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Salient. An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria College, Wellington, N.Z. Vol. 17, No. 2. March 11, 1953

Illogical Appointments

page 2

Illogical Appointments

It is so often that we write condemnatory editorials that when each new occasion for critical abuse presents itself it is with great reluctance that we decide to do our duty and point out the failings of any individual or body. In this case we have been decided by the fact that the practice which we are about to criticise has been unfortunately a failing of other Executives besides the present one and has hitherto passed unremarked upon in these columns.

This Students" Association as a constituent body of the New Zealand Students Association has the right to appoint three delegates and a number of observers to each of the bi-annual council meetings. Those do not have to be Executive members. However, in most cases they have been as it is well known that it is rare to find active members of the Association who are not on the Executive who have a knowledge of the problems and current aims of the N.Z.U.S.A. The members of Executive appointed as delegates are in the main most efficient and what is more important, are justly selected by the Executive for the positions they hold. But in the last year or two, included in the V.U.C. delegation to the N.Z.U.S.A. Council meetings have been one or two people "along for the ride." In other plainer words, the Association has financed these persons' trips to Otago, Canterbury or Auckland as the case may be. But what is by far the most deplorable aspect of this near nepotism and chicanery is the fact that other reliable and worthwhile persons have been and are being cheated of the experience and privileges of these positions.

Now let us speak plainly—and perhaps unpleasantly, because we are forced to deal in personalities. At the last Executive meeting the N.Z.U.S.A. delegates appointed were M. J. O'Brien, our President; P. M. McCaw, our Treasurer; and Miss Pauline Hoskins. Taking these in order: no one would cavil at the delegation of President O'Brien. He is one of the six or seven people in New Zealand who have an exhaustive and minutiatic knowledge of student affairs. He is being talked of as the next N.Z.U.S.A. President, a position which it is well known he would fill admirably. Malcolm McCaw is not so versed in N.Z.U.S.A. affairs. His interests lie mostly in sport and financial administration, the second of which might easily be covered at the council meeting by M. J. O'Brien. During the sittings of Easter Council Malcolm will be mostly playing cricket for Victoria; this makes his delegation a sinecure. As for Miss Hoskins, although well-versed in other important, aspects of student administration she has as yet shown no great knowledge of N.Z.U.S.A. affairs and no great interest in them. So in the view of this paper, certain Executive members, and many students, two of the three N.Z.U.S.A. delegates are unjustified by reason and logical choice.

Who then would we send? Obviously some persons who have already shown an interest in N.Z.U.S.A. affairs, and have a suitable Victoria background. One necessary condition for the appointment of at least one member would be the probability of one or two more years at College. The two logical persons who are suggested—and it is alarming and surprising that they were not appointed immediately—are Miss Elaine Foote and T. H. Beaglehole.

Miss Foote will be at Tournament in any case playing basketball; this would not affect her possible attendance at Council meetings. Miss Foote is the assistant secretary and has shown a comprehensive interest in N.Z.U.S.A. matters. Mr. Beaglehole has two more years at college, is secretary of the Swords Club and is on the committee of the Harrier Club and Debating Society. He is gym controller and generally has a wide knowledge of sporting matters. With his already wide interest in N.Z.U.S.A. matters he would surely have been the first choice after the President for a delegate-ship. Both Miss Foote and Mr. Beaglehole were observers at the last Council meeting.

We think that our proposed team of M. J. O'Brien. T. H. Beaglehole and Miss Foote would render the service it requires: the team as it stands will not. The choice is regrettable, but the facts are correct. Two people were appointed just for the ride. This practice has been prevalent for some time, but it must stop now. The Association demands that its officers should be capable of doing the duties for which they are selected. Two of the three delegates are not. We reiterate: this is unfortunate but true—And so it must be changed.T.H.H.