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Salient. An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria University, Wellington. Vol. 22, No. 6. Wednesday, June 24, 1959

Student Dignity

Student Dignity

At long last students showed last Thursday that they could do things with dignity, when they determinedly marched on Parliament in protest at the exclusion of Maoris from the South African Tour.

That the P.M. was impressed was shown later in the week when in Timaru he remarked that the students were acting up to their education on something they had obviously thought about.

It was gratifying too, to see that at least four lecturers decided to march with their students. Had staff been informed even more might have gone along.

Police Credit

Police too deserve some credit for the way they behaved. They were no doubt embarrassed by students exercising a common law right to peaceful demonstration not recognised in New Zealand, but after initial steps to stop the march did not work they took an honourable course and it was good that for once the students did not antagonise them.

Town and Gown relations probably gained more from this "procession" than from anything either Training College or Victoria have done in a long time. Training College deserves a pat on the back for initiating the scheme and Bernie Grice is to be commended for not being put off.

If there was anything disappointing it was Mr. Nash's refusal to become involved even at a purely personal level.

As a man who is supposed to be looking after the interests of the Maoris this seemed like more "fence sitting." But at least he deserves the thanks of the students for his courtesy in speaking to them.