Creche: Exegesis

In the last issue of Salient it was pointed out that the Stud. Ass. has given the Creche a grant of only $200. This grant was in fact made in 1970.

The Association has held to the philosophy that the welfare of students is the responsibility of the state. The University Administration has accepted this and partly as a result, we have the best welfare services of any university in New Zealand. These facilities consist of the Health, Counselling, Accommodation, Physical Welfare and Careers Advisory Board as well as the Creche. Unlike the position at most other universities, our facilities are paid for by the Government.

Although the Association follows a hard line and refused to contribute financially to any welfare service, it has fought with the University for various improvements that it thought necessary.

Indeed it was at the forefront of having the Creche established. On the other hand the Creche parents Association has just been affiliated to VUWSA. The Parents Association is a separate entity from the Creche and it could apply and receive a grant for the holding of discussion evenings or whatever other like activities it decides to engage in.

I am sure that the University (and the Government) would be happy if the Association decided to levy its members for medical Insurance etc. as happens at some other Universities. However the Association will strive to ensure that the responsibility for financing the Welfare Services rests where it belongs — with the N.Z. Government.

Peter Cullen.