Dwyer's Do

The Anarchist Association commenced its activities for 1962 not with a whimper but a bang when a meeting-cum-social was held at 59 Nairn Street on Saturday, March 10.

Bill Dwyer, who was host for the evening, welcomed the large gathering on behalf of the Anarchist Association and said that though the meeting had been originally called in order to settle on a programme of activities for the year, formal business would be cut as short as possible in order to cater for quite a few of those present, who, although they were not members of the Anarchist Association seemed genuinely interested in learning more about the social philosophy of Anarchy.

It was decided that the Anarchist Association would sponsor a number of talks during the year by speakers who would not necessarily be anarchists, but who it is hoped, would be able to give stimulating and thought-provoking talks on such topics as—current events, social and economic theory, religion, ethics, etc., etc. Graham Butterworth gave some details of some very interesting speakers who will be approached in this respect. One speaker who has already consented to give a talk is Mr. Toby Hill, who, it will be remembered, was prominently associated with the 1951 wharf strike. He will address a combined meeting of the anarchist world affairs council and labour club on March 19, 1962.

Notice was given that the Anarchist Association intended to support the motion to be moved at the S.G.M. on March 20, that the S.U. executive had lost the confidence of the students in that it had made no Effective protest against the raising of tuition fees.

Other points to be raised at S.G.M. will be a motion congratulating the University Council on its refusal to divulge the personal information contained in students files held by the University to the Labour Department.

As many people present were interested in hearing more about the aims and objects of the Anarchist Association, Bill Dwyer in a brief impromptu introduction said the Anarchists were basically socialists in the true sense of the word, and although the movement collaborated closely with people in university circles it was really a working man's movement. While Anarchism had always been associated with Communists and Socialists it utterly rejected the present state Communism as practised in parts of the world today as doomed to failure. The terrible restraints on personal liberty which followed as consequences of bureaucracy and centralisation of authority under existing Communist regimes were as self evident to Anarchists and Capitalists alike. Bill went on to say that Anarchism was based on mutual aid, and anti-authoritarianism The total commodities of the community would be available to each individual, free, according to the needs of the individual—such needs being determined only by the individual himself.

The noted economist, Mr. W. Rosenberg, made the point at Congress that it was economically possible, if full production in any one given commodity was achieved, to distribute this commodity free throughout the community with-, out the need for money or any other similar means of exchange.

In reply to a question from Mr. Moriarty, Bill said that an Anarchist society would indeed be hampered in its progress if neighbouring states were not also anarchistic, and this problem he pointed out, was also a problem facing present day Socialistic and Communistic countries. The solution of course is to work towards the breaking down of all the existing, arbitrary national and political barriers and borders, and replace them not with new boundaries and nations, but with a world brotherhood of man engaged in a complete fulfilment of their own life.

Finally an attempt was made to reply to a few more questions, and then the meeting was adjourned as a formal affair with the distribution of some literature. People then broke up into small groups to get down to the serious business of debating points which had cropped up during the meeting and imbibing some conviviality to a pleasant background of Flamenco music and Mozart.