Biting The Hand...

The theft of £130 worth of books from the VUW Student Christian Movement's second-hand bookstall this year resulted in a loss of £13 in commission, it was reported at the SCM's annual meeting on July 21. Sales amounted to more than £3000, £500 more than last year. Because of the theft the commission increased by only £16 to £262. More than 6000 books, from 601 vendors, were sold.

Suggested future activities, including the inspection of the religious section of the varsity library and recommendations on the acquisition of new books, arose from discussion of the minutes of the previous annual meeting.

Donations had dropped from £105 in 1962 to £49 in 1963. due mainly to cessation of direct requests to staff members for contributions in favour of mailed requests from the national organisation. It was stated that the old system would be revived in 1964 possibly because donations so far this year total £1 16/3.

The 28 members present elected their new executive as follows: President. Alan Simpson; vice-president, Miss Lois Belton; secretary. Miss A. Briant; treasurer David Holm.

The meeting; decided that prayers in the SCM cabin would be held every week-day at 1pm, whether or not other activities were being conducted at about the same time.

Discussions are to be held on church union, with particular reference to denominational differences.

It was suggested that branches of the VUW SCM be formed in each faculty, but after a comment that branches in the commerce and law faculties, especially, would be seriously handicapped by zero membership, the motion was amended to provide for the appointment of contact members in each faculty. While on the subject of membership, it was noted that active SCM membership had dropped over the last few years, while varsity enrolment had been increased steadily.

Although over 300 indicated interest in SCM at enrolment this year, only about 70 to 80 were actually active.

Greater contact and co-operation with other religious groups on campus seemed to be required, although it was questioned whether individual was not better than official contact.