Smear Tactics At S.G.M.

Sir,

I was amazed, to say the least, how an element of the students present at the recent Special General Meeting of the Association were permitted by the chairman to close the debate before all those wishing to speak had done so. This element also showed them-selves in true colours when, after Giving Armour Mitchell a completely uninterrupted hearing, they tried to stop the extension being granted to Mr Dwyer (luckily defeated) and then Interrupted his speech with loud remarks.

Smear tactics were the order of the night. First, a rather odious Mr Hamilton attempted to make fun of protagonist Dwyer by rather cheap jokes that the audience, to their discredit, responded to happily. Second, a waffling Mr Bidder tried to bring up Dwyer's Anarchist beliefs which were entirely irrelevant to the meeting. But it was a good smear anyway.

Finally, this business of secret ballot. About 10% of these assembled requested a secret ballot. On the instigation of noted Clown Butler, the meeting denied the right of a secret ballot. All in all, then, it was a well controlled meeting. I'm only ashamed to belong to such a student body.

"Pruned Off."