President

The Bursary Saga — Part Two

— Lindy Cassidy.

Last Wednesday the Minister of Education (Mr Gandar) announced the lifting of the employment restrictions from Bursary regulations.

This will be a relief to students who have either been working illegally or who wish to supplement their income. What is more significant than the contents of the actual announcement by Gandar is what was not announced i.e. a bursary increase for this year or removal of the abatement. It appears almost certain that students will not receive a cost-of-living increase this year. The government will perform its traditional election acrobatics and grant a minimal cost-of-living increase for 1978. But that doesn't solve this year's problems, or next year's for that matter.

At last week's NZUSA National Executive meeting it was decided to take positive action around a National Day of action on bursaries — June 15th. Large forums have been organised round the Country. At Victoria Mr J Ellis (MP for Whangarei and chairman of the Caucus committee on education), will try and justify the National Party's 'New Reformed Standard Tertiary Policy'. We want hundreds of students there asking why the National Government has not yet carried out their election promises.

But a forum is not enough. The National Executive decided to take back to its members a proposal to take effective action around the budget announcement. At the next SRC you will be asked to vote on a motion to decide whether will storm parliament or . . come and tell us how you feel at the SRC this Wednesday.