Salient. An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria College, Wellington, N.Z. Vol. 7, No. 8. August 9, 1944

Exam. Fees

Exam. Fees

Owing to the fact that legal proceedings are pending it has not been possible to give students full particulars of developments in the Exam. Fees Campaign.

However, it may be stated that the students' petition of protest has been very well supported, and now has nearly two thousand seven hundred signatures, made up as follows:—
A.U.C. 563
M.A.C. Not received
V.U.C. 640
C.U.C. 668
C.A.C. 9
O.U. — 238
Commercial Colleges 204
Training Colleges 349
Total 2,671

N.Z.U.S.A. has set up a sub-committee consisting of two members from N.Z. U.S.A., two members from V.U.C. Exam. Fees Committee, with N.Z.U.S.A. President as chairman. This sub-committee, which will handle the whole question of exam, fees, sent a deputation to the Senate Executive Committee meeting on Friday, July 28th.

The deputation, which consisted of J. B. C. Taylor (President), A. J. Healy, M.A.C. (Resident Member of N.Z.U.S.A.), and W. K. T. Fowler of V.U.C, was received by the meeting, chaired by the Chancellor, the Hon. J. A. Hanan. The deputation's reception, as expected, was polite, but somewhat frigid. There was evidence, however, that individual Senate members were sympathetic to the students' claims.

The deputation pointed out that although the matter had been taken to the Price Tribunal, and that other legal proceedings were pending, these steps were taken only to obtain speedy action to save students this year from the financial hardships inflicted by the new scale of fees, and further that the ultimate aim was to remove the conditions which made the increases necessary. Reasons for the student protest were given under the main headings of financial hardship and undesir-ability of limiting the scope of free education, and a concrete plan for future action was laid before the committee whereby students and Senate might approach the Government for an increased grant for the University.

The Chairman stated that as the matter was to some extent sub judice he had no Questions to ask and on inviting questions from other committee members, there was no response. The University's official reply has been received, which reads as follows:—

"Further to your circular letter to members of Senate dated July 21st and to the submissions in respect of examination fees, both in typed script and by deputation to the full Executive of the Senate, I have to advise that the Senate has given full consideration to the points raised and has instructed that you be informed that it is the opinion of the committee that in view of pending legal proceedings it is In-advisable to discuss the matter further at this juncture, but that the committee is prepared to give the matter full consideration after the present proceedings are disposed of."

No further comment may be made at present, but students may expect sensational developments during the next few weeks.

—N.Z.U.S.A. Sub-committee for Exam. Fee Protest.