The Merritt problem

One little problem facing NZUSA concerns the National Vice President, David Merritt. It is all very well calling him a fluffy bear, as one report put it, but Merritt seems not to have been as commited as some would hope in proving himself more than a mascot. Never let it be said, however, that he cannot conduct himself shrewdly when he wants to.

Take the first matter up for discussion, NZUSA's forthcoming handbook. Merritt has lost $300 worth of advertising, but before anyone could bring that up he jumped in with eagle eye and suggested an amendment to an introduction in the song section. Dave MacPherson, who has been in charge of the songs, was quite agreeable but wanted to know why the matter had not been raised earlier. Just then Auckland and Otago presidents Mervyn Prince and Andrew Guest jumped in wanting to know why there were songs at all.

Now if there's one thing that gets MacPherson's goat it's untimely criticism. Prince and Guest were being downright ridiculous, he suggested bluntly, in wanting substantial changes the day before the thing was off to the printers. And anyway, a decision had already been made in December Guest, who cultivates a certain bluntness of his own, didn't have an easy answer to that one. In the ensuing pause Merritt was forgotten.

Not for long. Publications really don't seem to be his thing. It transpired he had given quotes on the new Sexuality booklet variously at 45 cents and 6—7 cents. Armed with the former Auckland had ordered 10,000 copies (!), while some people had taken hardly any at all. The real cost is 20 cents but Merritt claims that not even our own pocket calculator Steve Underwood was able to spot the mistake. (If you want a copy and didn't get one at enrolment, the Studass office has them. VUWSA footed the bill, so they are free to students. NZUSA are also bringing out booklets on Tenancy and Overseas Students, which should be available soon).

The last publication discussed was a leaflet on bursaries, to which Merritt had affixed the fictitious name "NZUSA Media Department". This must be compulsive, because he's done it before.

Most serious of all was an affair involving 12 Pacific Island students late last year when Merritt was International Vice President. Somehow or other they had been brought into the country thinking there was work lined up for them. Just who led them to believe this is unclear, but even when the arrived in Auckland it seems no one told them any different. Merritt brought them all to Wellington, set them up at Everton Hall, and although he made some effort in their direction, at the end of two weeks they had no money, only two jobs (which they had found by themselves), and no clues about what was going on.

At that stage incoming IVP James Movick and Vic President Lindy Cassidy stepped in and spent considerable time setting things right. In the outcome, NZUSA's name almost became mud with the Labour department and in other places, and Fijian students may no longer be able to come to New Zealand early to earn money for the academic year.