Demonstration

Nothing loth, some students forged ahead with the Idea, arranging for a demonstration to be held outside Parliament on opening day, June 7. The demonstration, it was thought, would help remind the public and the P.M. that students wanted action, not words and idle promises. Executive had other ideas. In disregard of the S.G.M. directive "it would" in the words of Mr Moriarty, "certainly not organise a demonstration, but if a demonstration was to be held by certain elements, then Executive members should intervene on a personal basis to make it constructive and orderly."

As it was, the demonstration was held—without Exec. approval—and failed to impress many people of the nature of the issues at hand.

Wrath aroused, the demonstrating students called for an S.G.M. This was held on the night of Friday, June 15. At this meeting—which was attended by some 200 people—six motions were successfully carried, all of which related to censuring and directing the Exec.

The first four, were pushed through rapidly: Stone/Magnusson That the Executive of the Association shall be bound by the motions passed at this meeting unless a General Meeting of the Association directs otherwise.

Magnusson/Bromby That the Association demands that university fees shall be lowered and eventually abolished.

Blizard/Mutton That the Exec. is bound to approach the Government on the subject of fees until fees are lowered to or below the scale of 1960 fees.

Iorns/Davies That the Exec. immediately demand of N.Z.U.S.A. that N.Z.U.S.A. organise a nationwide petition asking for the lowering or abolition of university fees, the petition to be completed before the end of the university year, and failing action by N.Z.U.S.A. the Exec. of this Association shall organise a petition in the electorates within the V.U.W. district, which petition shall be completed before the end of the university year.

Miss Jones

Then came a surprise. It was moved Dwyer, seconded Blizard.

That the Exec. demand of N.Z.U.S.A. the resignation of Miss Florence Jones from the National Executive. Miss Jones had cast herself into hot water earlier in the week by making statements in a weekly paper, to the effect that students were "satisfied with the new system".

It seemed that the meeting was not concerned with Miss Jones's views as being the official views of N.Z.U.S.A. (Miss Jones is Education Officer) and that a personal attack was quite in order. Thus, speakers harangued in good faith; felt satisfied when the motion was carried 87-65.—Editor.

Finger of Suspicion

Mr William Dwyer, vocal student authority on Anarchy and the need for a free Education, points an accusing finger at the A.G.M. This picture shows Mr Dwyer haranguing the meeting. (An adjournment had to be called soon after this episode—Dwyer refusing the Chairman's order that he resume his seat.)

Kicked Out

Clash of Opinion at A.G.M.

Peter O'Brien, immediate past Vice-President of V.U.W.S.A. holds head in amazement at the antics at the A.G.M. O'Brien, and next to him, former President Armour Mitchell, opposed vigorously the idea of "official" demonstrations.

Next on the cards was the motion, moved Magnusson, seconded Bromby:

That the Association has no-confidence in the Exec. Mr Magnusson and others spoke at length on the "subversive activities" of the Executive, of its "impudence", labelling it a "powerful but corrupt elite". In the minds of Mr Magnusson, and a number of others, the only worthwhile place for an Exec. of this calibre was "in the gutter".

Some students did not agree. Mr Peter O'Brien, Vice-President of V.U.W.S.A. tried to voice his opinion, was howled from the stage. Vowed O'Brien, "it's the last time I speak before a student body". President Mitchell, on rising, was greeted with hisses and boos, and in one half-hour on the stage, managed to utter about 10 coherent sentences. A usually successful swayer of student sympathies, Mitchell could not fight against this vociferous throng. The motion was ultimately put, and carried (to the accompaniment of tremendous applause).

So for the first time in 14 years, the Exec. has been ousted. Whether tactics and strategy on the part of the Exec. could have saved the day, is open to conjecture. It appears doubtful, however; for in the minds of a majority of students, the Exec. had to go, come what may. The action on the part of students at the S.G.M. has been designated "mob-like". Perhaps this is a little too strong. Nevertheless, it must be said, the majority of students went along to the meeting with their minds made up. The majority could not have cared less about demonstrating, fees, directives or words; It was there to railroad the issues, it was there not to think but to threaten.—Editor.

Caretaker Exec.

Immediately following on from this, was the election of an interim Exec. to manage affairs until the A.G.M. (6 days hence). This was done; Mr Moriarty being declared President, Messrs Boshier, Dwyer, Bromby and Hawkins, part making the Committee.

The meeting of this Exec. on Monday, June 18, was farcical—a battle of procedural points and wrangles over standing orders. The report of the Provisional Exec. brought down to the A.G.M. (Thursday, June 21) made a couple of lukewarm recommendations, asking that the relationship of V.U.W.S.A. with N.Z.U.S.A. be investigated, and recommending to the incoming Exec. a "strict adherence to the resolutions of both the March and June S.G.M's."

Annual General Meeting

The A.G.M. of Thursday, June 21, swiftly developed into a sounding-ground for all sorts of diatribe and abuse; hurled from one side of the theatre to the other.

The minutes of the 63rd A.G.M., of the two earlier S.G.M's, the reception and adoption of the 64th Annual Report were quickly dealt with. Then came the Report of the Provisional Exec. Self-appointed spokesman William Dwyer rising to his feet, started accusing his fellow interim-Exec. members of being "traitors", "back-stabbers" and "more disgraceful (in their attitudes toward the S.G.M. resolutions) than the previous Exec." It appears that the interim Exec. wanted to incorporate into the report a motion to the effect that demonstrations be discontinued.

Something had to give. Once past the Report of the Provisional Exec. factions quickly developed; Dwyer and his men placed against the left-hand side of the Theatre, ex-Exec. members and supporters arranged against the right-hand side. Criticism and invectives were being freely exchanged, and upon the motion:

That the Exec. shall, and is bound to, organise orderly demonstrations on the fees issue which are to be held until fees are lowered to or below the 1960 scale of fees being put, chaos broke out. After much discussion, the motion was put and carried, 89-45.

Mr Tony Pointon then got in a motion to the effect: That this Association has confidence in the evicted Exec.

Traitors, Reactionaries, Fascists!"

For Dwyer this was too much. Jumping up, once again, he accused the Chairman of "abusing his position" (in not accepting procedural points), saying that Moriarty "did not appreciate the essential Right of the individual". Shouting and cavorting, Dwyer started to label the "gathered throng" as a pack of "reactionaries" and "fascists". Moriarty had to adjourn the meeting when it became obvious Dwyer was not going to resume his seat, nor was he going to shut-up. until procedural matters went to his liking.

Meeting Terminated

On resumption, squabbles and bickering broke out, yet again; and before long, the meeting was once more adjourned. A second break could not quell the fist-threatening students however, and after the second resumption the 64th A.G.M. had to be terminated through the Exec. Officers walking off stage.

It is interesting to see that whereas the S.G.M. drew much more of an anti-Exec. gathering which could successfully railroad the motions; the A.G.M. found a more balanced situation. The students were not swayed by Invectives and abuse as they were on Friday night. The A.G.M. developed, in every way, into a personal harangue, between Dwyer and the rest, between left and right and between the left themselves. In actual fact, certain members nearly came to blows. It is hard to envisage, after the A.G.M. shambles, that the demonstrators — liberals — fees issue boys will be in any sort of lighting shape in the next six months. In fighting amongst themselves, they have disrupted their whole cohesion and pressure. A further S.G.M. however (to finish the business left unattended at the A.G.M.) might find them back on their feet, fighting against yet another conservative Exec. This, at the moment, appears Improbable.—Ed.

Chess

A great upsurge of interest in chess playing on the part of American teenagers has been a major development of recent years in the field of sports and recreation in the United States.

It is an enthusiasm that had its beginnings some 20 years ago, the older chess experts say. But they admit that they cannot put their finger on precisely what influences were responsible for its beginning and thereafter for its steady growth in popularity.

However that may be, there is no question nut that chess in America today is dominated by youth. The explosive growth in its popularity among high school and college students has never before been equalled.

To cite but one of many comparable events, some 1,400 boys and girls gather each summer in the midwestern city of Milwaukee to compete in a tournament that is now in Its twenty-third year. And all across America during the winter months youthful e are playing and defeating their graying elders in a thousand club matches and national, local and regional tournaments, including contest for the U.S. Championship, the U.S. Amateur Championship, the Intercollegiate Championship, the U.S. Junior Championship, and the U.S. Speed Championship.