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Salient: Victoria University Students' Paper. Vol. 29, No. 8. 1966.

Editorials

page 6

Editorials

July 1, 1966

Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of Vuwsa.

Holyoake's LL.D

The University's decision to award an honorary degree to the Rt. Hon. K. J. Holyoake has all the trappings of a cheap political gimmick.

It must have been a singularly short-witted council which could not see the ridiculous nature of such an award at the present time.

Mr. Holyoake is fortunate that his degree was not presented at the annual graduation ceremony. The silence from the audience as he walked forward to collect it would have been stunning.

For students have not forgotten—even though it seems that the university has—that just one year ago at the graduation ceremony the Chancellor of this university bitterly attacked the government's policy towards universities.

Nor have students forgotten the contempt with which Mr. Holyoake treated student protests at that time.

Throughout this university, students are dismayed at this honorary award. Conservative, radical—these political tags have nothing to do with their objections.

Indeed, some of the most outspoken students have been members of Mr. Holyoake's own party.

The university administration has goofed. There's nothing that can now be done about this award.

But it must be made abundantly clear to the university that their act has debased the standing of this university and debased the award of honorary degrees.

To award a politician an honorary degree when he is still in office and months away from fighting an election is a political act that is both dangerous and foolhardy.

H.B.R.

Sports grants

Sports Clubs in this university have it pretty good—or so the saying goes.

In point of fact, the university sports clubs deserve a considerably better deal than they are getting.

The fact that one of major reasons why nothing has been done lies in the sports clubs' silence on the matter is not a reason for no action.

The clubs annually receive £2000 from the students' association. While this is a large sum, a fair case can be made out that they should have more.

And they should have freedom to allocate it at their complete discretion.

The sports clubs have an enviable record in administration and in activity. They have shown a cohesive spirit and an efficient approach towards sharing the monies available and stimulating weak and new sports.

But, large though their grant is, it is not sufficient. New Zealand universities' teams are still not able to tour and compete on the strength of their ability. Few tours are possible, and these are hamstrung by lack of finance.

The extension of two existing principles into the field of sports organisation would do much to help this university's clubs.

The first is the splitting away of sport from the main students' association into a union of its own. This has been done overseas and also at the national level here.

The second lies in recognising that participant and non-participant students have an equal obligation towards promoting university sport.

An initial budget of £3000 a year would not be an unrealistic assessment of the sports clubs' real needs.

H.B.R.