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Salient. An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria College, Wellington, N.Z. Vol. 12, No. 4. May 4th 1949
Progress
Progress
The first, annual conference of the N.Z. Student Labour Federation was held in Wellington on Easter Sunday. Delegates were present from the AUC Labour Club, and the VUC Socialist Club and the U'O Radical Club in addition to an observer of the CUC Socialist Club which has not yet affiliated to NZSLF.
The secretary of the Federation. Ron Smith, reported that the Federation had conducted the following activities during its first year.
| 1 | Furnished information on the activities of the various Clubs in N.Z. by means of news-letters. |
| 2 | Inaugurated campaigns for an improved bursary system in N.Z.; against conscription and war; against secrecy in science and the militarisation of science: and one of support for the anti-Fascist Students and Youth in Spain. |
| 3 | Kept contact overseas by correspondents with progressive student and youth organisations in other countries, such as the Australian Student Labour Federation, WFDY. IUS and the British Student Labour Federation. |
| 4 | Organised a Student Labour Congress with three sessions on free afternoons during the NZUSA Congress. |
| 5 | Held conferences at Winter and Faster Tournaments. |
Student Policy
A draft policy modelled on that of ASLF was formulated by the conference for endorsement by the Clubs. It is in four main sections.
1. Peace: Support for IUS. WFDY and the World Organisation of Intellectuals for Peace: support for national independence in colonial nations: support for UNO including support for the principle of unanimity among the permanent members of the Security Council; opposition to peace-time conscription.
2. Democracy: NZSLF stands for the defence of N.Z. democracy in co-operation with the Trade Unions and progressive youth movemenths. It supports the fight of WFDY and IUS in defence of the rights of democratic students and youth organisations throughout the world.
3. Economic Demands: NZSLF supports . . . the struggles of the workers for an increased basic wage, for improved conditions and lower prices and in particular the Trade Union demands for an increase in the workers share of the national income; NZSLF opposes any attempt to limit entry to the Universities or to professional or technical employment on the grounds of race, religion, sex or political belief; and we support all progressive legislation of the Labour Government and will work for the return to parliament of candidates pledged to support progressive legislation.
4. Student Demands: NZSLF will organise campaigns around increased finance for Universities and other educational institutions; the improved student bursary scheme; full support for democratic self-governing student organisations and the democratisation of University administration: organisation by students in each college on student health, housing and text-book services; organisation by Labour Clubs of co-operative study and the provision of tutorial and other assistance to students: support for the demands of the University staff for improved wages and conditions.