SRC

Some 250 students were in the Union Hall at the beginning of SRC at noon on Wednesday - by the end of the meeting at 2.10 pm numbers had dropped to about 50, mostly uninterested people.

Library Cuts

But the main item of interest in this part of the meeting came when Lindy reported on action taken so far regarding the cutbacks in Library hours. She said that in carrying around a petition about this she had got the impression that students were not too concerned at losing the use of the Library on Friday nights as this really only inconvenienced part time students.

She moved a motion to the effect that SRC declare itself dissatisfied with the level of finance and priority given to Library services. Immediate reaction came from the floor. The first speaker attacked the stand at present being taken by the Association. He said that if student reps had done their jobs in the first place, then the cutbacks would never have occurred. Given that they had, he said our approach now should not be one of attack and confrontation but one of negotiation with the Library. He sat down to loud applause.

Gyles Beckford agreed with much of what the first speaker had said, but pointed out that negotiating with the Library could achieve nothing when the directives for the cuts had come from the Registrary. Professional Board and University Council. He was disappointed that so little action had been taken since the last SRC when a strongly worded motion had been passed. Why had no leaflets been distributed to students on the matter? He also mentioned that although closure of the Library on Friday nights may only inconvenience part-time students, there were nearly 3000 such students at VUW.

As he too sat down to applause, it was clear that the crowd was at least listening—no mean feat for an SRC. Gyles rose again minutes later to ask who would raise the matter at Prof. Board the next day as we had no reps on it at present (Lindy: "I'll be there") and since the Board would almost definitely delay matters for a month by sidetracking it into a committee, what other action would be taken (Lindy: "Then we'll set up a committee')

Ultra-Leftism Squashed

Lindy's first motion was passed with out dissent, and she then moved a further motion: "That the Education Officer be directed to form a Library Action Committee". Patrick Mulrennan, with memories of the glorious 60's no doubt still in his mind, rose immediately to ask "what about sit-ins?" After the boos and shouting had died down Leonie Morris and Neil Gray both said it was a "stupid motion". Patrick, undeterred, continued that such action was needed to "scare the authorities and the Government". But the meeting appeared too timid to begin the revolution with a Library sit-in and moved to other business after directing the Library Action Committee to report back at the next SRC (this Wednesday, boys and girls!)

Steve Underwood reported that since the beginning of the year he as Association Treasurer had been involved in the catering operation, orientation programme and with the auditors.

Sainsbury Resigns

Next was the announcement that Mark (Barretts) Sainsbury, one time SRC coordinator had resigned. This position is to be filled at this Wednesday's SRC.

Apart from Neil Gray's asking that those willing to help with the extravaganza capping revue see himself, Peter Thrush or Kevin Swann, that ended reports.

Next on the agenda was SRC elections for Overseas Students Officer and Publications Board Reps (6). There were 2 nominations for O.S.O.: W. Wongsarot and James Movik. Both were articulate and seemed genuinely interested in overseas students, both culturally and politically. James Movik was elected (several of his planks being to help politicise students and to help set up a Third World caucus).

It was now 1.20pm, numbers had dropped to about 130 and the meeting was only just reaching the first of the motions on the agenda.

First (after a procedural motion changing the order of agenda items) was a motion that SRC recommend a donation of $150 be given to Tenants Union (formerly the Tenants Protection Association). Speakers said that the Union was of particular use to students and that the Union had received a similar grant in 1976. At the moment they were in debt ($146 on phone bills alone) and so really did need the money. There was some criticism that the Union did not involve tenants generally, rather than just those who needed help, to which speakers replied that it was attempting to do this. The motion was passed unanimously.

Support for S.A. Blacks

The meeting then passed two motions to do with the Sharpeville Commemoration and Rally - the first giving the Association's support, and the second giving its money ($90). Costs for the rally were to be about $900 (leaflets, advertising, play cards, mail-outs, etc) so the money would have a definite use. Any funds left over would be donated to the Bastion Point Fund.

The meeting (now with very few people attending or listening), after brief discussion left two motions (one on Bursaries the other on Arts Council constituting itself into a separate body) to be dealt with at the AGM on March 30th. The meeting was then closed with 3 or 4 items on the agenda unconsidered.

It became the pattern last year and definitely is continuing this year that the agenda at SRC was never finished—in many cases not even half finished. In most cases responsibility for this must be borne by the Chairperson. Especially at this year's meetings we have seen a certain lack of control shown by Lindy Cassidy in the chair. Business at the beginning of meetings needs to be kept short and succinct. Speakers must come through the chair and length of speeches must be controlled. At both SRC's this year we have seen Lindy losing some control of the meeting through changing her rulings because someone disagrees with her or not realising that time is ticking away on unimportant matters. This is perhaps understandably due to inexperience on her part in the chair, but the Association and SRC in particular can only allow her so much time to learn. I hope we see some immediate improvements at this weeks SRC especially in keeping reports brief.

—Peter Gibbs.