Students' Assn, Annual General Meeting

This year's A.G.M. was held on June 29. The principal business of the evening was the adoption of a new constitution. This constitution made provision for the adoption of a portfolio system of administration, with executive members elected to specific posts. This is in contrast to the previous system, where people were elected to the executive as a whole, with subsequent appointment to various sub-committees. The constitution also included a new set of standing orders for executive meetings.

There were two further motions put before the meeting. The first, concerning a reduction in Students' Association fees for students attending Wellington Teachers' Training College, was not passed. The second involved some lengthy debate.

The motion read: "That the VUWSA constitution be amended by the addition of the following words:—

(1) In the event that any sporting club affiliated to VUWSA Is or becomes affiliated to any union or federation of sporting bodies inside or outside of the university which in the opinion of VUWSA Executive practices racial discrimination or colour discrimination offends against the principles contained in the Oylmpic rules then in such event the VUWSA Executive shall have power to suspend from affiliation or disaffiliate such club from VUWSA until such time as that club satisfies the VUWSA Executive that it has disaffiliated from and in fact severed all connection with the union or federation so offending.

(2) In the event that any non-sporting club affiliated to VUWSA is or becomes affiliated to any union or federation of clubs outside of the university which in the opinion of VUWSA Executive practices racial or colour discrimination then in such case the VUWSA Executive shall have power to suspend from affiliation or disaffiliate such club from VUWSA until such tune as that club satisfies the Executive of VUWSA that it has disaffiliated from and in fact severed all connection with the union or federation so offending."

The mover of the motion, Mr H. G. MacNeill, pointed out that the Charter of the Olympic Games' contains the provision that "no discrimination is allowed against any country or person on grounds of colour, religion, or politics."

The debate on the motion was mainly on the question of whether such a motion would in fact help in the light against racial discrimination, and on whether it might set a precedent for later executives which could assist them to disaffiliate clubs on grounds of religious or political prejudice. Speakers from the floor urged that the motion could in this way assist further discrimination on grounds other than that of colour.

The motion's seconder, Mr F. A. Hamlin, effectivey managed to convince the meeting that these were not valid points of opposition to the motion and it was passed with a large majority.