Money, Money . . .

With all the talk of hardship which was to follow, Mr.. O'Brien was tact-less in explaining the mooted building fund appeal so early. Had he forseen this, he wouldn't have stated "Most students are comparatively well off" or that they could "request their friends and relatives" to raise the £5, which everyone will be asked to give. He gave few details on the sub-committee's scheme, but part of lecture time and part of Extrav. profits may be used for publicity. An anonymous student has given £10C (cries of "it wasn't me."). He, fairly, pointed out that the Lord (and the Wellington public) helps those who help themselves. The aim is £10,000 and that is he said, "a considerable amount of money."

The overheads in Extrav. refreshment costs were deplored by Mr. Dowrick, who blamed the Interval Entertainers—the bludgers. He (again) congratulated the Exec. on its arrangements for Extrav., but thought that said Interval Entertainers needed attention—instancing the motor-bike in the dress circle and the lady who encountered it last year. Apparently considering the audience large enough, Mr. Dowrick then formally handed over £2/2/4 plus 1/-a year interest, from the 1945 Common Room Committee fund. "I have the interests of the Association still at heart."

All fees next year are to be extracted before we start. This has already been in the press, but Mr. Taylor rocked the meeting by reminding them of it. It affects only non-hursary types who will have to shell out smartly without time to make up their minds. The Council's reasons are (a) this works well in A.U.C.—denied by one of their ex-students, "their queues are as long as ours." (interjection. "How curious"); (b) the college lacked the staff. (Mr. Dowrick: "I have heard the office staff is retiring, but surely it will be replaced."). Apparently the Exec, knew no more than anyone else about it. Objections to the new scheme came thick and fast. The fees go up in Psych, and Geography which are becoming scientific subjects. Mr. McLeod failed to see how enrolling early would shorten the queues and without a show of hands the new Exec. was advised to keep an eye on this situation.

T.C. Motion

Mr. Halliday, for T.C. was rather less confident after he spoke, than before. With becoming modesty, he apologized for the trifling amounts to be considered after the accounts (just discussed). He wished to make them more trifling—7/6 more trifling. Had he stuck to his argument on overlapping facilities, he might have got somewhere. His plea of small salaries and huge expenses met a sharp parry from Mr. McArley, who pointed out the greater hardship of Law and Acocuntancy juniors. "The onus is on T.C. to prove their hardship." And he gave the coup do grace by amending the motion to 32/6. His seconder Mr. Milburn, (ff and agitato). "T.C. students do justice to our cafe.' he thundered. "They are well paid for the time they put in." "I second the motion" (finale sotto voce).

A logical quibble arose over whether an amendment raising fees wasn't out of order by negating the motion, but the chairman allowed il. Mr. Taylor, continuing, said: "I support Mr. McArley for the first time in my life," Mr. Neuberg made a valiant, if not always valid, argument for T.C., to a meeting very much against him.

Mr. Dowrick was twice foiled in his attempts to have Mr. McLeod ruled out of order, on the inadmissbility of hearsay and conjecture in evidence. Being under discussion. Mr. Milburn helped in this effort by allowing himself to be quoted: "Though I never know what I say from one moment to the next." This was followed by a sombre portrait of the typical student—hard up working night and day shelling out in all directions (painted by that renowned verbal artist. Mr. O'Connor)—Which was lost in the flurry when Mr. McLeod moved that the chairman's action in allowing the amendment be disagreed with; no logicians guided the now emotive meeting and another show of hands supported Mr. O'Brien, quickly followed by another to carry the amendment (110-63). Though a compromise motion (Mr. Evison's) was introduced, the meeting was in no mood for rational thinking—"Be damned to them," said Mr. Dowrick (quoting, of course)—after all and sundry, and Mr. Milburn had spoken, the compromise failed (another show of hands) and the McArley motion put through, 103—54 on a show of hands—subject, as the chairman explained—to the Prof. Board's O.K.

Affairs after this were pedestrian. The proposed co-operative Extrav. for 1949 was mentioned half-heartedly, except by Mr. Stewart who wanted to know "how many old antique students there are available?" Mr. Taylor and Mr Dowrick also ran.

Mr. Battersby introduced the I.S.S. motion and with Mr. McLeod, deplored the incomprehensible apathy of V.U.C. students; as the latter said, "the number actively helping declines each year." But perhaps Mr. Neuberg's account of the help he had received, and his appeal, were too much for someone's conscience; the motion was put and carried—a virtual closure before it had been discussed. Mr. O'Brien was properly disgusted at the "facetiousess" which had crept in.

Probably this upset the meeting because Mr. Smith on tram fares 'see "Dominion." July 1st claimed little atention. As Mr. Howarth put it. "I am more concerned with riding on a tram than with paying for it." Indeed, the bursary recommendations (see previous Salient) got through without a show of hands.

Mr. Dowrick turns on an excellent show. He excelled himself though in a speech which was the highlight of the meeting. In fine Churchillian phrase ("The hour is not yet late!" he assured the meeting), he portrayed the stability given, to the governments of the Empire by the Royal Family "which goes marching on from generation to generation. It is good for our children, our grandchildren, our but you understand the process to which I refer." V.U.C. needed a like stability. Therefore, an uproarious meeting heard him move that the office of secretary on Stud. Ass, become hereditary. This forensic tour de force climaxed the show, though Taylor's no confidence motion in the Exec. (Wot, no spittoons?) and Mr. O'Brien's "which Exec?" were well received. Brass spittoons and chewing tobacco were recommended for the women's Common room (without show of hands).

"May the Lord have mercy on their souls," said Mr. O'Brien, announcing the new Exec; the dullest A.G.M. in years was over.

Odds and Sods

Mr. O'Brien in answering a question explaining the loss on "Spike" by the late issue and rising costs; he didn't think it would happen again.

The first clean audit certificate in history gratified Mr. Dowrick (again).

And everyone was gratified to know that Cappicade, all 10,000 copies had completely sold out.

Everyone passed the buck over who was responsible for meal money refunds for the Extrav. Napier trip, and Mr. McLeod got no satisfaction. Profits from that show haven't yet arrived.

The misstatements in the press after the meeting were commented on and explained by Mr. O'Brien. Mr. Dowrick, who wrote under his own name ("not one of your numerous aliases?") Miss Casey and others. The position remains a bit obscure.

Mr. Plishke's name came up again—obviously someone had missed the other meetings. A very patient explanation came from Mr. Taylor.

Mr. Dowrlck: "I forget whether I was President then or not," and again "God alone knows the faults of man!"

A great big toffee apple goes to Mr. Cook for the prize chestnut of the evening: "I think the trams should run on orthodox lines."