President

Well, I hope people did not find enrollment to be too much of a traumatic experience and welcome to another awe inspiring year (or to your first year whichever is the case). I hope all you returning grizzlers were absolutly thrilled with the general election result; 'Muldoon' pie and ordinary (political) baked beans for another 3 years.

I arrived in Wellington on January 10th to find things already moving; hopefully in the right direction. In the first executive meeting of the year, we accepted the resignation of the Man Vice President, Kevin Wand with "absolutely no feeling either way". So we are short of an executive member — Turn up to the First SRC on Wednesday 28 February if you Want to be the New MVP - everybody is welcome to stand for the position.

Over the vacation, VUWSA has employed some worriers under the Student Community Service Programme, organising orientation, doing display boards on VUWSA policy (horror! - don't look!?) and working on student employment, as well as preparing a survey on the dental health of students.

On the broader employment scene the situation in Wellington has been far from rosy; in spite of the fact that SCSP provided many jobs for needy students. At one stage, 311 students were registered or unemployed in the Wellington - Lower Hutt area. The situation had only marginally improved when figures as at 12 January revealed 255 still unemployed. Many students only obtained adequate work at a relatively late stage in the holidays thus presumably, many of them will be short of money to help them through the year. This is clearly demonstrated by the figures of 12th February which showed only 59 students unemployed in the Lower Hutt and Wellington region.

The Student Unemployment over the holidays shows that the continuation of the Student Community Service Scheme on a permanent basis is essential. Certainly while the present difficult economic conditions exist and the private sector is unable to employ a sufficient number of students. In the midst of this, Mr Tony Stuart President of Canterbury issued a statement saying student unemployment was a myth! Not surprisingly, I subsequently regutted his statements in the media, as I was concerned that the prejudicial publicity would damage the chances of Wellington (ie Vic' Students) getting jobs.

On the 13/14th of February there was a National Executive meeting of NZUSA with which I was far from satisfied. I believe we (ie myself and other constituent Presidents and national officers) should have discussed first, the vital issue directly concerning student welfare, Your welfare. Instead, at the behest of NZUSA 'organiser' we heard one report after another which were all very interesting bit not crucial importance to students at Vic. They included the report on the Australian lecturer training and financial assistance for students Asian Students Conference.

These are only isolated examples; as it was, we only spent one morning talking about Student Unemployment and bursaries as they were placed well down the long agenda. NZUSA's 50th jubilee was discussed long before Student Unemployment the same morning! We did however meet the University Grants Committee that afternoon where we all pushed for retention of adequate student we fare services and a better financial commitment to lecture training and financial assistance for student undertaking costly courses.

National Executive discussed the report of [unclear: NZ] President Chris Gosling as one of the board [unclear: membe] of STB. In case you didn't know, student Travel is in dire financial straits. Canterbury has refused to sign a guarantee for a $125,000 overdraft facility to be used by Student Travel. All university [unclear: stude] associations are needed to sign this guarantee (Victoria has last year) in order for the overdraft to be [unclear: cured]. Naturally the BNZ are not very happy [unclear: out] this. Still, STB's debts and liabilities are [unclear: her] complicated due to past 'mishaps' ($$$!!) but more 'ingo' will be forthcoming. National Executive also considered a proposal to restructure NZUSAs debts, so hopefully enabling NZUSA to keep student union house 32 Blair street.

Well that's about all I've got to say for now, so ta ta and I hope you have a good year.

Andrew Tees