NO-CONFIDENCE MOTION

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 68, Issue 137, 22 March 1948, Page 2

NO-CONFIDENCE MOTION

Students’ Asociation Executive

LETTER NOT BEING SENT TO MR GOTTWALD (P.A.) WELLINGTON. March 21. A letter from the executive committee of the Victoria University College Students’ Association congratulating the Communist Prime Minister of Czechoslovakia (Mil Gottwald) on the success 'of his party will not be sent, but a special meeting of 11 1 <» student body to consider a. motion of noeonfidence in the executive will bfe held to-morrow 'night.

At a meeting of the executive to-day it was resolved "that the motion that the executive congratulates Mr Gottwald on he triumph of democracy in Czechoslovakia be rescinded (a) since, in the opinion of some of the members wiio did not vote against the motion, the motion was introduced and dealt with in a spirit of facetious antithesis to the spirit of the debating society’s motion; (b) since the motion was not discussed and may he held not to indicate the considered opinion of all members of the executive; and (c) since it is the opinion of the executive that the motion is l not supported by the students of the college.” It was also resolved that the special general meeting to be held to-morrow night be informed “that the secretary declined to sign the letter to Mr Gottvvald prepared by the office staff from the minutes, and that the president, on a request for his signature, asked that the letter be not sent, as it was to be considered sub judice.” A manifesto was issued on Friday by 2d members of the Students’ Association requesting support for the motion of no-confidence in the executive committee.

The controversy began when the college debating society passed a resolution that the present Czech Government was not based on democratic principles and another that a communication be sent to the democratic Students of Prague University expressing sympathy in the death of Mr Jan Masarvk.

According to the circular issued last night, these motions required the approval of the executive of the Students’ Association. The approval was given, but the executive then passed a motion that a. letter of congratulation be sent to Mr Gottwald.

The executive passed this motion, with four dissentients, on behalf of the student body, states the circular. This means that it considered the students were in favour of the Communist regime in Czechoslovakia.

“Serious Action”

“This serious action by the executive leaves no course for democratic-ally-minded students to follow hut to move a motion of no-confidence in the executive, and express' disapproval of Ihe contents of the eomunication to Mr Gottwald.

“Absence through apathy,” the manifesto continues, “means that you approve of helping the executive to put another nail in the coffin) of democracy in Czechoslovakia.”

There follows another full page of exhortation studded with such phrases as “the curse of Communistic dictatorship,”, “devotees of a vile system,” “abysmal thuggery of purges,” “Communist cancer in our universities.”

It is reported that when the distribution of tbo manifesto began, .soon after 5 p.m., a section of students obviously opposed thb move. Several of the circulars were torn, and on one lecture room students handing offish eet.s wore hooted.