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Salient. An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria College, Wellington, N.Z. Vol. 13, No. 22. September 21, 1950

ISS Conference

ISS Conference

Delegates from the various Varisty and Training College ISS Committees met at Canterbury College for the 2nd annual conference of ISSNZ during the August vacation. Dr. Hulme, Rector of CUC and President of ISSNZ was in the chair. The VUC Committee was represented by Messrs. E. K. Braybrooke and R. A. Matheson.

Because of the difficult conditions under which so many students in Europe and Asia are studying, the urgent problem of relief received particular emphasis at the conference. It was decided to continue the present scheme whereby each local ISS Committee was sending 50 per cent of its relief funds to a particular university in SE Asia, instead of sending all money to the central fund in Geneva, as was previously the case. VUC is sending funds to Punjab University, Lahore, Pakistan.

Letters were read from the various ISS Committees in the Asian universities concerned, including one from Punjab which expressed appreciation for the interest shown by VUC and gave the following details of the use of relief funds in a self-help scheme—"ISS gives refugee students stipends for a period on condition that, in addition to their university studies, the students are taught typing with funds provided by ISS. They are able to support themselves by clerical work while studying part-time. ISS undertakes to arrange suitable employment." This scheme should work well—if the VUC Committee can raise sufficient money.

Ways and means of helping those displaced persons within N.Z. who are interested in the university were considered. These people comprise two main classes—

(1) Undergraduates and students possessing the equivalent of the NZU Entrance Exam.

(2) Graduates, at present working on two-year contracts as unskilled labour.

ISS hopes to help those of Class

(1) to study part-time. It was decided to investigate suitable employment for graduates, some of whom will be released from their labour contracts in June 1951.

It was felt that university students could give a much needed lead to the community by lending a helping hand to these foreign students who will be coming into the university.

Conference agreed that Mr. Braybrooke and Ellen Bertaud (Wellington TC) should be asked to interview members of the next group of displaced persons who will be arriving in October.

Merger

Coming merger of ISS, WSR and constituent organisations was discussed. A parallel was drawn between this merger and the formation of ISS 25 years ago, from European Student Relief, originally an offshoot of World Student Christian Federation. It was felt that the new organisation would be well equipped to carry on the work ISS has done during the past 25 years. It was decided to observe Wednesday, Thursday, Friday (September 27, 28, 29) as the 25th anniversary of ISSNZ. To mark the occasion the VUC committee will be having a collection in the college. All students who for so long have given lip service to ISS and other international organisations will then have an opportunity of giving concrete support to the work of ISS.

—A.M.