Other formats

    Adobe Portable Document Format file (facsimile images)   TEI XML file   ePub eBook file  

Connect

    mail icontwitter iconBlogspot iconrss icon

Salient: Victoria University Students' Paper. Vol. 30, No. 7. 1967.

Editorials

page 6

Editorials

June 15, 1967

Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of VUWSA.

Non-thinking students in National Party

The small attendance of National Party supporters at the VUW National Club's seminar on conservatism last weekend illustrates the nature of student support for the Party.

Whereas in contrast to the "Junats" one might expect university National supporters to be interested in politics, this is in fact not so.

The majority are not aware of their reasons for supporting the Party. In most cases they are following their parents—that is they join because it is the thing to do.

They believe the National Party to be more right than wrong, without considering why.

Although many may be shocked by those students who support the National Party in such an undiscriminating manner, a study of the Party in office will explain the absence of politically aware and informed students.

The National Party has no philosophy—it is a party of expediency. Proposals for change are first tested for administrative feasibility and then for political expediency.

The goal of the Party is to gain and retain political power. It must be remembered this goal was determined and is pursued by the parliamentary side and not the activists, who have quite different ideas.

Consequentially the National Government has absolutely no idea or interest in where it is leading the country.

It is not prepared to subordinate its own interests for the national interest.

It endeavours to convince the public the former is the latter.

Thus students who are conscious of the thinking behind National actions And it difficult to attach themselves to the organisation. Because expediency and not a set of beliefs determines the course of action an intelligent and the Party are unlikely to agree for long.

The major reason for joining the National Party should be to protect and promote personal interests.

As the Party doesn't act in accord with its professed beliefs about private enterprise and freedom of the individual, etc., personal material advantage is a rationalisation of membership.

Students have few interests in need of special protection and so the occasion rarely arises.

The only rationalisation left for student activity in the National Party is a desire to enter politics and a belief the "National way" is the path to greater influence and power.

As few students seriously intend entering politics we can expect the VUW National Club will, unlike its opposite number, continue to be dominated by non - thinking National Party supporters.

B.G.S.

Presidential bursary — a tangible thanks

True, there is a large amount of prestige attached to the presidency of the Students Association, but it remains a thankless task. It is time that some thanks in the form of a bursary be attached to it.

If a president is to do his job properly, he will devote about 30 to 35 hours a week to student affairs. This often means (as is the case with the current president and the president-elect) that he must give up a part-time job.

The resulting loss of income restricts the field of presidential candidates. Students who live away from home often cannot stand because of their dependence on part-time income to meet boarding costs.

If there were a bursary we could expect a greater number of suitable candidates.

We should feel free to criticise any president, but when there is no remuneration one feels a little reticent about criticising. Payment of a bursary would provide the required political lever.

With the increase in student business that has to be attended to, it becomes obvious that we require a president who has no part-time commitments. Only when a bursary is paid could we be justified in insisting on this.

There will be difference of opinion as to what would be an adequate bursary. Somewhere around £350 would almost cover it.

Payment of other executive positions is immediately raised. Of these the most onerous is treasurer. With our income climbing toward the £40,000 mark we feel it is time that a professional accountant was engaged.

Some case could be made out for the payment of secretary. Other executive positions do tend to fall outside the area of payment.

Though every executive post does demand much time, often resulting in failing units. Some tangible benefit may not be out of place.

As students we have been an ungrateful lot. We expect our president and executive to work long hours, to accept great responsibility, and to be at our service at all times. And we insist that the prestige and experience are sufficient reward. They are not.

If we want a vital administration, we must be prepared to pay for it.

G.P.C.