'student News' feud now partly open

NZSPA Reporter

Wellington: A silent student newspaper feud has come partly into the open. In a letter to students association executives, Student News advertising manager Barrie Saunders asks that the newspaper be given a fair run. and implies that it has been held back from students.

Noting that the next issue was due in the last week of July, Mr. Saunders asked for the cooperation of public relations officers on each campus.

"Reports have indicated that distribution on some of the campuses has in the past been fairly unsuccessful. The major factor appears to have been the comparatively inefficient methods used—dumping 2000 copies in one heap. for instance, is not verv helpful." Mr. Saunders told the executives.

He cited the system used at Victoria University. which uses similar procedures of distribution to those of Salient. There. 4000 people out of a student roll of 4800 collected Student News, he said.

"Student News is to a certain extent 'on trial.' If students don't really want it, then it will surely collapse. However, in the mean time, it must be given fair trial. In the case of Victoria University, where distribution has been effectively carried out, students have taken copies."

An NZSPA check showed that piles of the previous issue were still lying around student buildings—but far out of the way of passing students. Hidden in Auckland's exec room were more than 1000 undistributed copies of the paper. In Dunedin. Critic editor Don Gray was unwilling host to about 1500 copies. At Canterbury, 1000 copies were left in the nzspa office.

"There's not enough to attract student interest in the paper for the number they send."' said Canterbury Pro Patricia Roche. She told NZSPA 5000 copies had been, sent. Canta editor Dave Ritchie said about 4300 Cantas were distributed to students on the campus each issue.

Miss Roche's sentiments were confirmed by Critic editor Gray But whether this was the reason for Otago tardiness on distribution was made doubtful by an Otago University Students Association letter to other executives, asking for support in a protest over the content of that issue—in particular the centre spread, jocularly termed "the sex life of nuns"' by New Zealand University Students Association president Ross Mountain.

When Canterbury considered the letter it was decided to seek information on legal safeguards—if Student News is sued, constituents must eventually pay the bill-rather than to make a protest about the article.

Arguing for this. NZSPA president Warren Mayne said executive protests on content should have no more weight with NZUSA (the publishers) than individual students opinions.

Part of the trouble seemed to lie in uncertainty over who was responsible for the circulation. At Canterbury it was first delegated to NZUSA Travel Officer Vicki Livingstone, then to Miss Roche, while Canta distribution manager Murray Watkins was uncertain of what his position was.