Salient. Official Newspaper of the Victoria University Students' Association. Vol 41 No. 9. April 24 1978

President

President

Photo of Lindy Cassidy

Most students will remember this week of term as one of intense academic activity. Capping and Wednesday's Bursaries March will pass them by in a mad panic to complete term assignments and cram for tests.

Many students question whether marching to Parliament about bursaries achieves anything? After all 15,000 people marched to throw out the SIS Bill and what happened? The bill with a few amendments became and Act. Last Monday Ian Fraser broke that act by naming 2 SIS agents on Dateline Monday. He is now liable to a $2,000 fine or imprisonment. As yet he has not been arrested or charged. It is highly probably that he will not be. Why? Because the government knows that 15,000 people in Wellington thought that the SIS legislation showed a blatant disregard for the democratic rights and freedoms of New Zealanders. The government also realises that if Fraser was brought to court the public protest would be enormous.

It is vital that students protest government inaction on their allowances. The "new reformed bursary" promised by the National Government in its 1975 election manifesto is nowhere in sight. The promised annual adjustments amount to a $2 increase over a two year period.

When Mr. Brill (Kapiti M.P.) addressed a forum last week, he stated that the bursary level was not meant to be a living allowance throughout the academic term. It had to be supplemented by holiday earnings. Yet a great many students were unable to save much money over the holidays due to the poor employment situation.

So where is this extra money to come from? Brill hinted at it — Parental support. It is just unfortunate that some people have parents who cannot afford to give them financial support. Should they be prevented from coming to university?

Even if you are quite satisfied with the present level of allowances then why not march for people less fortunate? Perhaps for one of the 3,000 students at Victoria who don't receive any bursary support, or for a student who has to flat on $15 a week. Tertiary education should be for all those who wish to attend rather than for the few that can afford it.