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All this and the AGM too

—Peter Gibbs.

The question of Salient's accountability to the Association Executive was one of the few matters of any moment to arise at last Wednesday's AGM. It came up in a motion moved by Bruce Robinson, that "VUWSA upholds the principle of editorial independence for Salient, and reaffirms SRC policy motion 14/69." The SRC motion referred to was passed unanimously in 1969 and was to the effect that any student publication could only be over-ruled on matters of content, where that content would open the Association to legal action. And that the only body with power to over-rule the publication was the Association Executive in formal meeting, excepting that the President could delay publication by 24 hours in order that an Executive meeting could be called.

The meeting was told that at the last Executive meeting, Peter Thrush (Sports Officer) had successfully moved a motion purporting to reaffirm 14/69, which in part mentioned that Executive members have the right to peruse Salient openly before it goes to print. Persons at the AGM (among them Salient editor David Murray) asserted that 14/69 did not give the Executive members any such right, and Lisa Sacksen made a strong speech saying that Executive now appeared to be giving itself this right. She amended Bruce Robinson's motion so that it also "condemned" those Executive members who did not vote against Peter Thrush's motion.

Peter Aagaard moved a further amendment—"that only the President or acting-President have legal right to peruse Salient before it goes to print." Mr Thrush objected strongly to any limitations being placed on entry to the Salient office—he claimed that any student as a member of the Association had the right to enter any part of the Union building. David Murray pointed out the obvious problems which would arise if even half a dozen students wanted to look at Salient as it was being prepared. He said it had been unofficial policy for years, that if you came in, then you helped with some work. Someone from the floor also pointed out that there were parts of the Union already off-limits to students (e.g. the Executive workroom.) Finally, the motion, amendments and all, was passed.

For the Association President a rise from $2,000 to $3,000 per annum. For the Treasurer a rise from $600 to $1,000 p.a. And for the Secretary, Sports Officer, Cultural Affairs Officer and Publications Board Officer, a rise from $300 to $450 p.a. These were the suggestions for changes in honorariums put to the meeting by Steve Underwood and Peter Thrush.

In making a case for the first two rises, Mr Underwood said that both were particularly demanding jobs in the time they took if they were to be carried out well—the job of President was virtually a full-time one, and as such was definitely deserving of more than $2,000.

A motion put to the meeting on the changes for President, Treasurer and Secretary was passed, however when the other changes were considered Alfonso Fanelli pointed out that such proposed changes should be widely advertised among students in order that anyone who felt strongly about the matter could express their opinion. Consequently the previous motion was rescinded and the whole question of money rises is to be put to a Special General Meeting in the near future—watch for it!

The other point of interest in the meeting was considered by many at the meeting to be of minor interest—however the matter of principle at stake is worth consiering. It transpired in considering the monetary accounts of the Cultural Affairs Committee that David Murray pointed out that in 1976 the Socialist Action League had been given a club grant of $40 which they were not entitled to as they were not affiliated to VUWSA. Mr Murray wanted this year's Committee to investigate the matter with a view to retrieving the $40. Mike Curtis (last year's VUWSA Treasurer) took the matter further by moving that the Young Socialist Club be denied affiliation to VUWSA until the whole business had been sorted out. There were immediate protests that it was not just to penalise one club (young Socialists) because another club (Socialist Action) which people assumed was linked to the first had received money it was not entitled to.

(There is no doubt that the Young Socialists are the campus front for the Socialist Action League. We know this from documents written by the VUWSA Young Socialist Co-ordinator, Patrick Mulrennan—Ed.)

Regardless of one's feelings towards Young Socialists, it was held to be wrong to penalise them for money which was not given to them. The meeting agreed, and rejected Mr Curtis' motion, but still passed that of Mr Murray.

That was all. Most AGMs are boring, dull, lack-lustre affairs with endless points of order and clarification, procedural motions and amendments—this one was no different. There was much on the agenda unfinished when the meeting closed at 2.45p.m. for lack of a quorum of 50. So there will be plenty on the agenda of the SGM when it is held in the next few weeks—notably motions regarding bursaries and Arts Council. If you've never been to an SRC or SGM and wonder what it's all about then come along and see-and don't be hesitant to speak, it's your Association too. As Mike Curtis said in his report: "In my experience at Victoria the social and political and climates are closely interrelated. A strong social climate leads to an active political one and vice versa."