguing that WAAP did have a large student support. 250 students marched from the Hunter Lawn and a great many more joined down-town—obvious signs of support. Much surprise and regret was expressed when Peter Thrush and Steve Underwood stated they had not been in the march. WAAP got their $90 with all supporting the motion except (guess who) Peter Thrush and Steve Underwood who abstained on the grounds of ignorance.

After things went into closed committee and I was heading home to rest my head, the bookshop as well as Salient's autonomy from the executive were being discussed. A motion was passed (which they were later bruised for) which meant that whilst and for the purpose of protecting the association from legal and financial trouble, the Executive would have the right to peruse Salient articles before publication and could censor 'Salient.' Those who voted for this iniquitous motion were: Underwood, Thrush, Gray, Paterson, Gilkison, Sharrock. Those who oppsed it were: Cassidy, Couper and Swann. The people who voted for it were bringing Salient closer to Executive control. Salient should be free from interference by paranoic Executive members. Salient has a responsibility to bring the actions of the Association's officers under students scrutiny. Those who voted for this (Vorster-like) motion, must be aware and nervous about having their activities or lack of activity printed in Salient. The responsibility for ensuring that the Association is not open to legal action should be left to the editor of Salient and his legal advisors. This is the code which all the free press work under and which Salient should be left to work under.

—Eugene Doyle.