College Council

Mr. Melling drew attention to a section in the report in which the Exec, recommended to the meeting the desirability of increasing the term of the representative on the College Council in certain circumstances. He did not agree; the person appointed was usually a senior student who, by the end of his term of office, was not in touch with the life and activities of the Association. To extend the term further would be to make this position worse. So he moved that the sentence making reference to this be deleted. However, the, chairman pointed opined that this would not have the effect of negating the suggestion, so it was changed to an amendment. Mr. Jenkins supported this point of view. The value of the representative on the Council was that he could put the students' ideas clearly. If he were a person who had been out of touch with the Association for some time, this value would be lost. In answer to Mr. A. Wilson's question, Mr. Evison and Mr. Battersby explained that the Exec's reason for recommending it was that the present representative thought they were just beginning to get into their stride by the end of their first term, and only just learning how to be of use. Moreover, others thought that the present College Council had such a low opinion of students ("Speak for yourself, Mr. Battersby," said Mr. Evison). that one removed from them by a year or two would get on better. Mr. Evison pointed out that it was only a recommendation, and that there was at present no bar ("Wot, no bar," asked Mr. Curtin), no prohibition, went on Mr. Evison, to appointing the representative for any period at alt It was, however, desired to regularise the procedure.

On a show of hands—51 to 49—the amendment was carried and the suggestion from the Exec. was passed out quickly.