Doug's rebuttal

"Statement Released By Mr D. J. White, President Of The Victoria University Of Wellington Students' Association. On An Article For Salient By Mr R. Wilde Concerning The Czechoslovakian Crisis.

"Readers should note the following facts:

• • "It was quite obvious to the Executive that everyone was extremely shocked by the invasion of Czechoslovakia last month. It was equally obvious to the Executive that not all students wished or were able to express themselves in the same way as Messrs Gager, Logan and Wilde who were of course perfectly entilled to form their Student Action Committee on Czechoslovakia.
• • "The authority to spend student money is vested in the Executive and not in any one member of that body. No application has since been received by the Executive and Mr Gager. one of the Co-Chairmen of the Action Committee, did not attend the Finance Committee Meeting on Wednesday. 28th August, when the matter could have been raised.
• • "The following statement was released to "The Dominion" on Sunday, 25th August, and partly published in its issue on Monday, 26th August:

The Students Association condemns the Government of the USSR for its invasion of Czechoslovakia. Military intervention of this nature in the internal affairs of a sovereign state is to be deplored. The people of Czechoslovakia should be left unmolested to freely determine their own way of life. To express its concern the Association strongly supports the public meeting to be held in Parliament Grounds.