Massive Membership Provides Problems

The present uncertain structure of the Council presents another problem. NZSAC's 150 to 200,000 members are drawn from universities, teachers colleges, technical institutes and community colleges throughout New Zealand. But the different facilities available for touring on each campus and the different numbers and types of students at each institution (eg residential, full time, part time) has meant that the Council, while still visiting Whangarei and Invercargill, has been forced to concentrate on the six main university centres (which are currently paying 80% of the NZSAC levies).

To help balance out the situation a tiered levy system was introduced. The six main universities (this was excluding Lincoln) made up Categroy A and were to pay $1.20 per annum; training colleges, large institutes and Lincoln constituted Category B and paid 90 cents, small techs (such as Carrington, CIT and Waikato) made up Category C, and community colleges, paying the smallest levy constituted Category D.

However, despite the new levy system, it still appeared to be impossible to satisfy every demand of every campus in New Zealand. Tech Institutes still questioned the value of the Council's activities for the levies the tech students were paying. Although the Council tried to negotiate with NZTISA (New Zealand Technical Institute Students' Association), to meet their needs, increase NZSAC tour publicity, and to diversify the Council's programme, little agreement was reached, and in November last year, the techs gave 12 months notice of their proposed withdrawal from the Council.

Now the issue has boiled down to one of money and levies. The Council is unwilling to commit itself to a programme of arts and entertainment if the techs do decide to withdraw and refuse to pay their levies. The existing arrangement between the Council and the techs does show flaws from both sides. To continue in the present way would be to the detriment of both parties. However, it would seem to be a good idea to maintain some association between NZSAC and NZTISA. A realistic appraisal of the situation and a more flexible arrangement between the two is what both parties are looking for and should offer some sort of solution. Meanwhile, the situation remains in limbo.

Margaret Patterson