Swords are drawn

Then came the real hooha. James Movick reported the events of 27th January, when Mike Lee had gone on radio claiming, a Movick put it, that "NZUSA no longer represents the views of students; and that National Office is dominated by trendy lefty Maoists." National Office quickly resolved that "NZUSA should not indulge in a public fist-fight with a constituent association." When TV 1 got in on the act Lee backed down and the dust got a chance to settle.

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Lee decided to counterattack with the facts. I didn't say "trendy lefty Maoists" but "trendy Maoist lefties" he retorted. Cassidy and Prince pointed out to him that public exposure of internal difficulties undermines NZUSA on every front, especially with the government. Did he accept that? "Not at all," replied Lee. "I could have done far worse."

Then Merritt played his ace. He outlined a plan to set up a commission of inquiry into the whole matter of NZUSA's viability. The proposal is a good one, and denoted the first concerted public attempt to face the problem square on. But, said Lee, it's "just another bureaucratic committee."

It's quite obvious Lee doesn't want to stay in under any circumstances. Nevertheless while his belligerence is deliberate, it is another matter whether he carries the whole of Canterbury with him. If he is moving into that position it's partly because he has considerable ability to make National Office look like the villains, and sometimes they don't altogether disappoint him.

The discussion had moved onto whether special emphasis should be given to Canterbury and Lincoln by NZUSA officers.

To give the bare bones:

Prince:"What if Canterbury and Lincoln are going to be awkward?"

Lee: "I object. . ."

Cassidy: "Say with a bursaries campaign not participated in by the campus and exec."

MacPherson: "That is awkward."

Lee: "If National Office come down when we have decided one way and stick their big fat noses in they'll get pushed."

MacPherson: "That's just what I mean."

In the middle of the row Lee stated "I never threaten, that's for little people. I warn ... I never bully anyone."

Finally, it was moved and passed without dissent, "That the National Executive direct National Officers to carry out Council policy with particular emphasis on the Canterbury and Lincoln campuses." Lee was heard to mutter, "They'll laugh at that one back home."