Report of F & A Commission August Council, NZUSA

The main item of business was the presentation of the Budget for the year ending 31/3/78, The exercise was particularly difficult as Priorities Plenary failed to list it's Priorities which meant the interpretation of Priorities was left up to the finance delegates. Victoria decided on its Priorities and allocated money accordingly to those.

Each commission fought for its share of the financial cake but inflation made sure that the cake was smaller and peoples portions grew bigger. As a result a deficit budget was approved and also a free increase to $1.60 per student.

Reports were presented on numerous matters including a report on the new building and financial accounts for Student Travel Bureau Ltd. Other discussion centred around the two proposals of a Promotions Company for Cultural and Rock tours and the proposal to set up a printing company. Bot items were approved in princple and more detailed reports called for.

The Victoria delegation set the printing company as a more urgent proposal.

Before the final decisions are made on the two proposals people should give serious thought to the speed at which NZUSA is entering into the commerical field. One of, the poitns raised by the student directors of STB Ltd is the lack of timely financial data. Another company or two will mean that the accountant's time will become even mor eprecious so this problem will not improve.

The F & A Commission was an endurance test to say the least with one session finishing at 4am in the morning. Lack of planning meant that discussion on the 2 business proposals was done with out any national officers or accountant present, (they were busy hearing a pay claim by the elected officers of NZUSA). While I agree that the right to direct bargaining between employee/employer is worth preserving, the hearing should not have been planned during such an important discussion.

Finally if constituents are going to demand the services from the national office that they do then they must be prepared to pay for them and preferably not on a shoe string budget like at present.

- Mike Curtis