National body needs reform

The latest crisis NZUSA has passed through suggests attention to it's financial basis is long overdue.

Auckland's refusal to compromise must be condemned. There is no reason why NZUSA should be effectively 'killed' because of inept leadership at Auckland.

If it were not for the successful move by the Victoria delegation to obligate Auckland, legally to the extent of £980 and morally for the balance of their true levy (about £400 more) NZUSA might as well have closed down.

Clearly the present set-up is unsatisfactory. There has been a financial crisis in each of the last three years for different reasons. An organisation cannot expand and be respected while it exists on such Shaky foundations.

Planning programmes is becoming impossible. Capable students are less interested in holding positions on the body.

NZUSA must be put on a solid financial footing. The logical way would be to adopt the Australian practice and impose a levy on each student. A levy of just 5/- per student would realise nearly £6000.

This sum would permit the realisation of some objectives currently talked about. It would allow each student association to budget accordingly. Such a system would help NZUSA Councils to become a forum of constructive discussion instead of the wrangling and destructiveness so prevalent at the moment.

An organisation which knows in advance its income is in a better position to constructively consider the best way to spend it.

Until NZUSA is in that position students can expect to read more about financial shambles in the sphere of higher students politics.

B.G.S.