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Salient: Victoria University Students' Paper. Vol. 27, No. 14. 1964.

Kinsella Says "NO "! — Bond Pamphlet Revised

Kinsella Says "NO "!

Bond Pamphlet Revised

"NO interview, no statement." Thus Education Minister Kinsella refused an interview on NZUSA's bonded bursaries pamphlet. Prompted by requests from constituent student papers Salient, Craccum and Critic. New Zealand Student Press Association (NZSPA) had sought an interview on the now controversial pamphlet. Minister's Secretary Naylor asked first for a copy of the pamphlet. The request was agreed to, for without a pamphlet there could be no interview. A copy of the pamphlet was to be supplied at an interview with Secretary Naylor the following morning.

That night VUWSA Executive discussed an NZUSA decision to withdraw the pamphlet and replace it with a modified one. Men's Vice-President Bertram, who had acted for Tom Robins at President's meeting, and opted for the withdrawal, outlined the reasons for NZUSA's action. It was felt, said Bertram, that the pamphlet cast aspersions on the teaching profession—it was not a pamphlet on which NZUSA could expect the teachers' support. The pamphlet should be rewritten in a more tactful manner. Bertram expressed personal surprise that NZUSA Internal Affairs Officer Roger Clark could have produced such a pamphlet.

Executive members expressed surprise and annoyance at the waste of £12 of NZUSA funds. Tom Robins pointed out that this expenditure came from the £150 allocation for unbudgeted items. Some expressed objections to paying for something they had not seen.

The facts behind withdrawal of the pamphlet were obscured by lack of liaison. NZUSA dele-gale Allster Taylor reported: "On my return to Wellington from Council I was the one who informed Internal Affairs Vice-Tresident Clark of the withdrawal of the Bonded Bursaries pamphlet (he prepared It)—two weeks after it had been done by the Presidents."

The next morning Minister's Secretary Naylor received the pamphlet. He seemed optimistic that NZSPA would get an interview, or at least a prepared statement (the American naval visit was then in progress and the Minister not immediately available. An interview, subject to confirmation, was pencilled in for 2pm on Thursday 10th. That night Resident Executive ot NZUSA met, and was shocked to learn that the interview was planned. External Allans vice-President Faulkner even considered a motion that NZSPA be directed not to interview the Minister, but he did not formally move it. Attempts to cancel the interview failed when NZSPA head Tony Haas revealed that Kinsella already had the pamphlet. NZUSA immediately made available a copy of the rewritten pamphlet, a typewritten draft, for NZSPA to submit to the Minister.

But there was no interview and Kinsella did not see the new pamphlet. Stating that to grant an interview in Wellington was a precedent to granting interviews in other University centres. Secretary Naylor conveyed the Minister.' refusal. A prepared statement had been proposed in the earlier conversation, yet even this was now refused. The Minister had seen the pamphlet, the Secretary admitted, but the only comment available was that the Government could only reconsider bonded bursaries when adequate teachers were available.

Meanwhile NZUSA is proceeding with the revised pamphlet (see box). Interviews for studentships start in mid-September (final bonding does not normallv take place till mid-November). but NZUSA will distribute the pamphlet this year.

Distribution plans are however, not clear. Pressed for an explanation. Roger Clark explained that the withdrawn pamphlets had been sent to the individual student associations for distribution −3000 had been printed or about 600 per University. The same system would be adopted with the new pamphlet.

"I'm not so worried about the cost of the new pamphlet—I'm worried about the cost of distribution." said Victoria Secretary Alister Taylor when asked for comment. Because of difficulties in organisation, no copies of the withdrawn pamphlet had been distributed during August tours of schools. The remaining tours of schools do not take place till the end of November.

As a further complication, students at schools in and around Wellington are presumably under less financial pressure to take up bonded bursaries.