Parkyn Report

The report of the Professorial Board on the Parkyn Report has been given to the Students Association for its information.

The Report, which dealt with the subject of student failure, rejected the idea of January or February Special Examinations for unsuccessful students.

Council invited the Professorial Board to give consideration to methods of guidance for first year students on course structure and work loads.

Fisheries

Victoria University should develop a Fisheries Institute, according to the Reader in Applied Fisheries, Dr E.B. Slack.

In his Report on his Refresher Leave, taken in 1969, Dr Slack repeated the claim that he made as early as 1964 that a post-graduate research school in fisheries could lead to the growth of the industry.

Dr Slack referred to the course on Fish and Fisheries available in 1970 within the Zoology Department.

He suggested that while this course can provide an adequate training in fisheries biology it cannot, within the Department of Zoology, cover such areas as fishery economics, utilisation of fishery products, fishing vessel and gear design, processing technology, or business administration.

Dr Slack's recommendation for the formation of a University Institute has been referred by the University Council to the Professorial Board.

Auckland's Capping Magazine Troubles

Craccum reports that four Auckland local authorties have refused permission for the 1970 Auckland Capping magazine to be sold in their areas. Six authorities have refused to allow Capping charity collections.

This action has arisen from last year's controversy over the Capping magazine's decency.

Canterbury Students Turn Lumberjacks?

The University of Canterbury Students' Association is to go into the forestry business.

The proposition is for students to plant and mill pines on a 500—acre forest near Mount Hutt. The land is being transferred from the Crown to the Forest Service, and is to be leased by the Students' Association. Payment will be made by royalties on timber sold and the government will provide aid—50% of development costs.

The scheme has the backing of the Minister of Forests (Mr Maclntyre) and the University's new School of Forestry.

The Forestry scheme is regarded as a long-term investment, the first income coming in about 8-10 years. But the forested land would be regarded as an asset on which a loan could be raised if needed.

Capital outlay over the first six years is estimated at $19,000, but the project could bring in over $500,000 in 25 years. The Association envisages operation by student labour, payment going to clubs or individuals.

Exclusion Clause

The Joint Committee of the University Council, the Professorial Board and the Student's Association on 23 March decided that regulations and procedures concerning student exclusion be deferred to the next Joint Council meeting.

Admission of Overseas Students

A committee to report on the admission of overseas students to Victoria has been set up by SRC.

Mr John Eade told SRC on 25 March that numbers of overseas students entering New Zealand universities had risen because Australia had tightened up on the numbers entering universities there.

Mr Eade asserted that Auckland University has already limited its overseas student enrolments and it seemed likely that Victoria would do the same. The committee, therefore, was needed to consider the whole problem.

Mr Pak Yoong was appointed convenor and Dr Alan Robinson from the Department of Political Science was invited to join the committee.

Late Start to Shearing Season

There is still no qualified student hairdresser for the Woolshed.

The vacancy has been advertised around the University campus, but Mr Boyd, Managing Secretary of the Student Union, has only had applications for the position of Student Hairdresser, from students who were unqualified for the job.

The Sub-Committee is now to discuss the issue with the Management Committee and decide whether a qualified professional hairdresser should be called in. The original idea was that the Woolshed should be run by student and open in the second week of the first term. It will therefore probably be one to two weeks before this service becomes available.

SRC Speaking Rights

All members of, and employees at, the University have been granted speaking rights at the SRC.

Mr Bill Logan said that SRC would now be able to hear "both sides of the story." It has been made clear that special speaking rights does not include voting rights.

Margaret Bryson pointed out that with students on staff committees, staff should be allowed at the SRC.

Support for Logan

The SRC expressed confidence in Bill Logan as its representative on University Council.

Mr Logan stated to the meeting that he must have the confidence of the SRC if he was to remain an effective member on the University Council. The motion supporting Mr Logan was "carried overwhelmingly."

No Confidence in Salient Editor Motion Lost

An SRC motion of no confidence in the Editor of Salient was lost at an SRC meeting on 19 March.

Speakers for the motion cited the publication of a Forum report, the decision to revert to fortnightly publication and editorial bias as reasons why the motion should be passed.

The seconder to the motion, Mr McCaffery, said "if the Dominion can publish a daily, why can't we publish a weekly?" Bill Logan said that he was convinced that the Editor was editorially and technically incompetent. He should, however, Mr Logan felt, be given an opportunity to prove his incompetence.

Colin Knox, Men's Vice-President, pointed out that the decision to revert to fortnightly publication of Salient had been made by the Publications Board on the recommendation of the Editor, not by the Editor himself. The position was also to be reviewed at the end of the first term when it was hoped that some of the technical difficulties in the new system of typesetting would be ironed out.

The motion of no confidence was lost by 4 votes to 80.

Australian students onto academic incompetents

Commonwealth Student News reports that Australian students are promising a year of rebellion against professors they consider to be incompetent.

Officers of the National Union of Australian University Students stated in Melbourne recently that a list had been compiled of academics that they consider should be dismissed. NUAUS plans to use the list in its attack on the system of academic security of tenure which, NUAUS alleges, protects inferior academics from loss of their jobs.

Joint Committee

Dr Taylor, Head of the Counselling Service, favours the appointment of Deans of Students at the professorial level and the participation of University members in student affairs.

Dr A.J.W. Taylor reported on his study tour to a meeting of the Joint Committee of the Council, the Professorial Board and the Students' Association.

Dr Taylor was overseas during 1968-69 and he had several interesting observations to make over University affairs.

He considered Victoria student participation compared well with overseas universities.

Literary Society Broadsheet

The Literary Society will produce a fortnightly Poetry Broadsheet, to be distributed free, in lieu of the usual magazine, Experiment.

Council Agenda and Salient

Neither the Editor of Salient nor the President of the Students Association will be provided with copies of the public portion of the University Council Agenda before meetings of Council.

The March 23 Council meeting rejected a proposal from Students Association Representative, Mr Dennis Phelps, that such copies should be provided.

While the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor I.D. Campbell, argued strongly in favour of the proposal some Council members expressed fears that advance publicity of matters to be discussed could be prejudicial to full and free debate at Council Meetings.

Sharpeville Protest March

On 20 March about 100 students marched from the University to the South African Consulate in commemoration of the massacre at Sharpeville in 1960. The march was a peaceful one organized by George Fyson and Owen Hughes of the Socialist Club.

Several hundred pamphlets about the massacre and the policy of the Victoria Socialist Club on Apartheid were distributed, and banners protesting against the All Black South African Tour were carried.

On arrival at the Consulate, member of the Consulate could not be found but several students made speeches. A member of the public who interjected, when invited to speak by the students, refused to do so.

The Victoria delegation seems to be having a hard time in this shot from Easter Council.

Rick Smith

Student Accommodation

"The problem of student accommodation in Wellington is going to get worse before it gets better" says the Secretary of the Accommodation Service, Mrs. Brown.

This year a record 700 students registered with the service. However, the number of Asian students using the service has unexpectedly fallen by a third, the remainder having made their own arrangements. Neither this trend nor the extension of Victoria House has affected the acute situation.

Most students have been suitably placed but the Service still has enquiries from students wanting alternative accommodation.

Big Grant Drama

The Drama Society is applying for a $2000 grant at the Cultural Affairs AGM.

The money will be used to finance a Drama Festival.

The aim of the festival in June is to promote interest in Shakespeare, especially through drama.

A Shakespearean Festival Sub-committee was elected to budget for the Festival The Committee is comprised of Roy Middleton, Chairman; Anita Mann, Paul Holmes and Graeme Nesbitt.

Drug Education

An SRC committee has been established to study the need for more effective education on drugs in NZ schools.

Mr Burns, the mover, claimed that present education programmes are shocking and a mass of incorrect statements and facts.

He maintained a drug study programme would educate students and give the country a more enlightened adult population.

Student Exclusion

A Committee of Council has been set up to hear appeals from excluded students.

It consists of convenor Professor I.A. Gordon, Professor H.D. Gordon and Messrs McGrath, Morris, Campbell, and Browne. The first meeting was held on 26 March.

Mr Alan Browne said in a report to SRC that he knew of at least four definite appeals but he expected more. He reported that the administration have written to those students excluded, informing them of the Appeal Committee.

Arrangements have been made to hear some appeals on 3 April.