Executive Elections

Voting Next Week

Executive office is not something which should be sought for the simple honour of it; rather it is something which should be looked for only when a student feels that he Is sufficiently capable and experienced to shoulder the burdens which will be placed upon his shoulders. It is possibly not commonly realised that the amount of money which the executive administers each year, is several thousands of pounds. This is only one facet of the activity of that body. There are also the day to day problems which arise and which must be dealt with. On top of that again, the executive largely shapes the policy of the Association. This is particularly so in this college's relations with other colleges, for although many matters are referred to a general meeting of students, there are also many other matters of which the executive alone has sufficiently specialised knowledge to act upon. The problem of N.Z.U. Rugby Blues is an outstanding example of this. There Is only a handful of students outside the executive or the committee of the Rugby football club who have an inkling of the questions at issue; yet the association has for some years taken a decided stand upon the matter. The facts have been placed before the members of the association, and the avenues are open for them to find out for themselves what the problems are, yet in the main, it is only the executive which knows what is happening.

Also important to the Association, is its representative on the College Council. He is a person appointed directly by the executive and is responsible directly to them. His reports are always taken in committee, so that the members must place absolute reliance in their executive, who in this regard are the final authorities.

In its administration, too the executive must always be alert to seek new ways of improving the condition of students, and it is not always easy to dream up and put into operation revolutionary new schemes. Someone once said that the idealism which new executive members bring with them dies rapidly under the pressure of work. This to a very large extent is true, for there are so many day to day, almost trivial matters which must be attended to that often members have very little time to consider fresh plans. There is a lot of hard work to be done on the executive, and often, bright ideas do not look so bright when viewed in the cold hard light of simple economics; for above all. Whatever an executive does, or sets out to do. It must always keep more than one eye on the privy purse.

We are fortunate in that for the past twelve months we have had an executive which on the whole has been able to maintain its enthusiasm at a fairly high level. There are individual members on it who have been outstanding. On the other hand there have been a few who have been mediocre, but despite difficulties. The executive has done a good Job, not only in general administrative work, but in other fields as well.

One criticism that could be offered is the tremendous amount of time wasting that sometimes goes on at an executive meeting. At one recent meeting a motion was tabled that executive members should receive taxi fares when they are delayed at a general meeting until their last tram has left. This developed into a general discussion on how best to save time and took approximately an hour. In the end the motion was defeated.

It would not be politic at this stage, with elections so near, to mention individuals, but tribute should be paid to Betty Dibble, who has left Wellington and who consequently, is no longer subject to the scrutiny of the electors. She resigned from the executive early this year, but her work had already done a lot for the students. Perhaps the most outstanding and successful of her proposals was the stationary scheme, which was put into operation this year by the executive for the first time. It enabled students to buy stationary at cheaper rates, and is an example of what an executive can do if it tries. She too, was the advocate of the student employment scheme, which though little patronised this year, shows great promise for the future.

Not only the executive but also the general body of students seem to have been more wide awake this year. It is the writer's personal belief that the inspiration has commenced at the executive level and Altered downwards, though some may hold the contrary opinion. It is a fact, however, that the renaissance seems to have spread to all quarters. Extravaganza this year is generally acknowledged to be the most outstanding in recent years; the talent available in the cast was better and more fully exploited than in past years, and capping day activities were more alive than usual. Even the haka party has not yet been brought into subjection.

Undergrads' supper was a milestone, in that for the first time, the executive invited representatives of the Press, the City Council, and the Government to attend. The fact that the toast to the graduands was proposed by Cr. Stewart Hardy, and the Hon. J. R. Marshall.. points to a brighter future.

International relations have not been overlooked by the executive either. The formation of the International Students Club, to further the welfare of overseas students in New Zealand, was made possible only by the vigour and real of the exec.

For the first time for many years, something has actually been done about the men's common room. It has been redecorated and refurnished. This is something which has been overlooked for years.

The cafeteria has always been a problem, and although the situation was alleviated two years ago by letting the business to an Independent contractor, it seems its If this is a problem which will have to be faced once more by the Incoming executive.

Much of what the executive has achieved has been able to be done because of the fact that the Association is once again financial. Previous executives had been severely restricted in their scope because of the necessity of wiping out deficits which had come about in a bad period some years back. The groundwork was done by them, and now with increased students' fees, and with deficits wiped out the association is once again in a happy position financially. It was a good thing to see tournament subsidies able to be replaced once more last August. It seems as though they are back for keeps. Let's hope so, anyway.

While considering the financial side, we observe that "Cappicade" made a profit of somewhere in the vicinity of £300 last year, and a similar profit is expected this year. To this years' capping ball controller, must go the satisfaction of a Job well done. Unconfirmed rumour has it that the profit from this venture was in the vicnity of £100. If so, it is the first time within recent memory that this has happened. It just shows what inspiration and hard work will do.

Bleaker, however, is the financial prospect from Extrav. Although the audiences went away happy, not many came to the show. The result is an estimated loss of the profits noted above. Unfortunately, Coronation week, the only week for which the Opera House was available, turned out to be a bad time to put on a show. The writer understands that other entertainment houses were feeling the pinch, too.

If you are thinking of standing for exec, you should first consider some of the things you will be expected to do and the matters upon which you will be expected to have an opinion Those of you who will only be voting should give careful consideration to your choice before you mark your voting paper. It is important.