And on the motions

A motion was then passed that the remaining elections be postponed so that the more important of the 17 motions on the agenda could be discussed. The first of these motions was "That this SRC calls for a demonstration in support of the $9.00 increase to the standard tertiary bursary re-commended by the Education Department, to be held in conjunction with a national day of action organised by NZUSA to be held no later than April 11." Mover Virginia Adams spoke to the effect that the Education Department recommendation presents the student body with a magnificent opportunity to pressure Government to increase the bursary, with the implied support of the Department.

This motion was passed after little discussion and the next motion was presented. This was "That VUWSA's representative on the national executive be instructed to call for National action, preferably in the form of demonstrations. Further, that unless the Education Department adopts a more sincere approach to the Review Committee negotiations, then this SRC recommends NZUSA withdraw its member ship of the working parties". As mover of the motion, Lindy Cassidy spoke, explaining that the working parties were created in April 1978 to evaluate and report of future changes to the bursary. Although the Education [unclear: Deparment] runs these working parties and sits on them, it failed to consult the Working Parties on these recommendation to the Minister. It makes something of a mockery of inviting NZUSA to be a part of the discussion it makes decisions such as this without consulting them. The motion was put and carried.

The next motion, moved by Geoff Adams, read "That a bursaries action committee be formed by the Education Officer to organise the demonstration and that VUWSA invites the Polytechnic and Wellington Teachers college to join the demonstration' Once again this motion was passed with little discussion, most of the audience by this time having drifted off. The next motion moved by Andrew Tees said "That VUWSA supports STANZ and other Student Teachers Associations in holding to the view that student teachers should continue to receive the current student teacher allowances instead of receiving the standard tertiary bursary, and further that VUWSA believes that the standard tertiary bursary should no be upgraded to the detriment of student teacher's allowances" Andrew in his speech expressed the excellent emotion that all students should stick together, and that while the increase in bursary was a necessity it should not be achieved at the expense of our teaching colleagues.

This motion was passed, and we moved on to motion number 17, moved by Paul Norman "That a campaign be organised around the visit of the German Industrialists. (c. 20 March 1979) to emphasize the issues of the secrecy evident in the way that details of the visit, especially the business of the delegation, have been kept from the people of New Zealand, and the aspects of foreign capitilization of our resources that I are apparent in the New Zealand government's invitation. And, further that VUWSA supports such a campaign and supplies 15 metres of calico and $60 towards posters and leaflets, and takes part in a picket outside the James Cook at noon on Tuesday 20 March 1979" Norman spoke in support of his motion, but opposition came from Patrick Mulrenan who said that this motion gave implicit support to New Zealand capitalists and was "money to a bad cause", NZUSA General VP Jim Brown then spoke, outlining various horrible deeds that the Germans were going to do to Godzone. He said that they were going to be flown over the South Island rather like prospective buyers of real-estate. Tees then had his say, putting forward the view that this was none of the students business, and he didn't see why he had to fork our $60 for this cause. This so incensed Lisa Sacksen that she replied the Germans were attracted here by the carrot of cheap power, and the consumer price increases that would result were certainly the business of each and every student. Just before she was about to rend Andrew limb from limb, the motion was passed. Andrew was saved and the meeting was over. Andrew Beach