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Salient. An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria College, Wellington N.Z. Vol. 11, No. 3. Special Issue

Special Special Special

Special Special Special

Last Night At 8 O'Clock 1,000 students of the College assembled in the upper gym. to hear a motion of no confidence in the Executive. The meeting concluded at 9.30 pm after some 20 persons had spoken. An amending motion of censure was lost - the motion [unclear: of the] confidence was carried and a "caretaker executive" was elected "in toto" with one notable exception who withdrew - on the motion of Mr. O'Connor.

Just before 8 O'clock Mr. Dowrick, the President, rose to speak and was greeted by unbroken voices harmoniously singing "Now is the Hour". He stated that the Exec. had met on Sunday and had, after due consideration, rescinded the motion under dispute. In his opinion the members who called the meeting were genuine in their wish to consider the motion in the light of subsequent developments - this was met with howls and jeers. Mr. Dowrick reiterated that he was giving factual data only.

Mr. O'Connor introduced the following motion without comment: "That this Association has no confidence in the present Executive of the Association: and that it neither endorses the sentiments contained in, nor condones the sending of, a letter from the Executive to the Prime Minister of Czechoslovakia."

Mr. McArley objected to the way in which the motion had been passed - there was neither prior notice or discussion. One member of the Executive "didn't know about it" and another "thought it a joke". The recission of the motion was an attempt to escape the consequences.

Mr. Tallboys said the Exec. abused the power for which they were elected. Apathy was the greatest enemy of democracy.

Miss Marshall: "If you are against the Exec. it shows that you didn't elect them on a party political basis. Poor taste is indicated by introducing matters to Exec. [unclear: affairs]

Mr. Hume said that the Exec. had subordinated the interests of the university to their own views. "This is a chance to repudiate Communist domination of the University". (cheers, howls etc.)

Mr. Alec. McLeod: "Mr. [unclear: McArley] told me that his circular was not calculated to appeal to the intelligent students but to stampede the ignorant'". (Cries of "we don't care")

In reply Mr. [unclear: McArley] admitted the statement but said that it was "a matter mentioned in a semi-facetious and slaphappy manner."

Mr. Cohen said that Mr. McArley had said precisely the same thing in front of other students. Mr. McArley agreed that this was so. Mr. O'Brien, jumping to Mr. McArley's defence, claimed that as this had been a private conversation it was a matter of privilege not to be discussed.

"It is an affront to the members of the Debating Club," said Mr. J. Milburn. This had been the only opportunity to discuss the Czech affair.

Mr. Bryant: "After listening to the polemics of yellers and table-thumpers I have decided that we could elect worse people onto the Executive - followers of "Zealandia" and "Truth", (interjection: "Not Zealandia")

Mr. P. Gardner: The Exec. were not elected on a political basis, then why should they express their political views in a whole (int: "What a hole"). A good Exec. would not meddle in political affairs. He suggested an amendment to stop this from happening.

A point of order was raised, and the motion was ruled in order. Mr. Evison dis- page break agreed with the Chairman's ruling but the ruling was upheld, Discussion then took place allegedly on the amendment but there was no perceptible difference in tone or substance.

"I am not a Communist, I have not been a Communist and I never intend to be one", said Mr. Taylor, ex President of the Association. "As the movers of the motion claim to be supporters of democracy" he hoped for a fair hearing. This he did not get, due to the noisy jeerst of groups. The Exec. was wrong - all Execs. are sometimes wrong even the most reactionary, "Anybody who has run the affairs of the Association is, by March slowly disintegrating into madness". He mentioned the responsibilities of Tournament N.Z.U.S.A. remits, and Extrav. - all these would have to be organised by the "caretaker exec."

Mr. McIvor said that the Exec. was trying to crawl out. They had abused their privilege, (this to the accompaniment of cheers, hear hears etc.) There was clarification of a point here and it was admitted, coyly, by McIvor that he was talking about Mr. Skinner.

Mr. K. Pound: pointed out, despite strong and vocal opposition, that the Debating Club was after all only one activity of students in the College.

Mr. C. McLeod: said that we had lost the confidence of the Auckland Students, the Otago Students (int. "Two well-known progressive bodies") and the City Fathers. He moved that the amendment be put. It was and was lost. Then the motion was put and passed. Mr. Ian McDowell took the Chair on the motion of the house.

Mr. O'Connor then moved as a motion a full list of names of nominees for the "caretaker exec". It was pointed out by Mr. Warner that this would give no opportunity for democratic noninations and votes. Mr. O'Brien pointed out that this would cause trouble and mean preferential voting. Amidst roars of approval it was decided to vote on the motion.

Miss Michael said that "in view of tho feeling at this meeting" she would withdraw from nomination. Miss Casey who was then nominated declined nomination and Miss Webley was appointed to the vacant position. The following is the list (plus Miss Webley) proposed by Mr. O'Connor and voted in "in toto":

Pres:

Vice-Pres:

  • *J. Battersby
  • *Miss Mckenzie

Sec.:

Comm:

  • *D. Brown
  • *Miss C Langford
  • B. Lovell
  • C. Macleod
  • S. McLellan
  • *Miss L Leicester
  • *Miss L Webley
  • *Miss J Robbins

Mr. O'Brien suggested that these people would be most acceptable as they oomprised many who had never been on anything in the College.

The meeting then closed.

"Salient" does not apologise for the front page being upside down. Apparently even the Gestetner has been affected.

"Salient" is being brought out by a small number of the staff so that you may have a report before Easter. It is now the small hours of the morning.

* Members of the retired Exec.