Here are extracts from the report of Douglas White, President of the Students' Association, for the six months from 29 June to 31 December. This half-year term enabled the Association year to run from January to December instead of June to June from 1968 onwards.

After some difficulty the new Constitution was finally adopted at a Special General Meeting in August, 1967. It has already been decided that the Executive would hold office until 31st December, 1967.

The Constitution was amended in a number of places in its adoption and it appears that further amendment will be required to make it a satisfactory document.

It is hoped that the system of administration contained in the new Constitution will be worked out during this year. Mention should be made of the difficulties caused by the Constitutional changes in the running of elections last year.

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Under the new Constitution, elections will be held in the second term of each year to elect the Executive for the following year . . . .

Caf crowding

At the meeting of the Student Union Management Committee in September 1967, the Vice-Chancellor reported that the Government would not approve, during the 1967-1968 financial year, the erection of any new University buildings or extensions to existing University buildings which had not already been commenced. In these circumstances the earliest date by which the extensions to the Union Building at Victoria could be completed is about March 1969 . . . .

Because student representatives on the Committee felt that Cafeteria overcrowding had reached saturation point . . . a Sub-Committee was set up to consider the matter. After consideration this Sub-Committee recommended to the Management Committee that a Snack Bar be set up in the Mens and Womens Common Rooms to operate during lunch-times for a trial period in 1968.

This proposal meant that the Women's Common Room would not be available for the exclusive use of women from 11.30 a.m. to 2.00 p.m., and the Men's Common Room would not be available for card-players before 2.00 p.m. The Executive felt that another room should be found for the exclusive use of women, either between 11.30 and 2.00 p.m., or permanently, and that there should be no card playing in the Union Building before 2.00 p.m.

Food prices

In November 1967, the Dining Room Sub-Committee of the Management Committee received Mr. Levenbach's Accounts for the first six months of 1967. These Accounts showed Mr. Levenbach had made unprecedented losses during that period. In fact the total loss on student and staff meals was over $2,000 more than the loss incurred for the entire year in 1965 and 1966. It is considered that this loss was caused by the increase in the cost of living which has put prices up and the increased cost of overheads in the Cafeteria. A costing carried out by Mr. Levenbach's Acountant showed that certain increases in the Dining Room prices were necessary.

Certain increases in the snack lunch were suggested by Mr. Levenbach and his Accountant and these were accepted by the Dining Room Sub-Committee. These suggestions were considered by Executive members before the Management Committee met and it was felt that while some increases were necessary, certain of the suggestions were inequitable, in particular the 50% increase in the cost of filled rolls and the one cent increase in the cost of coffee when there had been no increase in the cost of that item. Executive members felt that a costing ought to be carried out on the main course meals.

Consequently, at the November meeting of Management Committee the matter was referred back to the Dining Room Sub-Committee which was to consult with the President of the Association in the recommendations it put forward to the University Council. After Mr. Levenbach's Accountant had completed the costing on the main course meals the Dining Room Sub-Committee and the President met and agreed on the price increases which came into effect when the Cafeteria reopened this year.

The main course meal costing clearly showed that increases were required there also and it was calculated that to enable Mr. Levenbach to break even few alterations could be made in the original suggested increases. The President was, however, able to get the Sub-Committee to agree that the price of coffee should remain the same, while accepting the proposed 50% increased in filled rolls on the ground that the costing showed that this item had caused a considerable loss in the past.

It is hoped that the prices which are now in operation will enable Mr. Levenbach to at least break even on student and staff meals and that the procedure of carrying out costings on all items at various times during the year will be adopted to enable the Management Committee to review the cost structure each year.

NZUSA

This organisation has consolidated as an educational pressure group under the leadership of its first full-time President, Mr. R. S. Mountain. The success of his work was proved when Winter Council at Dunedin in August decided to continue the full-time Presidency. Mr. Mountain will be succeeded in his position in 1968 by Mr. J. J. McGrath. a former President of Victoria. I am sure the Association will wish him all the best in his new position.

The potential effectiveness of NZUSA has been clearly shown in its efforts to publicise the possible problem of students" unemployment during the Christmas vacation. Largely because of Mr. Mountain's statements and approaches to Ministers, the Government announced that emergency benefits would be available to students.

Bookshop

Early in 1967 Sweet & Maxwell (N.Z.) Ltd. purchased 22 Kelburn Parade, which is situated within the area zoned for University purposes, on the understanding that they would be able to set up a bookshop there. Unfortunately, they did not clear this with the University and when the matter came to the notice of the Administration it was found impossible to consent to the necessary change of use. Sweet & Maxwell Ltd. then made a conditional purchase of Ltd. Kelburn Parade, which is situated within the area zoned residential 'B' adjoining the area zoned for University purposes

The purchase was conditional upon Sweet & Maxwell obtaining the consent of the Wellington City Council (Town Planning Committee) to a change of use of the properly "to permit their use as a University Book Centre to meet the requirements of the University of Wellington, the members of its staff and its students".

In September your Executive decided to support Sweet & Maxwell's application. At the hearing before the Town Planning Committee of the City Council representatives of the University and the Association appeared in support of the application. In October the City Council, on the recommendation of the Town Planning Committee, rejected Sweet & Maxwell's application on the grounds that it was contrary to town planning principles, contrary to the public interest and it would be a detraction fom the amenities of the other inhabitants. The City Council also said that the objections (which were withdrawn) were upheld and that the bookshop should be part of a shopping block in the University grounds on the eastern side of Kelburn Parade so as to avoid a traffic hazard.

Sweet & Maxwell have obtained an extension of their option to purchase and will appeal to the Town and Country Planning Appeal Authority. The Association was disappointed at the attitude of the City Council as the advantages of a University bookshop are obvious and furthermore under the existing legislation the University would not be permitted to set up a bookshop on its own land. It is to be hoped that Sweet & Maxwell's appeal is successful.

Holiday jobs

It was realised early in the second term of 1967 that students might find it difficult to obtain the holiday jobs which they required to earn enough to see them through the following academic year.

Your Executive decided that as the problem could affect students throughout New Zealand it would be preferable for N.Z.U.S.A. to handle any action which was thought desirable. Accordingly, our delegation took several remits to Winter Council urging N.Z.U.S.A. to bring the potential problem to the attention of the Government and to publicise it if necessary. These remits were all adopted and formed the basis of N.Z.U.S.A.'s action on the problem during the rest of 1967.

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In August your Executive decided to proceed in four main ways: first, to assist N.Z.U.S.A. in every way, especially on the publicity side; secondly, to arrange a teach-in on the national problem of unemployment; thirdly, to run a questionnaire on student unemployment in conjunction with the Third Term Executive Elections; and fourthly, to make arrangements to deal with the practical side of a possible shortage of jobs through the University Appointments Board.

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Late in October Mr. Mountain suggested that the various University Councils should consider the problem. At Victoria the Student Representative on Council, in consultation with the Vice-Chancellor and the Secretary of the Appointments Board, prepared a Report for the V.U.W. Council with two recommendations, both of which were adopted, to the effect that the Council recognised the serious nature of the problem and that its concern be conveyed to the Government, asking the Government to set up a fund to be administered by the University to make grants to students in established cases of hardship.

Following talks between various Cabinet Ministers and Mr. Mountain, the Government announced in November that the emergency benefit would be made available to students in cases of hardship. As was pointed out at the time, this only answered part of the problem because the real difficulties would arise if students were unable to earn enough to enable them to return to University. The Government, however, took no action on this matter in 1967.

Appointments Board

Early on the Secretary of the Appointments Board. Mr. A. T. Mitchell, advised the Association that the Board was concerned with the difficulties students might experience in finding jobs in the Christmas holidays. During the third term the Board . . . circularised some 8,000 firms in the Wellington province asking for jobs. As a result of this letter and the publicity given to the difficulties the Board received offers of many jobs which were advertised in the Union ever) day and later kept in lists in the Association Office.

As at the end of 1967 it appeared that most students had. in fact, been able to find jobs at least until Christmas. This satisfactory result was due. I feel, in no small way to the publicity given to the potential problem and the generous reaction of employers in coming forward with many jobs as a result of that publicity. The Association is very grateful to the Appointments Board For its considerable efforts in the handling of job advertisements.

General

On behalf of the Executive I wish to record our thanks to the Association's Office staff for their efforts during the last six months which ensured that much of the business of the Association was carried out successfully.