Salient. Official Newspaper of the Victoria University of Wellington Students' Association. Vol 40. No. 7. April 13 1977

Editorial Independence Revisited

Editorial Independence Revisited

The main attraction of the evening centred around a letter sent by Salient Editor. David Murray. In the letter David told how Exec, members Thrush and Underwood entered Salient last Friday and that he saw it as "a deliberate act in contravention of the AGM motion." and that "these two Exec, members wished on this occasion to provoke a confrontation."

The rapists — Thrush and Underwood broke into David's place (Salient), checked out any interesting titbits lying about, then having done their dirty work, left David weeping bitterly over the loss of his Editorial independence. At the meeting, President Lindy Cassidy tried valiantly to bring Steve to earth over whether he would revisit Salient without an invitation from David. "No comment." Underwood made it clear that he would neither accept any requests by the President nor any motions instructing him to stay out of Salient, unless they contained no loopholes.

A motion was moved and carried at the meeting "that the Executive not enter Salient Office unless at the request of the Editor." The AGM motion condemning those members of the Executive who did not vote against the Salient motion, was not enough to hold Underwood. He said the motion condemned but did not forbid him from entering the Salient office. This type of word-wangling is typical of Steve.

The spirit of the AGM motion was clear but not air-tight enough for Steve Underwood who is good [ unclear: at] holding his breath.

It ended with the motion meaning little, as it appears unlikely that Underwood will honour it.

It is however, effective, as the trouble and lack of success members of the Executive had in trying to keep him down, proved. It was suggested that next time, they were condemned, it should be to hanging. This met with the general approval of the meeting but a formal motion to this effect did not eventuate.

Steve, (at the heart of things as usual) put forward two requests.

1.) As the directors of Victoria Book-centre made a call on the unpaid share capital of the company totalling $10,000 it was moved that the Association pay up the shares to their full value.
2.) That the Association give VBC a short-term loan of $10,000 for a period up to three months. He said this was to pay debtors and compensate for the flow of money.

There was very little discussion on the parting of $20,000 of Association money. The reason for this can be found in the fact that most of the Exec, members were confused by financial details and were generally ignorant of what it's all about.

The third and final point which revived my flagging interest, was the barring of the Fiji Club from holding a function in the Union Hall. The Union Manager had previously stated that he did not want them to be given use of the Union Hall because of the poor condition and damage done at their last Social. It was suggested that they be given the use of the Cafe. Unfortunately the Cafe had been booked months before by the organisers of the Easter Tournament. It was suggested that the Easter Tournament people use the Union Hall. Peter Thrush said this would be unsatisfactory as travel-worn students from other centres would be put off by being directed all over the Union Building. The Executive expressed regret that because of these factors they could not accommodate the Fijian Club on this occasion.

Next Exec. meeting will be held on Monday April 18. You and your partner are invited — Bring a plate.

— Engene Doyle.