Agreement now before release

NZSPA Reporter Tony Hannah

No press statements will now be made by The New Zealand University Students' Association National Executive unless all constituent university Presidents have been consulted and there is a two-thirds majority in favour of the statement.

A Canterbury University Students' Association remit to the Easter Council proposed formalising procedure by which the President of NZUSA may give press statements on political or controversial issues.

Victoria President. John McGrath fell that the decision should require a simple majority in line with other policy decisions, but his proposed amendment failed.

Canterbury delegate John Anderson contended that with a two-thirds majority New Zealand's 24,000 students would be fully represented and there would be less opportunity of a mistake.

"A two-thirds majority is rather more binding than is perhaps required in this case," said NZUSA President Ross Mountain, backing the simple majority.

Victoria President McGrath felt that it showed distrust in the press to want such an overwhelming majority decision. "It is too safe," he said.

The remit was passed intact, with Auckland dissenting and Victoria abstaining.