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The Executive—Trials and Problems

In every University one finds a group of young people who for a period of one year are burdened with the task of controlling student activities. At the end of that period they are usually succeeded by a fresh division, the old campaigners having found that:

(1)	They become involved in bitter warfare with the University authorities.
(2)	They have become the objects of the contempt or derision, or both, of the students.
(3)	They have gone down to defeat at the annual examinations.

This year rather more of the "Old Gang" survived the risks and whirlpools of Executive life at Victoria College, and the new Executive was, with one or two exceptions, a revival of the powers of the previous year. Thus we have (or should have) that admixture of mellowed wisdom and youthful enthusiasm which provides the best service to the community. At least the principle is good—time alone will show how we progress in the realms of practical politics.

We of the Executive seems as good a phrase as one can coin to begin an account of the troubles and labours which face us at the outset. We of the Executive, therefore, find ourselves confronted with three problems, each one of itself so important, and collectively so dominant, as to outweigh all other matters. Indeed, almost every other item which will engage our attention within the next twelve months will have to be judged with particular reference to one or more of the principal heads. These three issues are:—

(1)	The serious decrease in the revenue of the Students' Association.
(2)	The necessity for the erection of a new Student Union Building.
(3)	The preparation for the Inter-University Tournament to be held in Wellington at Easter, 1932.

To consider them seriatim. The year 1931 saw a decrease of approximately one hundred in the number of students taking lectures at the University, with a consequent decrease of over one hundred pounds in the revenue of the Association. Moreover, the profit made on the Extravaganza has decreased by about one-half. Unfortunately, there has been an increase rather than a falling off in the current expenditure. Under the grant system the Clubs have grown and flourished, and with their growth their demands on the parent body have become increasingly great. The Executive has every desire to meet the needs of the Clubs. The time has now come, however, when the application of each Club has to be rigorously scrutinised and the grant made on the most conservative basis.

The next heading is that of a new student building. It is scarcely necessary to point out the importance of this matter. The present edifice is, to say the least, a disgrace. It is totally inadequate to the needs of the students and the time has arrived when we must cease talking about replacing it and get down to some concrete proposals. After long thought the Executive is setting up two Committees, whose task it will be to raise the necessary thousands. One Committee will be of a permanent nature, and will comprise representatives of the Students' Association, past students, Professorial Board and College Council. The second Committee will have a large membership, drawn from the ranks of the students. Its work will be to arouse the active support of every student in the College. If we can have the help of eight hundred students, then a new building should be well within our reach. But we want deeds, not words, and we want everybody to bear a hand. The point need not be laboured now, as it will loom larger in the next session.

Easter will find us faced with the task of conducting the Tournament and entertaining some three hundred visitors from the other Colleges. This is a mighty task for Victoria. In the matter of entertainment we are handicapped by the lack of facilities and the apathy (not to say hostility) towards students and student activities as evinced by the burgesses of our fair city. The work of billeting two hundred students is perhaps the most difficult feature of the coming Tournament. Here again we require the co-operation of each and every one of the students. We look to our friends to help us to the very best of their ability. Only with this aid can we hope to return in some page 45 equal measure the open hospitality and generous welcome we have received in Auckland, Christchurch and Dunedin.

Of all these matters, then, much lies in the future. What we hope to do, what we shall succeed in doing, depends less on the Executive and more on the support which is accorded the Executive.

We have to face a difficult period, but we feel assured that all these difficulties can and will be overcome if every man and woman pulls his or her weight for the good of all.

P.B.S.