March 17 and 18 saw the second meeting of the National Executive of NZUSA for 1979 Although often very tedious to sit through. National Exec meetings are always interesting, if only to see how the presidents of the 7 constituent associations perform. Back on their own home campuses they all rule the roost as it were, chair most of the meetings they attend and are used to having their opinions taken seriously. At National Exec however they are not always in this situation, for a start the meeting is chaired by the President of NZUSA, who exercised his own control and secondly each of the presidents considers that he has an opinion that is worth listening to generally more important than other's views. The result is lenghtly debates with some violent clashes.

Of all the presidents, it is those of two of the South Island campuses that most clearly fit this bill. Tony Stuart (President of Canterbury) is most reluctant to let any matter be discussed without having his say, even if he has nothing to add to the discussion. Paul Gourlie (for Otago) on the other hand seems to make a career out of needling the chairperson.