Long Night's journey...

Everybody's going to Winter Tournament the hard way—but everybody's going. Executive failed to pass the motion of public relations officer Dave Shand that delegates to Winter Council, Arts Council, NZUSA and NZSPA be entitled to air passages, but it showed little hesitation in paying rail fares for the five members of executive appointed as observers to NZUSA.

Opposing the payment of air fares, sports representative Murray Boldt saw no reason why students in nonactive, delegate positions should have preference over sports teams which had to travel by rail. In the course of discussion it was revealed that several executive members were making up the difference between rail and air fares out of their own pocket, or were making alternative travel arrangements.

Although some members of the executive had opposed air fares on the ground, amongst others, that the association was in no financial position to pay them, there was no voiced objection to the multiplicity of nominations which came up when the post of observer to NZUSA Winter Council came up.

Introducing the matter, secretary Alister Taylor commented that the position carried speaking but no voting rights at Winter Council and that, although it was not one which Victoria had made much use of in the past, it would be valuable to send one observer. He nominated publications officer Chris Robertson.

In the course of the ensuing discussion this nomination appeared to be lost sight of, and vice-president Tim Bertram was nominated to the post; which he agreed to accept if no-one else wanted it. Social controller Andrew Cornwall then expressed an interest and Bertram, who had previously declined nomination as a delegate, seconded a motion that Cornwall be nominated. Shortly after he also seconded a motion nominating women's representative Sue Madgwick.

At this stage Tom Robins indicated that he would be prepared to accept a motion appointing four delegates; a quick head count revealed that the only executive member not going was capping controller Dennis Paxie. At Paxie's urging this anomaly was corrected. Everybody is going, even if they do have to go the hard way!