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Salient: An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria University. Wellington Vol. 24, No. 2. 1961

What Happened to Herk?

What Happened to Herk?

Many students have been enquiring about the mysterious absence of Mr Hercus at this critical time of the academic year. Salient has investigated the matter, and we now present a full explanation of the story.

Who is Herk.? For those unenlightened innocents John Hercus is president of the Students' Association of the Victoria University of Wellington. Herk. is a name to remember—for he has done much for the association. He is a science graduate, and was recently married to Ann Sayers, also a student of Victoria University.

Where is Herk.: Mr and Mrs Hercus are now living in the Coromandel Peninsula. He is now teaching at the Waihi College. The Coromandel Peninsula is however a long way off from Wellington, and any attempt to manage the affairs of the Association from there would be impractical. Salient thinks, however, that Herk. is not where he should be. As president of the Victoria University Students' Association, he should be here in Wellington if he is to do his job satisfactorily.

How did Our President get Leave: Herk. applied for leave of absence early last December. In an executive meeting held on December 15, 1960, it was decided that Herk. be granted leave of absence until May 5 of this year—an unusually long period. Leave of absence was legally necessary, since section 17, subsection one of the Victoria University Students' Association Constitution provides that "the position of any member shall be vacant if such member fails to attend three consecutive ordinary meetings of the executive to which he has been duly summoned unless he has first obtained from the executive leave of absence in respect of any such meetings or respect of any period of time during which any such meeting is held."

What Happened Afterwards. In a subsequent executive meeting, however, some members of the executive proposed that the leave of absence originally granted to Herk. be rescinded. The effect of such a proposal being carried out would mean that Mr Hercus has to return to Wellington if he is to retain his presidential seat. It would be impossible for him to attend the executive meetings otherwise. And the Association cannot function smoothly without the supervision of a president. The motion that leave be cancelled was in fact voted upon and carried, though not unanimously. So Herk. is now in peril of losing his office.

What Salient Thinks. The granting of the leave of absence in the first place was highly irregular. Surely, the wide administrative experience possessed by our executive members should have flashed the red light against such a move! The position of president of the Association is too important a post to be left vacant for long. Hence, the only place for Herk. is Wellington—where he can properly conduct the affairs of the Association—and nowhere else. Herk. is in the executive; he is in the Student Union Management Committee; he is in the Students'

John Hercus

John Hercus

Union Planning Committee; and he is ex officio in many other committees. Can all these committees function smoothly without him? We leave that query unanswered. But this much is certain: as president, he should be here in Wellington.

Secondly, Salient believes that the absence of leave being granted, the situation can only be aggravated by having Herk's. leave cancelled at this late stage. For having the leave of absence withdrawn now would in practice mean that Herk. must vacate his presidential seat. Then not only havo we lost efficiency; we will also have lost a president—a very capable one at that! On the other hand, it must not be forgotten that it is essential for the president to be in a position where he can personally keep an eye on everything if he is to perform his task satisfactorily. The task of a president is a difficult one; and it would be unfair and impractical to expect the vice-president and the rest of the exec, share the president's burden while he continues to hold that office.

What Will Happen to Herk.? Armour Mitchell has now been elected acting-president. It seems unlikely that Herk. will be able to leave Waihi College, and it is probable that Herk. will have to abandon his office. This is somewhat unfortunate, in view of the fact that the Union Buildings will be open soon. For Herk. did a lot of work over the new buildings. Salient is happy to note however that the executive has decided that Herk. be invited to speak on behalf of the Association at the official opening ceremonies of the Student Union Building, regardless whether he is still president or not at that time.

Editor's Note: After the above article had been written, Salient received news from Mr Steve O'Regan—executive member—that Herk. is no longer eligible for the executive because he did not enrol as a student of Victoria University for 1961.

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The Union Building Again: For those characters who are becoming impatient, Salient gives them assurance that we are watching over their interests closely. After all, who does not want to move into that wonderful building? Those sceptical beings who are inclined to be critical should attend one of these executive meetings — and see for themselves just how much work is involved in the whole project.