Pepys was Right

Somnambulant A.G.M.

Retiring President Maurice O'Brien set the ball rolling, without excess words, as he was tired from a late night (or was it an early morning?). in 15 seconds the minutes of the previous meeting were taken as read, and the adoption of the report moved and seconded.

A portion of a paragraph under "Special Central Meetings" was objected to by Mr. Piper and others. After discussion. Frank Curtin moved that the offending part be deleted.—Carried.

Marjorie Munro asked for an explanation of the lateness of the choice of the Extrav script. Mr. Ken Phillips replied that it had not been possible to get together the Selection Committee before then. The loss of £300 on this year's show was due to, among other "factors, the lateness and the fact that only 15-20 per cent of the students patronised the show.

Discussing the Social Committee's activities. Mr. Grange would like to see the committee branch out into other fields ("Treasure hunts"—from a voice) such as coffee evenings which were so popular at AUC. and film evenings. It was stated in reply that the committee had these things under its wing.

Mr. Pip Piper ("It's me again"—a masterly under-statement) wanted to have the section on NZUSA affairs taken paragraph by paragraph. The activities of the VUC sub-committee set up to investigate the matter of bursaries were illumined by Pip and Maurice. ( Later Mr. Piper wanted to know why Mr. Cotton had not attended the sessions of IUS as delegate to VUC).

More discussion on the IUS was terminated after Mr Kevin O'Brien's reply to Mr. Dave Mummery.

Mr. Mummery': "Affiliation with the IUS is not a political matter."

Mr. K. O'Brien "The IUS since 1945 has had a completely political back ground."

Mr. O'Brien (M.J.) objected to being described as " . . . morally . . . shaken" after his return from NUAUS council at Sydney in January—however Mr. Ken Phillips insisted that it was in order. Maurice subsided.

Additional blues awarded for summer sports were added to the list already in the report.

Much vociferous criticism was launched at "Salient." but most failed to reach its target. Editor Frank Curtin mentioned the 6d. "honesty box" in the caf for "Salient" sales, but nothing can be done about this matter for various reasons. It was suggested that the "Salient" be distributed free among the students. Mr. Curtin replied that a storehouse would be needed for the uncollected copies. Maurice O'Brien suggested a fish and chip shop.

Pip Piper "I'm always an optimist" ) suggested that the 4/- levy per head instituted in 1951 be recontinued this year and paid into the building fund, in addition to the annual payment of £100. Lance Robinson seconded this motion, Which was carried and referred to the incoming Exec.

Dave Mummery moved that the Constitution be printed. John Cody moved an amendment to have the word "cyclo-styled" substituted, for the word "printed." Mr. Lennane seconded this motion, which was carried I and referred to the incoming Exec, also.

Mr. Mummery then rose and shattered the awed silence with magnificent rhetoric: "I feel, others feel, and I think we all feel ..." (Mr. O'Brien: "Obviously a deep-seated feeeling"). Not at all moved by this. Dave continued: "Spike exists for the pseudo-intellectual people ..." (Did we hear John Cody Cheering ? if so, for What?). Bill Sheath quoth bluntly: " 'Spike' failed." John Cody's wit was truly toxic this night, for he quoth back: "Get the point, ha ha?. Catching the growing fever of hilarity, a voice from the back of the hall called out "Spike up. I can't hear you!" Mr. Peter Crowe, summing up Mr. Calham's ( ? ) remarks, whispered an epoch-making remark: "Student apathy!" M. J. O'Brien: "Thanks for drawing our attention to this matter."

Mr. Sheat then moved that Cappicade profits go to charity. Mr. Barry Williams seconded this Although the latter had very good reasons for doing so, he declined to give them to the meeting. Bernard Calvin opposed the motion on financial grounds, with which Mr. McCaw concurred, pointing out that the lack of student amenities, at the present moment is a much more important problem. Mr. Clark pointed out that students have not standing in the community. (really?). Mr. Ian Free thought that Cappicade's profits will always overshadow "Salient's" losses, to which Bill Sheat replied that the latter had never really tried. No comment. Ken Phillips opposed the motion, which would endeavour to "buy the City of Wellington over to the students." Students may have no standing in the city, but by the same token, the City of Wellington has even less standing at the College." ("Hear! Hear!"). Mr. Grange suggested that 9/10ths of all charity was hypocrisy.

Ian Free moved an amendment to this motion, so that no profits went to charity, but all the publications would be grouped together in the one account, the surplus, if any, to be devoted to the furthering of student amenities. After further amendment, this motion was put to the meeting and carried, 39 votes to 33.

Mr. Piper rose again: So did all but the faithful, the Soc. Club and the stalwarts of the Charter Club. It was now 10.15 p.m. Mr. Piper: "This motion arose from . . ." ("Horoscope"—Mr. Sheat) "In people like yourselves . . . "Mr. Pipers speech showed only that the Pope, Archbishop of York. Sir Winston Churchill wanted peace. Mr. Galvin in perhaps the most forthright speech of the evening, neatly related the motion to the student body, an aspect which Mr. Piper had rather glossed over. There was little discussion of the motion, which was lost (41 votes to 22).

General business was noted only for Mr. O'Brien (K. B.)'s old faithful motion that brass-bound spittoons be placed in the women's common room to facilitate their ejaculation of that "golden-brown, good liquid that all baccy-chewers have to get rid of . . . " This motion was amended to read the word "cuspidor" for the original "spittoon." To equilibrate the two common rooms. It was moved that Miss Pauline Hoskins be removed to the men's common room and that she be known hereafter as the "ex-pectorate."

Mr. Curtin moved that the motion be recorded. (Did we hear a quiet request that Mr. Curtin's motions be recorded?).

Ken Phillips then moved that the Association's thanks to (and sincere appreciation of) the invaluable work done for the College by the O'Brien regime be recorded. Maurice spoke briefly in reply. While waiting for the third O'Brien. Frank Curtin (you met him two columns back) moved that the new President. Malcolm McCaw. be known as the "First Protector For The O'Brien Regime."

After announcing the new Exec to those few who did not yet know who they were, the outgoing Exec invited the incoming lot to supper in "the Exec. room.

The meeting closed at 11.15 p.m.

And so to bed, as Pepys puts it.

Brian Shaw.