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SMAD. An Organ of Student Opinion. 1931. Volume 2. Number 3.

The New Constitution — The Meetings of June 4th and 9th

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The New Constitution

The Meetings of June 4th and 9th

College Of Electors "In Extremis"

Although many of the audience were purely transients, about sixty students attended the first meeting. The small patronage was due to the manner in which the meeting was advertised, only one small sheet being attached to the Students' Association notice board 48 hours beforehand. At 6 p.m. Mr. Riske placed a blackboard in the hall—without which it is probable that the quorum would not have been obtained.

Mr. Rollings was in the chair, the Secretary, Mr. Mahoney on his left and Mr. Hurley on his right. With the exception of Miss Cathie Forde and Mr. Cormack, who were opposed to the College of Electors system and who sat among the general body of students—the Executive were on the right-hand side of the Hall, mostly armed with a copy of the new Constitution.

The interval between 8 p.m. and 10.25 p.m. was spent in amending the clauses one to eleven, many excellent alterations, to be reported later, being effected. At 10.25, an uneasy student, to the surprise of the bulk of the audience, rose and asked the Chairman which system was to be employed at the next election. As the speaker had interrupted the putting of a motion she was ruled out of order. The meeting showed signs of consternation and subsequently the Chairman, Mr. Rollings, on being pressed, after stating that he was not required to give a ruling, said that in his own opinion the College of Electors system would be employed. He gave no explanation to the hysterical questions of several people. Mr. Reardon mounted the platform and moved that the College of Electors be deleted. This was ruled out by the Chairman on the grounds that the matter had already been dealt with.

The students became disorderly. Mr. Hurley obtained the minutes and discovered that the motion that the first schedule of the new Constitution be adopted, that schedule to which the College of Electors was a defeated amendment, had not been put to the meeting before the adjournment. It thus transpired that the Chairman had permitted the meeting to proceed to clause 11—a business which had occupied 2 ½ hours when there was still a motion before the meeting. In answer to Mr. Riske, Mr. Rollings stated that Mr. Hurley had opened the business of the evening and that it was therefore Mr. Hurley who had erred. Mr. Riske said that it is the Chairman who always opens meetings and the discussion lapsed.

It was then moved by Mr. Reardon that the motion be put to the meeting that Proportional Representation be embodied in our Constitution. Mr. Macduff, ex-member of the present Executive opposed this motion on the ground that there were not sufficient students present. There was justification for the objection, but it was a matter of choosing between the College of Electors, twice defeated at well attended meetings, and believed to be defunct by the majority of the students, and this new and democratic form of election. However, the Chairman stated that he was "obliged" to put the motion.

Mr. Macduff, who, it will be remembered, resigned after the last defeat of the College of Electors, rose to a point of order and stated that there had been no notice given of the motion and it was left to Mr. Riske to remind the Chairman that in the Constitution of the Association such a motion might be put provided it was relevant to the matter in hand. Mr. Rollings assented and put the motion to move the schedule. This was carried by 32 votes to 18.

To such an impasse had the meeting arrived that the whole schedule of election was put and adopted at 10.45 p.m., without discussion being possible.

The meeting was then adjourned until June 9th.

: : :

The Adjournment of June 9th.

Mr. Bishop took the chair. The business, obstructed continually by dialogue between the Chair and members of the audience, hair-splitting and wrangling proceeded with farcical slowness.

At about 9-20 when a clause dealing with the voting power of freshmen was reached, Mr. Crossley moved an amendment and Mr. Kerr moved another. Mr. Crossley attempted later to withdraw his amendment, and the Chairman asked for the permission of his seconder. Mr. Macduff indignantly refused to give his permission to Mr. Crossley to withdraw the amendment. The Chairman after reference to the minutes stated that the seconder was not Mr. Macduff but Mr. Cormack who had left the hall and gave Mr. Crossley permission to withdraw his amendment. Mr. Crossley attempted to move another amendment. Then followed a discussion on the standing orders of the Debating Society, between Mr. Bannister, Mr. Crossley and Mr. Mountjoy who visited the platform. Mr. Mountjoy's point of order regarding the legitimacy of Mr. Crossley's second amendment was not upheld by the Chairman. Mr. Crossley's amendment was not the same as Mr. Kerr's previously defeated amendment. Mr. Bishop's ruling was opposed by Mr. Bannister and Mr. Bishop vacated the chair.

Mr. Mahoney took his place but after more discussion Mr. Bannister moved Mr. Mahoney's ruling be disagreed with.

Mr. Jessup, Treasurer of the Association took the Chair.

At this juncture Mr. Reardon rose and said that obviously this was a private squabble among the members of the executive and whatever they thought they were doing they were not aiding but hindering the business of the meeting. They did not need the services of either himself or the New Constitution. He therefore, on behalf of the Recess Committee, wished to withdraw from the meeting.

Mr. Reardon gathered up his papers and left the platform.

When Mr. Jessup had gathered up the broken threads, Mr. Reardon, having been refused permission to leave, returned to the platform.

The Gun Club's Dance—pop along.

page 7

Mr. Hurley. Chairman or the Recess Committee, arriving late, moved that the more important clauses—those dealing with the Executive should be dealt with immediately.

Miss Helen Dunn, of the Executive, objected, saying that as all the Constitution had to be adopted, there was no reason why the clauses should not be read in their right order.

Miss Jupp, of the Recess Committee, pointed out that students were more interested in certain clauses than in others and came especially to vote on such clauses.

After some discussion Mr. Hurley moved that the clauses dealing with the Executive be then put, and some of those members of the audience sitting near the sponsors of the College of Electors left the Hall, some taking up a stand outside the windows. Despite the cajolery of Mr. Bannister. Miss Gibbs elected to remain, and Miss Briggs, also of the Executive, remained in her seat.

Mr. Hurley stated that members were intentionally leaving the meeting, and the chairman objected to the use of the word "intentionally." Mr. Hurley directed the meeting's attention to Mr. East and others who were beckoning through the windows to their friends to follow them.

The meeting lapsed for the want of a quorum.

Another general meeting is to be called for one day next week. A large attendance is essential.

Some Suggested Mottos

W. P. R-ll-ngs: Caveat actor (everyone does everything at his own peril).

C. S. Pl-nk: Concussus surgo (I rise though shaken).

J. L. M-cD-ff: Felix qui pacificus (blessed is the peacemaker.)

H. R. B-nn-ster: Praise the bridge that carries you over.

W. J. M--ntj-y: Dieu et mon droit! (My goodness, I'm right!)

A. F. T. Ch-rlt-n: The next best thing to a very good joke is a very bad one.