Exec Acts On Forum Fiasco

On July 15 Peter Blizard reported to the executive on Mr. Darracott's side of the Haas expulsion from the youth forum. He had been asked to do this by the previous executive.

Mr. Darracott, chairman of the nucleus group of the youth forum, told Peter Blizard that the allegations in Salient were untrue. He said that the rapporteur role at the forum was definitely defined. He explained that after a few days of the forum it had come to his notice that the role of rapporteur played by Mr. Haas not proving satisfactory. He said that the nucleus group and the group leaders met at length several times to discuss the matter and had come to the conclusion that Mr. Haas should be expelled.

Alister Taylor, secretary of VUWSA. said in defence of Tony Haas that at no time had Mr. Darracott said anything about reason for Mr. Haas's expulsion from the forum or how the decision had been arrived at.

Mr. Blizard explained that Mr. Darracott had regarded his relationship with the rapporteurs as that of employer-employee, and that Mr. Haas had been asked to do a certain job. As he had not fulfilled his obligations in this matter. Mr. Darracott had discharged him as he felt he had every right to do.

Tony Haas said that he had obtained legal advice on this point and that he had been advised that there was not a legally binding contractual arrangement involved.

Russell Campbell, another rapporteur, said that he had spoken to a nucleus group member. Jenny Barlow, who had declared that' she had not been at the meeting where Tony Haas had been expelled.

Haas made a refutation of Mr. Darracott's arguments in a written statement and said that he had also spoken to a nucleus group member, who had indicated that the article in salient was factually correct. He had even been considering writing something about the expulsion but had decided not to because he might hurt to many people's feelings.

Mr. Tony Ashenden stated that as far as he could see there was a conflict of evidence and the only he could see of resolving it was to judge the honesty of the parties involved and this was something he was not prepared to do.

After further deliberations this motion, which had been tabled since June 3. was passed:

"That this executive deplores the expulsion of a student of VUW acting as a rapporteur at the youth forum."