Fees Move "Not Meant Seriously"

A Move by Tim Bertram and David Flude to have the Student Association fee doubled was deferred at the last Special General Meeting. Bertram introduced the motion by announcing that he had moved the motion partly to attract a quorum. Since this quorum had been attracted and served its purpose by dealing with all essential business in a surprisingly short time, he sug-gested that the motion should not be taken seriously. But, he suggested, it might still have been advisable to discuss the matter. It was later revealed that the motion was deliberately unconstitutional. Bertram had not given the required notice, ensuring that it could not be passed.

However, some people took the motion seriously, and at one stage it seemed that it might be passed. The motion proposed increasing the fees to 10 guineas for full-time student and 7 guineas for part-time students. Tony Ashenden complained of the unfair discrimination against full-timers and successfully moved an amendment deleting all references to part-timers He was supported by Bill Alexander, who said that both Bertram and Flude are part-timers.

Bertram later said that the differentiation of fees was suggested to test student opinion as to whether students should have to pay for facilities they seldom use. At the same time, it could be argued that part-time students earn more, and so can pay higher fees.

Alister Taylor moved amendment to have the fee set at £7 10/-. This was passed. Taylor argued that the need for more student facilities, and rising construction costs, meant increased fees if the association was to prepare for the future.

Andrew Afeaki accused Taylor of being emotional, and said that detalied figures showing predicted income and expenditure would have to be presented. He felt that insufficient documented evidence had been produced to support Taylor's case for increased fees.

Tim Bertram reminded the meeting that the motion was not intended to be taken seriously. It was decided that the Finance Committee should prepare a report on likely future income and expenditure. The fees issue has been postponed, but it is by no means dead.

The big surprise of the evening came earlier when the Annual Report, statement of Accounts and Balance sheet were received and adopted fast as President Tom Robins could lake a vote on the matter. No one even wanted to discuss them after they had been adopted.

This was in stark contrast to the AGM. where it had taken until 12.30am to get through only a small portion of the Annual Report. On this occasion the anarchists had launched a filibuster to rubbish the entire report.

A group of important constitutional amendments were passed authorising the executive to emloy an accountant. The effect of is is that all the association's accounts will be handled by a professional accountant, and the Treasurer will be left free to devote more time to financial policy. Previously a large amount of the Treasurer's time had been spent keeping the association's accounts.