S H O C K . . . . H O R R O R . . . . S C A N D A L . . . . P R O B E
PRICING DECEIT JB a •
t h o r o u g h i n v e s t i g a t i o n into the finances of the F E L I X P" t U n i t has r e v e a l e d a m a j o r s c a n d a l i n v o l v i n g c h a r g e s for offset-litho p r i n t i n g carried out for Jm lira i n d i v i d u a l s a n d c l u b s a n d societies. Instead of b r e a k i n g even, as has been c l a i m e d , s u c h w o r k results in a s t a g g e r i n g 500% P r o f i t , w h i c h is w h y F E L I X a l w a y s has a s u r p l u s i n its account at the e n d o f the year. n
Successive E d i t o r s a n d B u s i n e s s M a n a g e r s have a l w a y s c l a i m e d that, as p r i n t i n g j o b s other than F E L I X m e r e l y ' b r e a k even ', there has been no need to i n c l u d e E s t i m a t e s for the f o l l o w i n g year.
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W i t h o u t r e a l i s i n g it, the U n i o n has been consistantly p u m p i n g m o n e y into F E L I X v i a the c l u b s a n d societies a n d C e n t r a l U n i o n Office F u n d s , due to t h e i r extortionate c h a r g e s for p r i n t i n g .
Therefore, if F E L I X had estimated each year their true i n c o m e from p r i n t i n g , this w o u l d have resulted in their grant from the U n i o n b e i n g drastically reduced. Instead the deception has been perpetuated right t h r o u g h to D a v i d C r a b b e ' s estimates for next year w h i c h a g a i n m a k e no m e n t i o n of income from p r i n t i n g o r e x p e n d i t u r e tor materials o n the grounds that they w o u l d 'break even', in the hope that F E L I X w o u l d c o n t i n u e to be u n d e r the c o n t r o l of the r u l i n g F E L I X C l u b C l i q u e . A l t h o u g h clubs a n d societies have always been given sufficient funds to meet F E L I X ' s high p r i n t i n g charges, it has been a different story for i n d i v i d u a l s , especially those s t a n d i n g lor election to U n i o n posts. T h i s year there are likely to be at least ten c a n d i d a t e s for the Sabbaticals. E a c h w i l l spent a n ' average of t h i r t y pounds o n p r i n t i n g done by F E L I X . The real cost s h o u l d only be live pounds. In this way the U n i o n is m a k i n g vast profits out of i n d i v i d u a l members of the U n i o n . In other words , a sixth of their election e x p e n d i t u r e covers the a c t u a l cost o f t h e i r p u b l i c i t y , whilst the other 5 6 t h s is p r e s u m a b l y for the p r i v i l a g e of F E L I X d o i n g the p r i n t i n g . T h i s s i t u a t i o n where a Student U n i o n makes such a b i g profit from its members is intolerable, a n d should be condemned. /
7 hose involved: Mike Willlaws -Editor 1974-75, Pub Board Chairman 1977-78Paid Ekpenyong-Editor 1975-76' Duncan Suss'Duswfss Manager 1976-77, Editor 1977-78 'John Allen •Financial Con/iollerl976-77, Chairman Pub Board 1976-77, 1978-79 John Harris-Business Manager 1977-78, Editor 1978-79 • David Crabbe-Business Manager 1978-79-
W h e n the rates were increased by D u n c a n Suss at the start of 197677. he c l a i m e d that it was due to increased cost of p a p e r a n d plates. A l s o , he c l a i m e d that p r i n t i n g p h o t o g r a p h s o r different colours w o u l d cost more due to increased m a c h i n e time. Subsequent increases have also been e x p l a i n e d by increased costs of p a p e r a n d plates. F E L I X d o not have to pay for plates. Not o n l y that, they d o n ' t have to pay for m a c h i n e time, ink o r any of the other materials i n v o l v e d . These are a l l from college. T h e o n l y cost to F E L I X of u n d e r t a k i n g A N N ' p r i n t i n g job is the cost of the paper. (Presently l / 2 p per sheet of A3).
T h i s investigation was p r o m p t e d on h e a r i n g that S h e y n c L u c o r k ' h a d c o m p l a i n e d on n u m e r o u s occasions about the cost of p r i n t i n g F O R W A R D ! , the L i b e r a l C l u b newspaper, both to D u n c a n Suss, a n d to J o h n H a r r i s , but was told that it had to 'break even'. It was discovered that the whole matter was w e i g h i n g heavily on J o h n H a r r i s ' s conscience a n d that he was a n x i o u s that the s i t u a t i o n be c h a n g e d . E v e n so. he still a l l o w e d D a v i d C r a b b e ' s false estimates to be accepted by P u b l i c a t i o n s B o a r d a n d f o r w a r d e d to the U n i o n . It is clear that those c o n c e r n e d had not taken into a c c o u n t M a r y A t t e n b o r o u g h ' s knowledge of p r i n t i n g a n d she has been the first President to spot the a n o m a l i e s in the estimates. It looks as if P u b l i c a t i o n B o a r d a n d F E L I X w i l l have to do some last t a l k i n g . T h i s state of affairs must be set to rights as soon as possible. II action is not taken now then when w i l l it end? A copy of this article has been sent to the E d i t o r of F E L I X , to the C h a i r m a n of P u b l i c a t i o n s B o a r d a n d to the President of I C L ' n i o n .
S H O C K . . . . H O R R O R . . . . S C A N D A L . . . . P R O B E FILE-X
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