Congress Ho!

Congress proved a hornet's nest. Canterbury and Otago won their way that it be held mid-February if possible. AUC announced that they were only going to pay £5 to the outfit this year as so few Aucklanders went. This evoked a violent attack from Victoria's Pottinger. Mills, tall big-jawed CUC President, said it was "Only human decency" for AUC Exec to give a lead among students in supporting Congress!

It was decided to publish as many Congress 1950 addresses as possible. General agreement met the suggestion to stick to Curious Cove and a population of 140, and that sessions be run according to NZUSA standing orders. President Miller: "After all, should the Steering Committee run the show?" Mills criticised "tubthumping" at open forum sessions, and when fair, plump-faced Kelly of OU, next Congress Convenor, moved that Congress should discuss student as well as purely intlectual problems, Auc's Brittain complained about "wasting our time with the troubles of the world."

VUC's remit that liquor be openly tolerated at Congress under supervision, met with howls of rage. Pottinger: "Everything to do with drink in this country is surreptitious. . . . We had to smuggle it in over the hills by night. . ." Barbara Holm: "It was officially banned but not actively prohibited. . . This is an attempt to straighten out a contradictory situation." Others agreed the present set-up safeguarded the Committee's responsibility.