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Salient. Official Newspaper of Victoria University of Wellington Students Association. Vol 40 No. 15. July 4 1977

Non-alignment and higher bursaries

Non-alignment and higher bursaries

How will a Truly Independent and Non-Aligned New Zealand help us get Higher Bursaried?

New Zealand is suffering a continuing economic crisis.

The immediate causes are clear:
1.The balance of payments deficits which are continuing.
2.Real profits are only just rising again after a sustained drop through the first half of the 70s.
3.Inflation has jumped to double figures and is staying there.

As a result, big business and its governments (National and Labour) Have Moved to Cut Real Wages and government spending.

The measures are designed to:
1.Help close down the balance of payments deficit.
2.Boost real profits.
3.Slow down the internal generation of inflation.

Cuts in government spending have hit hard at social services including education

Teachers are having to buy their own chalk.

Staffing ratios are worsening.

Student bursaries have dropped in value by 15% over the last year.

Unions, fixed income groups, students and others have fought these attacks on their living standards

Despite fascist like legislation recently passed in Parliament to stifle their struggle unions have been in the forefront of the counter-attack on the government squeeze.

Counterposed to the big business strategy of the government they demand 'We need more money — make the rich pay!'

Students have held mass demonstrations on bursaries in 1975 and 1976 and will have to do so again this year.

The major part of the economic crisis has come from NZ's long term dependence on foreign imperialism (Britain, US, Japan)

Imperialism has stunted the development of the NZ economy.

It ties NZ to (and makes it bear the worst of) the ups and downs of the economies of the major western powers by:
1.Pseudo-industrialisation. New Zealand has developed as a light manufacturing and and agrarian country without the heavy industrial base necessary for real industrialisation.
2.Heavy dependence on foreign trade in markets domonated by the major western powers who remain our major trading partners.
3.Heavy reliance on overseas loans to fund development and pay off the b-of-p deficit as well, direct foriegn investment in key sectors of the economy.

Ecomonic dependency has helped draw us into the adventures of the great powers

Our economic domination by foreign imperialism is reflected in the political sphere where NZ leaders have traditionally looked to the great powers for leadership. First Britain and now the US have given us great power umbrellas.

The premiums of insurance with the great powers have been high.

NZ has been called to fight the people of Malaya, Korea and Vietnam.

We could soon be called to Thailand — we are already training their military.

Our US Alliance also drags us into the heightening contention of the Two Superpowers.

Already nuclear warship visits have shown how we are being drawn into a war preparations of the Superpowers.

Economic independence is in the interests of all New Zealanders fighting government attacks on living standards

Economic independence is in the interests of all New Zealanders who desire peace, true independence and non-alignment

Measures which would bring increased NZ economic independence include:
1.The nationalisation of foreign companies.
2.Joining the 3rd world struggle for stabilised commodity markets.
3.The diversification and strengthening of our economic base.

All these measures would aid the struggle for higher bursaries by directly attacking the causes of the economic crisis.

All these measures are essential steps to be taken on the path to a politically independent New Zealand.

Students who are fighting for higher bursaries should become involved in the movement for non-aligned New Zealand.

Not to do so is to not take advantage of all means of attacking the cause of lowered living standards and weakens the overall fight.

Protest July 4 7PM