Exec Bust-up over Health Service Site

"Since 1943 attempts have been made to establish at Victoria a University Health Service," A report on student facilities, guidance and counselling, emanating from the Faculty of Arts, also mentions the proposal that "a counselling service be established as a separate service—in the main—with the teaching and examining functions of the University."

Since 1943, efforts have been made. This is as far as it goes. Repeated attempts to get the service in operation have failed—at the Executive, Board and Council upon earlier this year, when Salient ran a spread, noting some of the obvious factors in favour of a Health Service.

Now Executive has taken up the cudgels. At its last meeting, September 20, it was moved that:

"We recommend to the management Committee, the Activities (Polio Vaccine) Room be offered for use as a Health and Counselling Service."

This motion was subject to heated debate. P. R. Officer Blizard came prepared to put his case: that for economic, expansion and psychological considerations, the Activities Room would be unsuitable. Mr Blizard spoke at great length and had, handed around the meeting, a sheet with summarised points. He was supported by Messrs McKay, Harris and Cornford, and Miss Benefield. Blizard thought that if other space could be found, not in the Union (it could) then the Union should not be considered.

For the affirmative, Messrs Pitch-forth, Moriarty and Perham expounded on the advantages of the Union. The matter had been considered by Management, himself, and other persons "in the know" said Moriarty, and as far as they were concerned, the Union was quite adequate.

After deliberating for over two hours (a record for one item) the motion, moved by Miss Clark, seconded by Afeaki, was put and carried by 7 votes to 5.

Perhaps now, the envisaged Health Service will be situated in the Student Union? Managing Secretary Boyd has already drafted a plan, allocating space for doctors and counsellor, for the Activities Boom. Certain question remain to be answered:

Why should the Exec, consider such a matter for over two hours—especially when all but three of the Exec. knew nothing about the pros and cons of the matter?

It must have in involved personalities somewhere along the line—why did the Exec. move into Committee?

Are Exec. members debating this, and other issues on what they know, or on what they have had recommended? At this meeting it was patently obvious, someone had been giving "guidance" to the President, Vice-President, Secretary. Have these three members access to "information" not available to others.

For the answers to these and others pertinent questions, watch future Exec. developments. At a very unstable juncture right now, a little impetus in the right direction could "damage" or "improve" everything.

Special Correspondent.