On Wednesday, 18th June, the 1957-58 Students' Union Executive held its final meeting. For many it marked the conclusion of their association with the Executive as members thereof.

This particular Executive had the honour of being the only Executive of the Victoria University of Wellington Students' Union.

Business of the evening commenced with a discussion of the financial accounts to be presented at the A.G.M. Mr. Mason, the Union Accountant, in outlining the accounts, paid tribute to the efficiency of organisers which was reflected in low costs of such things as Social accounts. Mr. Mason, in commenting generally, said that the Union was in a very happy state financially.

Mr. Wilson complimented Mr. Mason's work in preparing the accounts, which is an extremely large job.

Correspondence

Correspondence revealed a letter from the past Association secretary, Mrs. Yaldwyn, thanking the Executive for the gift of £20 on her resignation recently. Barbara stated that she had purchased pearls with the amount which woud remind her of her term with the Association.

A letter from Mr. Cook of Napier praising the behaviour of Extrav. participants was received gratefully.

The largest item on the agenda was the proposed Sports Council.

Sports Council

Mr. Zohrab (Chairman of the Sub-Committee on Sports Council) reported to the Exec. on the recommendations of the sub-committee. It was pointed out by Mr. Marchant that the section relating to the Blues Panel would require action by the A.G.M.

Although it was possible for the Draft regulations to be authorised by the Executive, Mr. Zohrab thought that for solidarity for the Sports Council the draft regulations should be incorporated in the Constitution proper. However, it was generally thought that for the trial period of this body it would be better for the Exec. to hold the power to alter the regulations as such.

At this point a long, and in some cases heated, discussion followed on the use of sub-committees. Two points of view were put to the meeting.

In the case of the sports council the greatest difficulty was found with the section dealing with powers of various bodies to alter the regulations. After long discussion, with O'Brien generously throwing dissensions about, the position returned to the original, though the actual wording was altered slightly.

N.Z.U.S.A.

Mr. Shaw, Resident Executive representative for Victoria, reported to the meeting on the last Res. Exec. meeting.

On the matter of the Asian Study seminar to which New Zealand has still not officially received an invitation to attend, Mr. Shaw said that Otago University had indicated that they felt that the present financial position of Associations did not warrant the expense involved in sending delegates to the seminar. However, N.Z.U.S.A. have already forwarded the nomination of Mr. Kingsbury as an Administrative Assistant to the Seminar.

However, when the issue went to the vote it was passed by 6 votes to 2.

House Committee

Miss Duncan recommended that the appointment of house committee members should be done at the commencement of the academic year—their appointment to last for the full year. This was to avoid the present position where many members of the committee left at the end of the year and were not available for the rest of their appointment.

Extrav

Mr. Wilson, on behalf of the Extrav. Committee, presented a framed photograph of this year's cast to the Executive. Mr. Marchant, in receiving it on behalf of the Union, stated that it was symbolic of the happy relations between the Executive and Extrav.

The meeting concluded with tributes being paid to retiring members of the Executive.

Mr. Marchant expressed his sorrow that some of the Executive were not restanding, but he could quite understand their motivation and on behalf of the Union thanked those who had devoted their time and energy to the work of the Union. In particular he paid tribute to the retiring Women's Vice-President, Miss Anna Duncan, who has devoted much of her time to student affairs both in the capacity of a member of the Women's Committee and as Women's Vice-President (since the retirement of Mrs. Moxwell at the start of the year).

Mr. Wilson spoke on behalf of the Executive as to the sorrow that they felt at the retirement of Mr. Marchant from the Executive. He described the retiring President as "A person who has done a terrific amount of good for the Association in his capacity of Secretary and later as President of the Association. He stated that Mr. Marchant had been "firm, reasonable, able and at times 'completely unreasonable' and has been of great benefit to all Executive members."

Mr. Marchant, in replying, said that it was hard for him to realise that his days with the Student administration were at an end after five years of it. He singled out three things that had impressed him in his association with the present Exec. Firstly, the loyalty of the Executive which he found very encouraging in his work as President. Secondly, the fabulous energy and considerable ability of Mr. Wilson, the Men's Vice-President, and thirdly, the devotion to student affairs of the secretary, Mr. Shaw. Mr. Shaw, he stated, had rendered more support than "the rest of the Executive put together."

In his reflections on Executive life generally, Mr. Marchant admitted that he had tended to devote his energy to the erection of the Student Union Building, and was now content to leave knowing that tenders for the building had been called, the majority of the money was available and support had been obtained. He was additionally grateful for the work of the secretary who had been responsible for the progress in other aspects of University life.

The evening concluded with supper as usual.