Executive Elections

Seven candidates elected unopposed: SGM on Wednesday

The principal motion to be discussed at the special meeting, as stated on the requisition, is "That in view of the fact that seven out of the thirteen Executive positions are to be filled without opposition, nominations be re-opened with a view to obtaining a more representative number of candidates and wider interests in the election generally."

The signatories of the requisition include seven candidates in the elections—three of whom have already been declared elected unopposed. The signatures were collected within the space of an afternoon, on two copies of the petition.

The petition was designed to remedy the present situation whereby more than fifty percent of the new Executive will have come into office unopposed. Difficulty in giving effect to the purpose of the petition was caused by clauses in the Constitution, which would have to be suspended or amended for nominations to be re-opened. This procedure requires time, and while the brevity of discussion of the matter by Executive may be criticised it is questionable whether any more satisfactory decision could have been made.

It would appear that the only course now open to the sponsors of the petition—should they feel sufficiently strongly about the matter—would be to move a vote of no confidence in the new Executive at the Special General Meeting.

In this case they would have to overcome the argument that there would appear to be little point in throwing out an untried Executive composed of those interested enough to stand just to give others who had previously not shown interest a chance to stand against them in a new election.

It is believed that no decision has as yet been made by the sponsors of the petition about their policy in this, matter at the meeting; they are expected to decide this only when the tenor of the meeting has been observed.