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Salient. Official Newspaper of Victoria University of Wellington Students Association. Vol 40 No. 20. August 8 1977

Subterfuge — the Trend in the World Today

Subterfuge — the Trend in the World Today

Dear Sir,

I was intrigued with Wednesday's march on Parliament by Students protesting about the inadequate Standard Tertiary Bursary. Although I admit that I did not attend the protest, I did take the opportunity to visit Parliament (the cold seat of NZ Politics) just to see if there was any response to our plight. Indeed there was !

The debate however centred, not on the argument the students put forward, but rather on the question of why Trevor Young was not allowed to address the meeting.

A heated debate followed and for approximately an hour the opposition beleaguered the government with glorious monologues and tantologies which did little else but bring bitter replies from their colleagues across the floor.

No conversation was focused on important questions such as :
1.What is the Government going to do to equate STB with the cost of living ?
2.Is there going to be an immediate increase in STB or not ?
3.Are students classed as a needy class ?
Rather, the debate took the form of :
  • "The honourable gentleman is interjecting nonsense".
  • "I see the present speakers colleague is asleep".
  • "In my opinion the previous speakers comments makes his contribution only worth $2 a week".

What supreme arrogance eh !

The whole episode just goes to show that neither political party is really concerned with the real financial problems of many students.

The Government merely tries to save face by offering a meagre handout every now and again, while the opposition uses the question as subterfuge in the forlorn hope of gaining political ascendency in the House. Who cares why Trevor Young could not address the crowd gathered in Parliament grounds, (but even then, this episode was given more press coverage then the "rally' itself). What we want to know about is Money. But then, to be realistic I suppose, who really cares about students . . . aren't they all good for nothing, lazy you know whats !

When it all boils down, that typecast plus the use of tax payers money makes us just another political pawn to be used or discarded by 'friend' or foe like a teaspoon to sugar. Afterall don't all student issues 'dissolve' in time.

So! How are we going to solve this problem. Perhaps we can employ subterfuge ourselves, but alas, beware students, for as always in a undemocratic democratic society. Big Brother is watching you.

Yours,

Hugh D. Buchanan.